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Google announced exciting news this week for fans of Google Maps. An update to Google Maps includes more detailed and precise information for maps around the world, giving you a better understanding of terrain, streets, pedestrian walkways, and more.
Google Maps has also added real-time information about the boundaries of active wildfires to help those trying to avoid fires as well as those brave enough to head towards them to help extinguish the fires. With this update you will get an alert if your planned route will take you in the vicinity of a major wildfire.
Plus, Google Maps now includes helpful information for those who want to use bikesharing services, showing real-time availability of bicycles and locations of bikesharing docks.
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Google Maps Color-Coding Gives More Details
With over 98% satellite coverage of Earth, Google Maps has color-coded its maps to show nature, such as green for forests and blue for bodies of water. Now Google Maps will be providing more precise information, distinguishing with color between dense forests (deep green) and sparse vegetation (light green), for example. Google Maps will also add natural features such as white for icecaps on mountains and tan for beaches.
This image from Google shows how the map for Iceland looked before the update and how Iceland’s map looks after the update:
This Google image shows the before and after maps of Mt. Ranier National Park. Note that the updated map indicates the density of the vegetation is as well as the icecap on the mountaintop.
This image shows the before and after maps of Croatia, with added details for vegetation and beaches.
More Information on Street Maps
Google Maps will also be adding more details to its street maps for some cities, initially including New York, London, and San Francisco, to help drivers and pedestrians. Instead of each city street being shown as the same width and shape, Google Maps will show the relative width of streets in these cities as well as their shape. You’ll be able to see clearly from Google Maps whether a city street is a narrow road or a wider boulevard.
More pedestrian information will be available in Google Maps as well. You’ll be able to see pedestrian crosswalks at intersections as well as sidewalks and pedestrian islands.
From Google: “Soon, you’ll be able to see highly detailed street information that shows the accurate shape and width of a road to scale. You can also see exactly where sidewalks, crosswalks, and pedestrian islands are located–crucial information if you have accessibility needs, like wheelchair or stroller requirements. These details are particularly helpful as more people are opting to walk or take other forms of solo transportation due to the pandemic.”
This image from Google Maps shows the before and after maps of an intersection in New York:
Google Maps plans to include more detailed street maps to additional cities in the coming months.
Wildfire Information and Alerts
Knowing where a wildfire is burning can be vital information for those trying to avoid the flames, those contemplating evacuating, and those fighting the fire. Google Maps is using satellite images to show the approximate boundaries of wildfires in real-time.
When you search for a named wildfire in Google search, you’ll see links to news articles about the fire plus information from local emergency services. You’ll also see the boundaries of the fire on a map, both on the Google Maps app and on the website.
Google Maps will show an alert if you’re exploring an area near an active wildfire. If you’re approaching a wildfire, Google Maps will give you a warning to let you know it’s close by.
From Google: “In moments like a growing wildfire, knowing exactly where a blaze is underway and how to avoid it is critical. Using satellite data to create a wildfire boundary map, people will now see the approximate size and location right on their phone or desktop.”
More information about how Google uses satellite imagery to map wildfires is available in Google’s article on Medium, How to generate wildfire boundary maps with Earth Engine.
Bikesharing Information
Google Maps has provided biking directions for over ten years, but a few weeks ago, Google Maps announced an update to its app to show docks for bikesharing services in cities around the world when you search for biking directions. With the update, Google Maps will provide directions to the closest bikeshare station, along with live availability information for bicycles parked there.
You’ll also be able to see where bicycle docks are located that are close to your destination and get walking directions from a bikesharing dock to your destination.
With some bikeshare services, Google Maps will provide a link to their apps so you can reserve a bike before you arrive and unlock the bike when you begin your biking journey.
Bikesharing information will be available for these ten cities in the Google Maps update:
- Chicago, U.S. (Divvy/Lyft)
- New York City, U.S. (Citi Bike/Lyft)
- San Francisco Bay Area, U.S. (Bay Wheels/Lyft)
- Washington, DC, U.S. (Capital Bikeshare/Lyft)
- London, England (Santander Cycles/TfL)
- Mexico City, Mexico (Ecobici)
- Montreal, Canada (BIXI/Lyft)
- Rio De Janeiro, Brazil (Bike Itaú)
- São Paulo, Brazil (Bike Itaú)
- Taipei and New Taipei City, Taiwan (YouBike)
Google Maps plans to add more bikesharing information as it brings additional partners into the program in the future.
Availability
Google Maps is rolling out the color-coding and detailed street map updates to its app over the next few months. The wildfire and bikesharing information is available now in Google Maps.
These updates will be available in the Google Maps app on Android and iOS (iPhone and iPad) in all 220 countries and territories where the app is available. The wildfires update is available both on the Google Maps app and the website.
Your Thoughts
Do you use Google Maps to learn more about the world around you? Do you find the information and warnings about active wildfires helpful? Are you interested in getting bikesharing information in Google Maps?
Share your thoughts in the Comments section below!
Google Maps is remarkable in that it is truly the closest thing we have to artificial intelligence. Consider how remarkably sophisiticated its algorithms have to be to understand exactly where the device is which is guided by Google maps and understand THE MOMENT the device is off course. Google Maps as it interfaces with bikes is both uniquely interesting and inspiring.
Hi Abe, Yes, Google Maps is truly an amazing tech tool. GPS devices and even apps used to be very expensive, but Google Maps doesn’t charge money for all of this information and guidance. Those with privacy concerns can delete their location data if they don’t want Google to retain that information.
Google maps is amazing as it is. It’s absolutely incredible some of these improvements. The active wildfires thing is so impressive!
Hello Hong, You’re right, it’s great Google Maps can help people avoid wildfires, and help firefighters find them. This is a tech advance that will save lives.
Yes, Google Maps is a fantastic tool. I’ve even tried it in small, lesser populated areas within Europe while travelling and it still works well. I remember that it wasn’t that long ago when these GPS trackers would quickly lose their orientation when you took them off the beating track.
Hi Luisa, Good point, the effectiveness of Google Maps navigation depends on your phone’s connectivity to the Internet. If you’re going off the beaten path away from the Internet, you may want to download a Google Map before you leave Internet coverage.