From some of the #LGCTM posts you might already have learned that - under certain circumstances - you can make edits for places far away from where you currently are. But how long has it been since you went out and visited that other part of town, perhaps just 2 blocks away, where you usually have no reason to visit it? So, why not make a visit now, with your #LGCTM glasses on?
I did just that yesterday, and within an hour’s walk was able to mark 5 places as closed (3 were out of business, 2 other were duplicates) - so I would say: it’s definitely something you should give a try yourself too!
This post is part of a series of tips in the Local Guides Clean The Map project.
33 Likes
Hi @JanVanHaver ,
Please elaborate. Are you having Google Maps open on your phone all the time and constantly comparing what’s on the map to the real world?
Are you using the satellite view?
How do you get around the fact that not all places show up even when zoomed in all the way?
Spotting permanently closed stores is straight forward, but how do you find duplicates while out and about. Do you really make a Text Search for each and every business you walk past?
I love your idea, but I also want to learn more specific tricks. I walk a lot but my phone is mostly out to take pictures rather than checking the listings.
Cheers
8 Likes
@JanVanHaver great idea. I personally regularly practice that where I go, try to google map open. Find out duplicate, spam location & information. Most of the edits live in short time. Thanks for sharing your idea.
4 Likes
Hi @iorikun301 I think you love to share your idea here. Thanks @JanVanHaver for your idea 
2 Likes
I have a question about the way you do it, @JanVanHaver :
“So basically what you is: (1) choose the neighbourhood that you’re going to walk; (2) zooming in to that area in Google Maps, so all the places/POI in the area would showed up; (3) checking the fact/information of each POI on the Maps and at the real world; and (4) edit/remove them if there is any spam/duplicate/closed permanently business?”
Thank you :))
4 Likes
Hi, Kak @NunungAfuah .
I think I’m going to finish my today’s #LGCTM Meet Up recap first and try to find out is there something that we can learned of.
Thanks for tagging. This topic is really interest me… :))
1 Like
@MortenCopenhagen @iorikun301 thanks for the feedback. I will go into more detail later today.
3 Likes
This is really great, Jan! Also, thank you so much for your encouragement on my post. I am so happy to hear you enjoyed my Google Maps list. I’d love to stay connected regarding your podcast, so please email me at ashleynsundquist if you’d like me to participate.
1 Like
@MortenCopenhagen @iorikun301 as promised, here are some addtional details about my modus operandi. Typically I just walk down the street with my cell phone in my hand (make sure it is fully charged when you start your trip
) and I then use Maps in satellite mode - typically zoomed in already quite a bit. The edits I reported in the tip were just the ones that relate to #LGCTM, but I always make all the kinds of edits I come across. On the trip yesterday that also meant adding a few new places, correcting some map markers, etc.
On my LG trips, I also take pictures, especially if I come across places that have no pictures yet (I hate those grey placeholders, and I love adding first pictures - I had proposed on Idea Exchange to award double points for 1st pictures, but that was unfortunately not possible). Those pictures I immediately take and upload from the Maps app on my phone. So: no postproduction, but I do take care to get the framing and light a bit decent, and often have to wait a bit to let passers-by move on to avoid having recognizable faces in the pictures.
As for the duplicates @MortenCopenhagen : when I’m out there, I only take care of the duplicates that show up right away on the map - the true detective mode only gets switched on whem I’m sitting comfortably in my sofa (I hardly ever make edits on the desktop).
6 Likes
Thanks for adding the extra details, @JanVanHaver . Much appreciated.
1 Like
Hi, @JanVanHaver .
I think your two-blocks-away method is the best way to do the #LGCTM. We, Local Guides, really walks down on our neighbourhood, and sweeping POIs that’s possibly closed business, duplicate places, or even spam. Because we’re not just searching through the Google Maps, but we also could verify/check the facts.
Yes, the Map Edit Walk like this could only reach little area, maybe one or two hours of walk. And the number of POIs that we’ve found and edit are only few. But it’s about quality not quantity. And having fun.
Yesterday I’ve tried 12 of #LGCTM’s Tips & Tricks you’ve shared. Here’s the link: [RECAP] #LGCTM Malang Jilid 2 di Batu (it’s full in Indonesian and some local slang words. Maybe it would a little bit difficult for Google to translate it properly. Pardon me).
And I’ve found this Two-Blocks-Away method is the best way to do the #LGCTM. And even we couldn’t really walking at the area, we can try the Virtual Map Edit Walk! Hahaa…
Which is we set the route we’re going to “walk” on, activate the satellite view, zooming in to the Maps, and start to “walk”. Methodically and not just randomly swarming through the Maps.
But this virtual walk, in my opinion, is only works to find and edit duplicate POIs. For closed business and spam I wont recommend it, because it needs further fact checking.
Cc. @NunungAfuah
2 Likes
Indeed @iorikun301 somec of the tips are more useful when your out & about, others when you’re at home - bit that simply gives you an excuse to keep mapping all day long 
1 Like