Hello LG friends!
The TRAC community is delighted to welcome you all to the second day of the TRAC Spotlight Community Week.
TRAC (Thousand Roads Added Campaign) is not an event organized by Google or Connect; rather, it is a personal initiative spearheaded by Connect Moderator @SholaIB. The innovative concept of TRAC was conceived by SholaIB, and was kicked off on March 23, 2023, by himself and @LovePathak28 as his co-host.
Please note that TRAC is not a competition — it’s a simple campaign aimed at creating awareness about drawing and improving roads on Google Maps worldwide. There are no gifts or medals at the end of the campaign; it is a voluntary activity, just like all other Local Guides initiatives.
The first TRAC campaign began on March 23rd, 2023, with a goal of adding 3,000 roads over six months. However, the team surpassed this milestone within just a few weeks. Encouraged by this success, a new target of 10,000 roads was set—and that too was achieved within a few months. The target was then revised to an ambitious 50,000 roads for the campaign. Local Guides from 19 countries across 5 continents joined hands to reach this goal. Remarkably, contributions came from 6 continents (excluding Antarctica) and benefited 118 countries worldwide. The campaign was an outstanding success, ultimately adding 56,362 new roads to Google Maps.
The second campaign kicked off on March 23, 2024, and concluded on September 23, 2024, with an impressive total of 158,242 roads added to Google Maps.
The third TRAC campaign commenced on March 1, 2025, for a three-month duration, and involved around 100 Local Guides who formed three teams: The Runners, The seekers, The Masters. This format emphasized collaboration by promoting a winning team rather than an individual winner, thereby fostering a community spirit among local guides. To further support this, Local Guide @MarcoDavoli voluntarily took on the role of data collection and presentation of charts for TRAC, which greatly motivated the team. The campaign successfully added 137,667 roads to Google Maps, showcasing commendable teamwork.
After the 2025 campaign, five Local Guides were honored with the prestigious newly launched Road Mapping Champion badge by Local Guides Connect. It was a big surprise. This recognition is not only a great achievement for the recipients but also a source of pride and motivation for the entire TRAC team.
Following this, the first season of TORM (TRAC on Road Mapper) was held from October 1 to 31, hosted by @SholaIB and co-hosted by @JustJake. The season achieved an impressive total of 76,883 challenges and 62,571 kilometres.
This campaign involved many Local Guides and differed from previous TRAC campaigns in several significant ways:
- Road Mapper is not part of our public Google Maps profile.
- We don’t earn points as we contribute.
- The Challenges/Roads to be added are presented to us by the system.
- The activities are counted in Kilometers mapped and the number of Challenges completed.
- Road Mapper focuses on a few countries, where the Google team feels roads are most needed.
- Unlike regular roads on Google Maps, access to Road Mapper is invite-oriented and limited as well.
- Approvals here are relatively faster.
- Road Mapper works only on a Desktop/Laptop. You can’t add roads on Mobile.
- At present, only 10 countries are available for mapping missions.
The following 10 countries are available for the mapping mission:
This country is the largest in Central Africa and is home to the world’s second-largest rainforest. It has an incredible nature, including animals like the okapi and mountain gorillas.
Famous places:
Virunga National Park (home to gorillas and the active Mount Nyiragongo volcano), and Kahuzi-Biega National Park (for lowland gorillas).
Ethiopia is in the Horn of Africa and is known as the “Land of Origins.” It is one of the world’s oldest countries and is the birthplace of coffee. It has a unique, old history and culture.
Famous places:
The rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, the ancient city of Aksum, and the beautiful, high peaks of the Simien Mountains National Park.
- Lalibela: “A timeless stone miracle. Seeing those churches carved right into the earth is truly an unforgettable experience.”
- Simien Mountains: “The views are amazing! It’s an incredible spot for walking and seeing unique wildlife.”
India is a huge country in South Asia. It is famous for its vibrant culture, old history, and being the world’s largest democracy. It has everything from the snowy Himalayas to sunny, tropical beaches.
Famous places:
The Taj Mahal (Agra), the Golden Temple (Amritsar), the colorful markets of Jaipur (The Pink City), and the beaches of Goa.
- Varanasi (Kashi): It is known as the spiritual capital of India and one of the world’s oldest living cities. It is a very holy city on the banks of the sacred Ganges River, famous for its many riverfront steps (Ghats) and the evening fire ceremony (Ganga Aarti).
Kenya is in East Africa, famous as a world-class safari place. It is home to the Great Rift Valley and is one of the best places to see the “Big Five” animals.
Famous places:
Masai Mara National Reserve (for the Great Migration), Amboseli National Park (great views of Mount Kilimanjaro), and the beautiful Diani Beach.
- Masai Mara: “The most popular and important park. We saw so many animals, it was pure nature and magic.”
- Nairobi National Park: “An amazing surprise! A wildlife park right next to a major city with all the big cats and mammals.”
Myanmar is a Southeast Asian country with a rich Buddhist history. It is known for its thousands of ancient temples and pagodas and its beautiful natural areas.
Famous places:
The golden Shwedagon Pagoda (Yangon), the thousands of temples at Bagan, and the floating villages of Inle Lake.
