Google launches MapMaker for RP
by Blogie • 9 October 2008
Google, ever attuned to the meanderings of the Web, has improved upon their already awesome Google Earth and Google Maps products. Last 7 October 2008, the Internet’s most influential organization launched MapMaker for the Philippines. As Jason Chuck, Google’s APAC Product Marketing Manager, put it during the product demo in Shangri-la Makati, MapMaker is a rich platform for user-generated content.
Hurray! At last, there’s now a way for Filipinos to create maps for their localities. I remember there was one time when I had to publish a locator map for an event, I had to take a snapshot of the area on Google Earth, then draw in the roads and landmarks using a 3rd-party graphics software. Now, by way of MapMaker, anyone with a Gmail account can freely attach various geographical data onto Google’s maps — and share this information with the world!
What can Gmail account holders do on MapMaker? The most exciting for me is the ability to draw roads and other public — as well as private — infrastructure on Google’s maps. And label them, of course. While there’s no way yet to plug in GPS coordinates, the fact that we can now graphically illustrate the roads, bridges and other geographical features is already one huge step forward.
When Jason Chuck said MapMaker was a rich platform, he wasn’t just mouthing off hype. Users of the service can also place landmarks as well as the locations of establishments. What’s more, the metadata that can be submitted is quite detailed. For example, for a road, you can indicate whether it’s a one-way street, if it’s concrete or asphalt, its driving conditions, and plenty of other useful and organized information.
For business establishments, submitters can input not only company names, but also exact addresses, website URLs, and even telephone numbers. Imagine how useful this service can be for many business applications. Plus, all the submitted information is searchable!
If anyone with a Gmail account can use MapMaker, won’t this result in a lot of junk information? Well, yes, this is a distinct possibility. That’s why MapMaker operates like a socialized publishing system. In other words, users have the ability to edit previous submissions, or report erroneous ones. Additionally, users can vote on map entries that they’d like to affirm or verify.
There are no moderators or editors in MapMaker, as you might expect in Wikipedia. According to Google, map entries will be accepted based on users’ votes, as well as on the frequency of similar submissions. The inner workings of the system was not explained thoroughly nor technically, however. From what I understand, Google deploys an intelligent algorithm to determine data acceptability based on users’ input.
Incidentally, there will be an internal system through which "trusted users" will be identified. Presumably, those who have a certain number of accepted or approved submissions to MapMaker will become trusted users.
Finalized map information (i.e., user-submitted data that have been approved) are pushed into Google Maps for all the world to search, see and use. I believe this means that map data submitted to MapMaker that have not yet been approved will only be visible (and editable) within the MapMaker Web application.
Google Maps is a separate service — even distinct from Google Earth. Extensive road maps are already available for most developed countries, but is still rather rudimentary for the Philippines. But with MapMaker, we are now empowered to participate in, and contribute to, the Philippine GeoWeb.
With the rise of Wifi- and GPS-enabled mobile phones in the country, and with the availability of Google Maps for Mobile, it will not be long before some enterprising IT firms deploy high-value mobile applications that will employ Google’s tremendous mapping services.
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