How Does Google Maps Work?(Tech Explained)


We have been using Google Maps as our daily driver for getting directions around us. But have you ever wondered how does google provide you with this accurate & up to date information? So in this article let's understand how Google Maps Work.

Google Maps are found on every device be it laptop, smartphones or even smartwatches. It's quite complex to integrate such features with the precision that Google has achieved. Many of us rely on the features of Google Maps on a regular basis.

Why Google came up with Maps?
Google, since it's early days, has set up the aim of arranging the world's information using it's search engines and make it accessible for everyone. And, Google Maps is one of the biggest stepping stones for the vision. Maps was a big problem back then where you would have to look through those 2D maps that were printed in Atlas. So to solve this big problem was set on a mission to arrange all the geographical information on Google Maps

How Does Google Map Works
The primary functioning of Google Maps depends on data collection. So, let us see the sources from where Google collects data and how it uses them. 

Map Partners
We all know that Google Maps' essential thing is the geological map. To collect the data for it, the company depends on its Base Map Partner Program. Google collects information for its basic maps from various credible government institutions which provide Google with a basic map outline that has information regarding highways and roads.

Satellites

Google Maps also has satellite view which is created through a collaboration with Google Earth. To get satellite imagery, the company takes the help of private companies and third-party organizations. The captured pictures are then referenced with the base map for correctness. Satellite images help Google Maps understand the topography and various other factors in detail.

Street View

Google's Map Partners help them in the geological map, but documenting the roads is not enough. This is where Street View gets in the picture. The company has dispersed thousands of vehicles all around the globe, and they travel to every road that is accessible to capture the 360-degree images. The company uses the GPS coordinates of the cars to overlay the Street View images on the top of the base geological map. 
Street View not only offers 360-degree images, but it has optical character recognition (OCR) capabilities too. This enables Google to read road signs, traffic signals and signs, and even business names. The collected data is used for navigational and directional purposes in maps.  Google also uses it's AI algorithms in understanding and collecting information.

Helicopter Imaging

Google also uses Helicopter Imaging where a Helicopter is attached with 3D Image Capturing Cameras for capturing information throughout a particular city or a region which helps it understand famous tourist places or monuments in 3D form.

Location Services

Google makes good use of your smartphone's location data. This helps the company in finding real-time traffic updates, traffic speeds, and road diversions. The collected data is then integrated into maps to make it more efficient and correct. Google also uses this data to show if a place is usually crowded at a particular time.

Google Map Maker

Google Map Maker is for the users of Google Maps. It allows the user to share his/her knowledge about a location. You can edit locations, new roads, and even add new places in Google Maps makers. This feature is incorporated in the Maps directly. 

Local Guides

Besides all this Google also has an army of millions of Local Guides who update photos, videos, check facts, edit places & provide with useful information for Google Maps regularly.

Making Sense of  all this Data
These layers of data, when processed, are what gives us access to all the information found on Google Maps. It is all thanks to the Google Algorithms that processes this complex information. If there’s something Google’s algorithms can’t make sense of, a team member will manually look it over and set things straight. All of this makes our Google Maps experience an incredible one.

Google keeps on adding new features to its maps platform every year and manages the platform to provide us with a seamless experience.

Stay Tuned For More Updates & Allow Notifications to get notified whenever I post a new update.




Location: Maharashtra, India

Comments

Post a Comment

Most viewed post

Image

151 MP Camera :-Dope Tech Explained

A 151 MP Camera is something that we could  not imagine a few years ago.But this is made possible thanks to the company"PhaseOne".The PhaseOne XF IQ4 captures ridiculous amounts of deatail. So let's have a look at this Dope Tech. Phase One Camera Specifications Many of the medium frame cameras that try to capture photos above 100 mp use the technique of capturing multiple shots to up the megapixel game rather actually increasing the size of the sensor.PhaseOne however has turned up the camera sensor megapixel game with a staggering 151mp camera sensor that is backside illuminated The camera muster an ISO 50 to 25,600 sensitivity despite the extreme resolution, and you can use both timelapse and bracketing tools independently of the main camera body. The IQ4 also scratches the itch for pro photographers with XQD and SD card slots as well as tethering through Ethernet, USB-C or wireless. If it sounds ridiculously expensive... well, it is. The regula...
Image

Thunderbolt 3 Explained

  The ports on the side of your laptop are important. They decide what you can do on your device and how quickly you can do it. When Apple introduced the first version of the new style MacBook Pro, Apple ditched every single port on its old machines and replaced it with just Thunderbolt 3.Many PCs have now followed suit into the world of Thunderbolt - although it's still relatively few that have gone the whole hog and dumped all other ports the same way that Apple has on the Pro and MacBook Air. So in this article let's understand what's Thunderbolt 3? What is Thunderbolt 3? Thunderbolt 3 is the latest version of Thunderbolt, and it uses the same design as the familiar USB-C connector. This connector is used for simplicity Intel introduced the Thunderbolt platform in 2011 at a time when USB 3.0 was all the rage and could transfer data at speeds up to 5Gbps. Thunderbolt was capable of twice that, plus it could transfer multiple types of data, not just serial data to storage ...
Image

QR Codes Explained

We use QR codes daily for different things like making payments, storing your travel information, visiting websites, connecting to Wi-Fi networks. These barcodes can be captured using smartphones. So in this article let's understand what is a QR code and how do they work. What is QR Code? Qr codes were first developed by a subsidiary of Toyota 'Denso Wave' to quickly track vehicles and parts through the company's automotive manufacturing process.QR code stands for Quick Response Code. Although Denso Wave still holds patents over the technology, QR codes are free for anyone to use without a license fee as long as the intellectual property is being used within the defined ISO/JIS standards.QR codes are machine-readable labels — computers can understand them much more easily than they can understand the text. In 2016 for instance, Snapchat and iMessage introduced support for QR codes as a method of adding new friends, WhatsApp uses QR codes as a quick way to access the de...