How are the "maps we use every day" made?
Open your smartphone and you can always know your current location.
Enter your destination and the shortest route appears instantly.
We use Google Maps as a matter of course,
but how exactly is this map created?
In fact, there's a system combining multiple technologies behind it.
Conclusion: Google Maps is made of "four types of information"
Google Maps is primarily created by combining the following information:
- Satellite imagery
- Street View
- GPS (location information)
- User data
The integration of these allows for near real-time maps.
① Satellite Imagery: Building the global base
Satellite imagery forms the foundation of Google Maps.
Satellites orbiting the Earth continuously capture images of the surface.
This provides basic information such as buildings, roads, and terrain.
However, satellite imagery alone is not enough.
This is because it cannot fully reflect "detailed information" or "latest changes."
② Street View: Complementing with a human perspective
This is where Street View comes in.
Cars equipped with special cameras drive along roads,
capturing 360-degree views of the city.
This allows for:
- Store locations
- Signage
- Road shapes
—information that closely matches the human perspective—to be added.
③ GPS: Pinpointing your "current location"
It's thanks to GPS that you can not only view maps but also know "your own position."
GPS calculates your smartphone's position
using signals from multiple satellites.
This enables:
- Current location display
- Navigation
- Travel history
to be available.
④ User data: Continuously evolving maps
Surprisingly important is user behavior data.
For example:
- Traffic information
- Store reviews and photos
- Route search data
As this data accumulates,
- Visualization of congestion
- Optimization of recommended routes
- Updates to store information
are reflected in near real-time.
Why is it so accurate?
The reason Google Maps is so precise is that
it doesn't rely on a single source of information.
By combining data from different perspectives—
satellites, vehicles, smartphones, and users—
👉 A map that closely resembles reality is reproduced.
Maps are not "finished products"
It's important to note that
Google Maps is not a finished map.
- New roads are built
- Stores close
- Cities change
Maps are constantly being updated.
Summary: Maps are a "way of portraying the world"
Google Maps is not just a convenient tool,
but a collection of "how we perceive the world."
The world we see is shaped by
what information is gathered and how it's integrated.
Even the maps we casually use everyday
are actually built upon vast technology and data.
The next time you open Google Maps,
try to remember a little about the mechanisms behind it.
0 comments