smo

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

How is Google Maps different from other maps?



Google Maps is a web mapping service application and technology provided by Google that powers many map based services, including the Google Maps website, Google Ride Finder, Google Transit via the Google Maps API. It offers street maps, a route planner for traveling by foot, car or public transport and an urban business locator for numerous countries around the world.Here are five services provided by Google Maps for the users. 

Street View Partner Program
Street View Partner Program

Street View in Google Maps helps one to explore places around the world with a 360 degree street level imagery. Street View imagery is viewed millions of times each day, and enables users to explore places near and far in Google Maps.

If one manages a unique property such as a park, pedestrian mall, a university or a campus, they can request for the Street View team to visit the location. Once the Street View team visits your location, they will collect imagery using a Google car, Google trike, or even a Google snowmobile. Once the images are added to Street View, people all over the world will be able to explore your property virtually
Google Street View Cars
Google Street View Cars

The cars with mounted 360 degree cameras have been scouring the streets of Bangalore, Mumbai and New Delhi capturing photographs for Google's Street View project. Anyone can get an aerial view of your home on Google Maps but only when street view imagery goes live. The experience with Google Street view would be like just taking a walk outside your home or any location that you chose to see. 


It also has GPS to track geographic positions as well as lasers that helps capture 3D data to determine distances. 
3D Mirror of the World
3D Mirror of the World

WebGL is a software library that extends the capability of the JavaScript programming language to allow it to ge 
nerate interactive 3D graphics within any compatible web browser. To see these applications you need a modern graphical card and a browser with WebGL support .These pages are tested in Google Chrome and FireFox under Windows XP, 7. 





Street View in Antarctica
Street View in Antarctica

Google's "Street View" imagery has sparked privacy concerns in some countries but that's unlikely to be the case with its latest destination Antarctica, populated mostly by penguins. 


Apparently, the internet giant has not spared any continents form its massive binoculars. It has also made its entry into the frosty South Pole. Brian McClendon, VP of Engineering at Google Earth and Maps, snapped the footage while on a recent Antarctic trek to Half Moon Island with his wife.

The Antarctica imagery is so far limited, showing panoramas of the coast and penguins of Half Moon Island. 
CrashMap
CrashMap

CrashMap uses data collected by the police about road traffic accidents occurring on roads where someone is injured. Incidents are plotted within 10 metres of their location. The map therefore provides a great guide to accident black spots. 


It is possible to search the map by location and to refine the results to show just fatal, serious or slight accidents. Results for a single year can also be projected. To view details about individual car crashes users have to register and buy credits. 



No comments:

Post a Comment