- Shwedagon Pagoda: “The golden symbol of Myanmar. The architecture is stunning, especially at sunset.”
- Bagan: "A dream place for photographers. The hot air balloons over the ancient temples at sunrise were breathtaking.
Located in West Africa, Nigeria is often called the “Giant of Africa” because of its large number of people and different cultures (over 250 groups). It is a major place for business and culture.
Famous places:
Olumo Rock (Abeokuta), the Lekki Conservation Centre (Lagos), and the famous Zuma Rock near Abuja.
- Lekki Conservation Centre: “A great escape from the city rush. The canopy walkway is a fun way to see the natural scenery.”
- Olumo Rock: “A historical monument that tells a great story. The view from the top is fantastic.”
Pakistan is a South Asian country famous for its majestic mountains, including K2 (the world’s second-highest peak), and its deep history that includes ancient Indus Valley sites.
Famous places:
The beautiful mountain scenery of the Hunza Valley, the historic Lahore Fort (Mughal architecture), and the adventure hub of Skardu.
- Hunza Valley: “This valley has the most beautiful natural attractions in the country. The people are incredibly welcoming.”
- Naran Kaghan Valley: “Magnificent natural scenery! The lakes and forests make for a perfect mountain getaway.”
South Africa is at the southern tip of Africa, known as the “Rainbow Nation” for its many different cultures. It has beautiful coasts, famous winelands, and important historical sites.
Famous places:
Kruger National Park (a top safari spot), Table Mountain (Cape Town), the scenic Garden Route, and the historic Robben Island.
- Kruger National Park: “The ultimate Big 5 safari. It’s the best place to see Africa’s greatest diversity of wildlife.”
- Table Mountain: “The views from the top are incredible—you can see the whole city and coastline! A must-do in Cape Town.”
Tanzania is an East African country that is home to Mount Kilimanjaro (Africa’s highest peak) and some of the world’s most famous wildlife parks. It also includes the popular islands of Zanzibar.
Famous places:
Serengeti National Park (The Great Migration), the Ngorongoro Crater, Mount Kilimanjaro, and the beautiful beaches of Zanzibar.
- Serengeti National Park: “An awe-inspiring journey into the wild. The vast plains are unbelievable and full of life.”
- Zanzibar: “Pristine beaches and perfect views. Great for a relaxing break after a safari!”
Uganda is known as the “Pearl of Africa” because of its lush, green lands. It’s famous for being the source of the Nile River and for its successful efforts in gorilla protection.
Famous places:
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (for gorilla trekking), Murchison Falls, and Jinja (where you can see the source of the River Nile).
- Bwindi Forest: “The gorilla trekking experience is one of the best things I have ever done. Seeing the mountain gorillas up close is worth every penny.”
- Murchison Falls: "Where the mighty Nile squeezes through a tiny crack. The power of the water is a spectacular sight! (Courtesy: It’s the summary of personal experiences of Tracians and from Google)
Major Differences Between Google Maps and Road Mapper
| S.No | Feature | Direct Road Edits on Google Maps | Road Mapper Tool |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Access | Open to all Local Guides | Invite-Only. Access is granted to select Local guides based on submitting an application. |
| 2 | Focus and Geographic Availability | Focused on general road and place editing/updates. Generally available in many countries for editing roads, except for some restricted regions. | Focused primarily on the selected priority areas. Challenges/Roads to be added are presented to users by the system only in specific countries. At present, only 10 countries are available for mapping missions, including DR Congo, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Myanmar (Burma), Nigeria, Pakistan, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda. |
| 3 | Platforms | Works on Desktop/Laptop and mobile devices. | Works only on a Desktop/Laptop (web browser). Not supported on mobile devices. |
| 4 | Profile Visibility | The number of roads added is displayed on the Maps Local Guide profile. | Activity is not part of your public Google Maps Local Guide profile. The details can be seen in the dashboard tab on the Road Mapper tool. |
| 5 | Points/Gamification | Contributors earn 15 points per road added (approved ones) | Contributors do not earn points for roads added. |
| 6 | Activity Tracking | Activities are counted in terms of the Number of roads edited/added. | Activities are counted in Kilometers mapped, and number of challenges submitted. |
What began as a small personal initiative has grown into a global phenomenon, a reflection of the Local Guides spirit at its finest. The 350,000+ roads added are not just figures on a map but symbols of collaboration, passion, and perseverance from Local Guides around the world. This dedication has turned the TRAC campaign into a vibrant community (TRAC Community), one that beautifully captures the true spirit of Connect.
This post is part of a collaborative series with @AdrianLunsong, Countdown to Community Spotlight 2025! #10YearsOfLocalGuides, featuring several remarkable posts shared and to be shared during November and December.
On behalf of TRAC Community, special thanks to our Spotlight Week Planning Team, Captain @SholaIB, @kumaarsantosh (The chairman of the planning team), @Mrfreez, @jayasimha78, @Justjake, and @SarathUpendran.
Stay tuned as we celebrate our Spotlight Week and showcase what makes TRAC shine!
Happy TRAC spotlight week!
Cheers!
