Hi, I plan to create a poll using Google Forms to ask users about their preferences for how photos show on the map, and how you contribute photos, and focused mostly on the location. I know there are a lot of geolocated photography enthusiasts like me here and I wanted to get your suggestions on the questions to ask.
Below is a rough draft of what I have so far for questions. What do you think about the questions and the poll in general?
Do you have a better phrase for Photo Location (vs POI Location)? Do you know where I can find a list of all the categories of POIs in Google’s system?
Poll: Photos Locations in Google Maps & Earth
Description:
The system of user contribution to Google’s mapping products Maps and Earth has evolved in many ways in recent months and years. Some of these changes include the closure of Panoramio, closure of Map Maker, introduction and closure of Views, introduction of the Local Guides program, and changes to Maps itself. This poll focuses on user-contributed photos, and the location in which they are placed on the map. We hope to learn how you use and contribute to this system, and what you would prefer regarding photo locations. At the least, this can add to the discussion.
Definitions
Photos Layer: A layer that can be displayed in Google Maps and Earth that shows user-taken photos.
True location: This is the location from where the photo was taken (latitude/longitude coordinates saved in the photo file’s EXIF data) which was recorded by the phone, camera, or the user.
POI: Point of interest. For example, this is a business or natural feature that shows on Google Maps/Earth, may have contact info, reviews, photos, etc. associated with it.
POI location: This is the location of the POI on Google Maps/Earth.
Required questions
(Questions in this section must be answered to submit. After this section, questions are optional.)
Have you used Google Maps?
Yes, No
Have you used Google Earth (desktop Windows/Mac software)?
Yes, No
Have you used Google Earth (web browser)?
Yes, No
Have you viewed photos of a place in Google Maps?
Yes, No
Have you viewed the Photos Layer in Google Maps (which shows photos for the current map area)?
Yes, No
Have you viewed the Photos Layer in Google Earth?
Yes, No
Do you believe some photos that aren’t associated with a specific POI can still be useful to see in the photos layer in Google Maps/Earth (if they have location data)?
Yes, No
Would you prefer that the Google Maps and Google Earth photos layers show photos at their Photo Location on the map (where the photo was taken) instead of the POI Location (place listing) in some situations?
Yes, No
Suppose the location where you took a photo showed in Google Maps/Earth after you uploaded it to Maps. Would privacy concerns cause you to stop adding photos and/or remove previously added photos?
Yes, No
Do you worry that showing the Photo Location of photos may cause more people to visit and result in damage to sensitive natural places?
Yes, No
As a Google Maps user
(Please only answer the questions in this section if you have used Google Maps… probably everyone)
In the Google Maps photos layer, I would prefer that:
All photos be pinned at their true location,
All photos be pinned at their POI location,
Some photos be pinned at the Photo Location and some at the POI Location depending on category of the place or other criteria
In the Google Maps photos layer, I would prefer photos of business storefronts be pinned at their:
True Location, POI Location
In the Google Maps photos layer, I would prefer photos of landscape places that are typically associated with a point or small area such as waterfalls and mountain peaks, be pinned at their:
Photo Location, POI Location
In the Google Maps photos layer, I would prefer photos of landscape places that are typically associated with a large area such as national parks, be pinned at their:
Photo Location, POI Location
As a Google Earth user
(Please only answer the questions in this section if you have used Google Earth)
In the Google Earth photos layer, I would prefer:
All photos be pinned at their Photo Location,
All photos be pinned at their POI Location,
Some photos be pinned at the Photo Location and some at the POI Location depending on category of the place or other criteria
In the Google Earth photos layer, I would prefer photos of businesses be pinned at their:
Photo Location, POI Location
In the Google Earth photos layer, I would prefer photos of landscape places that are typically associated with a point or small area such as waterfalls and mountain peaks, be pinned at their:
Photo Location, POI Location
In the Google Earth photos layer, I would prefer photos of landscape places that are typically associated with a large area such as national parks, be pinned at their:
Photo Location, POI Location
As a photo contributor
(Please only answer the questions in this section if you have contributed, or plan to contribute photos to Google’s mapping products - Maps/Earth/Panoramio/Views/etc. Also note that currently photos uploaded using Google Maps do not show at their Photo Location in Maps no matter how it is viewed. However, photos uploaded using Street View mobile app do show at their Photo Location when using the photos layer. The Google Earth team has stated: “The majority of the new (non-Panoramio) photos uploaded via Google Maps and Local Guides do not have true coordinates/GPS coordinates associated with them in our database […] they didn’t consent to showing this accurate location during the upload process.”)
In the photos upload process, I would like the option for my photo contributions to retain their Photo Location data when available for use with Maps/Earth.
Yes, No
Have you contributed photos/photospheres using the Google Street View mobile app?
Yes, No
Have you contributed photos to Panoramio?
Yes, No
Are you concerned about your privacy as it relates to the photos you contribute to Google Maps/Earth and the mapped location?
Yes, No