Google Maps updated with 25 million new building footprints
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25 million sounds impressive and it indeed is. Most of those footprints are for large U.S. cities and metros. Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Houston and the San Francisco Bay Area are some of the areas where the changes will be most obvious. The additions however will also touch on the whole United States.
But how did Google manage to add so many new footprints? It is, of course, using aerial images and combines this raw data with computer vision processing to come up with dimensions and shapes for buildings.
“This process enables us to provide more building footprints and a more comprehensive and detailed map than ever before,” Google said.
Actually, this is the same core process used in Google 3D Maps. In the meantime, if you're still wondering whether Google Maps is being developed for iOS and the iPhone 5 the answer is not clear. It's all under consideration, and lastly Google CEO Larry Page said that while he would like Google to serve Maps to all platforms, the walled-garden approach (like the one in the App Store) stops or at least slows that down.
source: Google Latlong
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San Diego in Google Maps with building footprints | Left and right - before and after the update |
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Cool images, taken with your cell phone #53 
11 Comments
7. pokharkarsaga posted on 19 Oct 2012, 08:07 4 2
Google maps kick Nokia Maps out of the competition as soon as possible.The only difference between both these maps is database.
8. nnaatthhaannx2 posted on 19 Oct 2012, 15:28 1 0
Nah, I still prefer the typography in Nokia's maps. Makes it look a lot cleaner.
Nokia maps looks better, Google maps is better (as a map).
6. kartik4u98 posted on 19 Oct 2012, 08:01 8 2
Why Apple in each and every article?
Huh..PA is getting full of haters.
3. PapaSmurf posted on 19 Oct 2012, 07:33 9 0
Wow. Maps for Chicago looks a lot better. Good job Google!
5. JunkCreek posted on 19 Oct 2012, 07:49 4 0
just like in game gta/driver maps. great for free distributed service. we paid almost nothing and get this great of sevice. i really do honor google for this kind of service.
9. jroc74 posted on 19 Oct 2012, 20:13 0 0
Exactly. Free GPS, turn by turn navigation is one of the reasons why I chose Android over the iPhone in 2010. Was close to getting an iPhone too. I am satisfied with my decision....and it all started with me getting the Droid 1.
10. weedl posted on 20 Oct 2012, 22:21 0 0
i wish google map have more view with 10 m above the ground cause in my city the view stiil max 20 m above the ground while bing maps come with max 10 m above the ground but the advantage on google map it's used by wikimap so i can mark a building or road that's seem not marking in gmap or bing maps ...but i'm gratefull thank's for the service..
11. JunkCreek posted on 20 Oct 2012, 22:55 0 0
@weedl
what would you expect for getting free map service on a free os distributed. WE PAID ALMOST NOTING BUT THE ADS! so it is already more than expected service. but, i wonder, why did my small home town get luckily 100m detailed! Just try search Magetan Jawa Timur Indonesia on gmaps.
