Google recently announced the addition of a new feature in Google Maps which allows the public to see a location's history, culture, environment, and many other important data.
This interactive and online atlas aims to bring this relevant information to their users, rather than locking them away in museums and private archives. The newest addition features a location's ecological changes over time, population, prevalent language, and societal trends. According to a post published in Google's enterprise blog, they are inviting companies, businesses, and other stakeholders to contribute information to make the Maps richer and more educational. The post stated that organizations can work together to "communicate critical information, build awareness and inform the public at-large"
"Governments, nonprofits and businesses have some of the most valuable mapping data in the world, but it's often locked away and not accessible to the public," wrote Jordan Breckenridge, product manager of Google Maps.
He also stated that Maps' latest version is to make it seem like a digital atlas where a person can search for all the information he needs to know about a certain location. A user can zoom in to see more details about that place and can also input a search query by typing in a specific address. You can also command Maps to look into the area using a certain perspective, for example, Ecological Changes only.
As of this writing, Google Maps has received map data from National Geographic Society, U.S Geological Survey, World Bank Group, Florida Emergency Management and Edmonton City's local government.
Some of the most famous maps included in this digital atlas are the Civil War Map and the map of Lewis and Clarke's journey. Other maps can show the trend of Internet use around the globe, housing trends in the United States, and areas where reproductive health rights are acknowledged.
TechTimes called this new addition as a valuable source for students and other members of the academe who are looking for a more interactive approach in presenting a location's history and evolution through time.
