Hi experts,
I am editing (since the era of Google Map maker) and using Google Map since 2011. Meanwhile, unable to understand how this segment (29.556356, 79.602756)
Hi @HsRawal
It seems this road was added through the Google Road Mapper, which is why it is visible on the map. In normal road editing on Google Maps, there are no chances of approval without connecting the road.
@NareshDarji How it is possible that it was added through Road mapper ? No road visible in satellite view. I am local of this region and travelling once a month. Roads added through road mapper also must have visible in satellite view. Meanwhile, here is no road in satellite view. Please guide
@NareshDarji ji, It appears the road is connected at one end.
Hi @HsRawal , I think it’s difficult to find how this road was approved. I am just sharing my experience: I do find many such types of roads added to Google Maps, and normally when I find them, I just edit and fix them.
Hello @HsRawal I see the same thing regarding the road that Mr. Prasad @PrasadVR is identifying as a connecting road. I checked the coordinates you provided, and the road appears connected there, just as Mr. Prasad described.
I don’t think it would be accurate to simply label this as a standard “Road Mapper” road. While Road Mapper does include connecting roads, such a road can also appear due to GPS traces or AI-generated mapping. I have read in the context of geotechnology that if someone commutes along a specific route with their mobile phone, GPS traces can sometimes cause such a road to be reflected in the backend mapping data.
Therefore, Mr. Rawal, if you travel that route regularly, you can verify locally whether there is an actual road, a narrow lane, or merely a footpath. If there is no road at all, it can be reported as a mapping error. However, if a path or trail does exist, GPS traces or AI-generated mapping could be the reason for its appearance.
The fact that the road isn’t visible in the satellite view could be due to the satellite imagery being slightly outdated satellite imagery isn’t always real-time, and it can take time for new changes to appear.
The road is quite clearly visible in the satellite coordinates. So, the best approach is to verify it locally to see what actually exists on the ground.
Thanks
@PrasadVR ji I know reality of this segment of the road and saw lot of such roads without any road visible in satellite view specially in hilly terrain of my region. Only Google’s algorithm can make such roads with the help of people’s location data. I will reveal factual status of this road in next few days.
Hi @HsRawal ji, I know you have rich experience in road editing, and I just shared my own experience. You make a very good point about algorithms and location data in hilly areas. Looking forward to your ground check and hearing the actual status in a few days.
غالبا في اليمن يكون فيه طريق قديم لكنه صعب او خطر فيتم شق طريق افضل.
حاولت اشوف الصورالقديمة عن طريق قوقل ايرث لكن ما وجت طريق!
حصلت بيت وكلام @shaileno ممكن يكون صحيح بس ما عندنا ما يثبت.
في حالات اخرى يكون الطريق موجود نتيجة عملية حذف لكن هذا متصل.
شكرا لمشاركتك هذه التجربة ولو عندك رغبة انا طورت برنامج يسرع في اضافة الطرق باختصارات من الكيبورد
تحياتي.
Welcome back to Connect, @HsRawal .
I think all the possible reasons for a wrong road to be present in Google Maps where already explained.
The road you shared seems to trace the river’s course almost exactly, even though it is offset by about 50 meters. This is less unusual than it might seem, as satellite imagery updates can cause this type of issue. In fact, Maps might have automatically captured the road in the past by misinterpreting the river’s path as a road. I tried checking Google Earth’s historical imagery; while I did see an offset in 2017, it was on the opposite side.
@khmansour1 - Ctrl + H should activate them
In any case, this type of automatic capture was soon abandoned, likely precisely because of these kinds of errors. However, recently—with the use of AI—it seems to be making a comeback:
- Google Earth AI: Unlocking geospatial insights with foundation models and cross-modal reasoning
- Geospatial solutions and analytics – Google Maps Platform
When the desktop Road Editor was launched, I conducted numerous tests specifically to correct this type of error, managing to restore Street View in many areas of Italy: Correct Road Shapes in Google Maps - "Follow the Blue Line"
As for Roadmapper, in my opinion, it caused numerous problems in the past precisely because of the ease with which many edits were approved; I myself encountered areas containing completely incorrect road segments. I spent a lot of time correcting them.
I agree with @PrasadVR about removing it (I see an edit has been done already just today)
Hello,
Thanks all of you for your expertise ideas @ErmesT @NareshDarji @khmansour1 @PrasadVR @shaileno
Actually here is road which has been constructed 6 months ago due to heavy landslide at here : Google Maps in the existing NH 109. I am regularly travelling through this road, but due to non availability of latest satellite view could not draw the road. Meanwhile, Google map itself has drawn this road which surprised me. I have notices such roads in many other areas (specially in hilly terrain). Final words No road visible in satellite imaginary view but google draw a road there !! In my own experience it can be possible if
user/drivers are sharing their location data (gps) with Google Map.
Regards,
Anytime @HsRawal
I’d suggest you take a look at these blogs. You may find them interesting.
@HsRawal , I am a bit confused due to all the “here”.
Do you mean that this piece of road is closed?
This one doesn’t exist
and there is another road somewhere, not visible on satellite view?
Thank you for explaining this so clearly, @ErmesT. What you said about algorithms confusing a river for a road, and the satellite image shifting, makes total sense.
Thank you @HsRawal for sharing this. Google can draw roads using drivers’ GPS paths. But we cannot tell if a computer drew this road or if a someone mapped it earlier when the satellite picture was clearer.
First, @HsRawal & @PrasadVR please excuse me for interrupting your conversation. Mr. Prasad, you are right that someone might have marked the road after seeing a clear image, but satellite imagery is not the only method used to create roads on Google Maps. Google’s AI system automatically draws roads by processing users’ backend GPS data (such as speed and direction) - even if the satellite image is blurry or obscured by trees. Therefore, it is quite possible that this was generated via GPS/AI.
Please read this GOOGLE BLOG