A paper map used to be the most useful navigational aid and could be used for years or even decades. Not the case now. Map data and details, particularly at local resolutions, are subject to change over time, thus having access to routinely updated information is essential to getting around and getting things done. This poses a great deal of difficulty for the modern cartographer. Take Google Maps, for example, which keeps a vast collection of geographic data. Google Maps is continuously mapping, validating, and updating millions of data points. These upgrades hold significance for businesses globally, as Google Maps Platform is designed to assist developers and businesses in integrating geographic data into their products and services. The number of updates made to Google Maps data per day is fifty million, according to Bonnie Pericolosi, director of product management for Google Maps Platform. Pericolosi is in charge of making sure that geospatial data is as high-quality as possible for users of the Google Maps Platform; according to her, quality is determined by coverage, accuracy, and freshness. She collaborates with various groups to provide clients with customized solutions. We’ve been able to map more than 60 million kilometers of roads around the world as part of
our investments in quality,she claims. We offer maps in over 250 nations and territories. For Jennifer Anderson, the technical lead for Google Maps Platform, delivering end-to-end solutions and products to clients who depend on this geospatial data is very important. Users who depend on Google Maps Platform are placing a wager on us, and they anticipate our dependability to drive the success of their enterprises, she explains. We consider platform dependability to be a primary attribute. We had a conversation with Anderson and Pericolosi in February to find out more about the significance of platform dependability and data quality.
Rich Maps Data
What is the source of Google map data? From multiple sources, coincidentally. Imagery is the first one," claims Pericolosi. We make use of satellite, aerial, and Street View imagery. Furthermore, we can make use of images taken by Street View cameras that are
attached to bicycles or even backpacks—a device we refer to as the Street View Trekker. Google is able to supply specialized geographic data because of its agreements with over 10,000 local governments, transit agencies, and other organizations. This specific information could be regarding road closures, transportation schedules, or the availability of Covid-19 testing centers. We can use that information to help our customers power their businesses with a sense of now, adds Pericolosi, because of these partnerships. Furthermore, additional contextual information such as information on a location mood or changing store hours can be found thanks to community contributions from Google users, Local Guides, and company owners. Ultimately, accurate geospatial data curation is becoming increasingly dependent on artificial intelligence. Pericolosi attributes their ability to make numerous adjustments to their library of locations, including new businesses, business categories, business hours, and the like, to their use of AI for image processing. Furthermore, ten times faster than they could have five years ago, they can now map roadways thanks to this technology. Among the most significant additions we’ve made is AI, she claims. As a result, we bring maps brimming with valuable information to almost every corner of the globe. It not an easy task, even under the best of circumstances, to curate geographic data. When a pandemic enters the picture, the situation becomes much more difficult. According to Pericolosi, "Covid-19 introduced a whole host of freshness opportunities and challenge. We observed eateries and shops changing their operating hours. Days of shutdown were followed by a reopening. Everything was moving extremely quickly. Pericolosi and her colleagues worked rapidly to handle the millions of reports of temporary closures and reopenings that users and business owners submitted. For example, they enhanced their Places API by adding an element called temporary closures. When we implemented temporary closures throughout the update process, it immediately affected how customers interacted with various websites and applications, the spokesperson
said. Though Pericolosi is proud of her team efforts, she feels that the challenges posed by the epidemic ultimately resulted in even greater advantages for her clients. Many firms now use geographic data and mapping as a differentiator, according to her.
Developing location-based apps and experiences can enhance the typical user experience. This encourages these businesses to make smart decisions about their investments.
Platform Reliability On Every Front
Rich geographical data is only the first step. The importance of having a platform that functions as intended is unchanged. In order to do this, Anderson and her group use a variety of strategies known as a defense-in-depth approach to reliability. She says, Platform reliability is such a broad area. There is no single solution. We require a multi-layered strategy that considers several approaches to aid guarantee the ecosystem overall dependability. Anderson provides a four-point summary of this multifaceted approach. First: Recognize the state of the platform immediately. In addition to simply asking, Is the service up? Anderson team makes an effort to learn more about the clientele experience. According to her, we measure reliability from the customer perspective. How long does it take for the client to receive a response, and what does the consumer see in terms of responsiveness? We’ve made strategic efforts to ensure that the quality of our services is tracked and evaluated. Anyone who has ever worked in software development will be familiar with the second concern: Make sure that updating New Feature X doesn’t interfere with Existing Feature Y. When someone modifies something, that when things break most frequently, Anderson claims. We’ve invested in a strong change management process to catch issues as soon as possible in order to avoid this. The platform itself should then have a well-defined architecture and components. We have worked very hard to make our architecture less complex, she states. There are fewer potential problems in an architecture the more streamlined it is. Finally, in order to continuously increase product reliability, it’s critical to cultivate a culture of
dependability. We perform a postmortem to determine what went wrong when things do go wrong, she explains. We inquire as to how this could have been avoided. What will we change moving forward to ensure that this doesn’t occur once more? The early stages of the pandemic, when geographic data suddenly became much more crucial than it had previously been for companies like delivery services and healthcare facilities, demonstrated the need of this defense-in-depth strategy. It forced us to refocus on the platform dependability work were doing, she says. To make sure that our systems continue to remain robust and trustworthy, we need to make sure that were
thinking through it holistically—through all the different aspects that contribute to reliability. Nearly every business on Earth has seen significant changes over the last two years, but Google Maps Platform has stayed committed to providing its clients with dependable services. Anderson states, We will always be focusing on reliability—before Covid, during Covid, and after Covid. Award-winning writer, media entrepreneur, and pioneering bitcoin investor is Jeff Koyen. He and his family make Curaçao their home.
