14 DAY TRIAL // Google has released brand new map data for several countries in Europe and other regions. The new data is going live and should be close to being rolled out completely by now. Google is also asking users to contribute their own data and corrections, if the spot anything wrong or outdated.
"Today, we are excited to let you know that we have updated the base map data in all Google Maps products and services for ten countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Liechtenstein, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa and Switzerland," Anup Mantri, a software engineer working on Google Maps, announced.
"This follows earlier improvements to our maps in the US and Canada, and will be rolling out over the course of the next day," he added.
Google says that the new data should be significantly more complete than before and also provides new types of info. More address data and building footprints are now included, for example.
Bike paths and walking trails are now available in those countries and Google says that biking directions will be rolled out at a later date.
The update enables Google Maps users to report issues and suggest alternative routes or corrections. While online mapping data is generally accurate, it's not always up to date.
What's more, temporary disruptions, like road works, are pretty much impossible for Google or any other online map service provider to keep track or be aware of.
"With this update, you can help keep your neighborhood accurate across Google’s geo product suite. Notice that something has changed on your block recently, or that the directions provided could have been better? Report a problem, and we will make the change in Google Maps within a couple of months," Mantri explained.
This feature has been available to US users for quite some time, but it is only now made available to users in some countries in Europe and South Africa.