After completing my undergraduate program from engineering college, I was really into the local guide as full-time. I really don’t have any advanced technical equipment with me at that time or I was not able to afford them. I was just having my smart phone with me all the time when outside and desktop PC at home to edit or add something on Google Maps. I belong to the very remote area in the northern state of India, Punjab where no body had any idea regarding GPS or Maps at that time. My village was on Maps but nothing was labelled. So, I start the project to show my village or local area to all the people. I add schools, banks, government offices, police station, factories, cremation ground, toll plazas, traffic stops, bus stand, grocery shops, focal points, temples, mosques and Gurudwaras (Sikh Temples). The main challenge was to add the Road names as everything was named “unnamed”. Moreover, in India the Google Earth feature is not permitted by Government so it was really hard to fact check or even to add new place. So, I just select the required area on Maps and send it to Google’s technical team as feedback to update the Maps. Well, it took weeks them to see my request and update the area with new structures. At least, I have the satisfaction that they are considering my request for the place which is far from the major cities or town and only surrounded by small mountains known as Shivalik Hills.
The reason behind my self to dedicate my most of time to Local Guide is to convince people to use it if they want to visit as such place. I was very happy to see when people put the reviews on that places and expresses their concerns. It would look small thing to those who are living in major cities and have access to all the facilities. But from the view point of my area, it is a big thing to enlist their businesses on the platform like Google Maps.
Even after coming to Canada (2 years ago), I really never leave the chance to edit or add any place or information whenever I got time. I really like it and always look to help others and even Google.
Thank You
Local Guide 7 as kirat sarao