Google Map Maker is no more alive

Fariha Khan
April 5, 2017
1,682

Back in 2016, Google announced that it would shut down Map Maker, its online tool that allowed people to contribute updates to Google Maps. It has been there since 2008, allowing users to correct or fill in missing map content such roads, business information, and more. It was helpful in establishing maps in emerging markets, where official, detailed local maps were generally not accessible.

According to reports, Google will put an end to Map Maker in March 2017 and it has officially closed on March 31, 2017. Since all this time, the community edited and moderated millions of features in order to improve Maps, the company expressed. Yes it was not as smooth for Map Maker as its dependence on crowdsourced content got it in trouble at time, such as when the service was used to vandalize Google Maps with an image of the Google Android character urinating on the logo of Apple. After that incident and some other spam attacks, Google closed it temporarily in order to tighten its security.

Eventually, Map Maker started to overlap excessively with Google’s Local Guides, which is a program that rewards power users for contributing updates to Google Maps. It focused on improving business listings basically.

Some of the Map Maker editing features are getting engaged by Local Guides, such as sharing additional details about a place, adding and editing places, moderating edits, viewing the status of your edits, and editing road segments. According to Google, they will be available on mobile as well as desktop. When the firm announced road segment edits, it stated that it would add other road editing features soon including the ability to report missing roads, report issues on a full route, as well as report real-time information such as road closures and events.

Local Guides will be compensated for their offerings. They will be able to get early access to new Google Maps features in times to come since they take over the work from the Map Maker community. In addition, the company stated that they are also working on better moderation experiences.