Dear friends and dear “Roaders”,
last week I was able to reach my 100.000th new “added roads” to Google Maps and, in this long period, I kept tracing my activity willing to share with you what I learned.
The TRAC Campaign is a significant movement, bringing together volunteers passionate about improving digital maps. These contributors, often referred to themself as “ROADERS,” dedicate countless hours to enhancing the accuracy and comprehensiveness of maps, a task that is both challenging and rewarding.
A major concern among us volunteers, frequently discussed in our forum, is understanding the criteria for road submission approvals, which often result in a low approval rate.
It is understandable that after dedicating many hours to adding roads on Google Maps, the lack of approval for our work can lead to disappointment and frustration.
I know roaders that become discouraged and decide to stop editing
Even though there isn’t an official guide or technical information, I’ve noticed a few key factors that seem to influence whether or not a road submission gets approved.
I’ve learned that the process for getting new roads approved on Google Maps is quite complex. There are strict rules in place to make sure the maps are accurate and reliable.
Several factors can lead to a road submission being rejected (IMHO)
- Accuracy is key : Precision in drawing roads is a must. Any discrepancies in alignment, naming, or existence can result in rejection. Additionally, roads obscured by trees or shadows are often not approved due to visibility issues.
- Verification Process: Because accurate mapping is so important, there’s a strict verification process. First, an automated system (often called AI) checks the submissions. Then, human reviewers look at any cases that are unclear. If a road isn’t verified within 90 days, it’s removed and thus deleted. This happens more often during busy periods like the TRAC campaign.
- Data Overload: Large campaigns generate a high volume of submissions, which can overwhelm the system, leading to slower processing times.
- Quality Control: There is a belief among contributors that a “trust level” should be assigned to Local Guides, with higher levels indicating a greater trust and potentially influencing approval rates. Not only while drawing new roads.
- Geographic Areas: Contributors have noticed a variance in approval rates based on location. Remote areas, such as certain regions in Uzbekistan, tend to have lower approval rates compared to those near big cities. This is understandable; resources are limited and must prioritize activities.
“submitted roads” and “approved roads” and my consequent growth.
a total of 99095 new roads and receive an
80% of approval rate with 79385 new roads approved !
The dedication of the volunteers is commendable, and our feedback is invaluable for improving the road mapping process. Our collective experience highlights the need for clear guidelines and a more transparent approval system. Such improvements could not only enhance the efficiency of the process but also provide the much-needed recognition for the hard work of these committed individuals.
The disappointment of unapproved work is understandable, but it’s important to remember that each contribution, whether approved or not, is a learning opportunity and a step towards a more comprehensive and detailed map for users worldwide.
TRAC Campaign is an ongoing activity created by @SholaIB If you are looking for more information about this campaign please send a message to me or to Mr. Shola.
Any ideas, suggestions, or feedback regarding this argument will be appreciated.
Take care and enjoy
Marco
@SholaIB @Lukas_B @ErmesT @PrasadVR @JustJake @Designer_Biswajit @TerryPG @tony_b @MortenCopenhagen @NareshDarji @AdamGT @Kumaarsantosh @Ptrivedi @MrFreez @jayasimha78 @shaileno @HUMBERTO_V @JanVanHaver @LewisW92 @Sisakumar @OssianLore @Amiran @AMIR_121 @Berete1 @LovePathak28
