Subscribe

Google takes maps indoors in SA

Staff Writer
By Staff Writer, ITWeb
Johannesburg, 28 Jan 2015
Google Maps now allows local users to navigate inside malls.
Google Maps now allows local users to navigate inside malls.

Google has finally taken its mapping technology indoors in SA, expanding on its current offerings that provide real-time traffic updates and directions to a destination.

The search giant says in a statement its vision for maps has "always been to provide Web users with as much information as possible so they can answer fundamental questions". These questions include "Where am I?" and "What's around me?", it notes.

Google Maps already allows users to plan a route, get directions and explore many neighbourhoods with street-level imagery, while the "My location" feature shows people where they currently are.

Today, the company announced it is taking Google Maps in South Africa "to another level" as it is now able to show indoor maps for a number of locations. Globally, Google has already made 10 000 indoor locations available, a figure it constantly adds to, after taking maps indoors in 2011,

In South Africa, Google has initially partnered with more than 30 organisations such as the Airports Company of SA, Gautrain, Tsogo, and mall management companies. Users can check the availability of floor plans online, and property owners can also upload plans.

"This is just the start - we'll continually add new indoor maps to public buildings throughout the country. In fact, any building owner can upload their maps on to Google by themselves."

Google's maps have not been without controversy, as regulators in six European countries - Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Britain and the Netherlands - have opened investigations into Google after it consolidated its 60 privacy policies into one and started combining data collected on individual users across its services, including YouTube, Gmail and Google Maps.

In 2012, Google expanded its live traffic coverage to SA. The traffic overlay on Google Maps shows current traffic conditions (with a colour-coded system that rates roads on a scale from fast to slow), and also provides estimated travel times based on traffic conditions.

Share