If you’ve ever needed to navigate somewhere, look up an image of a location, or plan a route, you’ve probably used Google Maps. It’s generally regarded as one of the best map services on the internet, and with a recent update, it’s even better.
Google announced on The Keyword that it is rolling out more colorful, detailed map images all around the world. Not only do these images look nicer, but they provide more details on a location.
This Google Maps update is all about bringing more detail and granularity to maps. It’s not just about making the maps more visually appealing. With this update, you’ll be able to get a better idea of what an area looks like. This is helpful whether you’re actually at a location and want to know more about it, or you’re just taking a digital trip through the power of Google Maps.
With the more vibrant colors, it’s easier to distinguish different types of natural features from each other. For example, vibrant blue makes it easy to spot a lake, while tan makes identifying beaches or deserts easier.
Google is using the fact that it has 98 percent of the world mapped through satellite imagery, and it’s using a color-mapping algorithmic technique that takes the satellite images and translates them to more vibrant maps.
The company is launching these new maps in all 220 countries and territories that Google Maps supports. Google says that equates to 100 square kilometers of land. That’s 18 billion football fields worth of land that looks more detailed in Google Maps. It applies to small towns and large cities, so no matter where you’re looking, you’ll get a more detailed view of the land.
For those living in the city, Google also announced a change that’s coming to Google Maps soon. The company announced that it intends to bring highly detailed street information that shows the accurate shape and width of a road to scale. The upcoming change will even show where sidewalks, crosswalks, and pedestrian islands are located.
Google intends to roll out the more detailed look at streets in London, New York, and San Francisco in the coming months. It also has plans to expand to more cities over time.