Tool for adding roads to Maps

[#1]

Road editing should be possible.

It should be possible to edit and add road sections as it was in Google map maker. At the moment it is only possible to this with the feedback Formular. The review process is to long and the quality of maps is getting worther day by day.

[LuisRG]

Hi @AnitaAO and thank you for your suggestion. You can already add any landmarks to Google Maps. As for adding roads, there is a broader idea similar to yours (adding and also editing) so I'm merging the two 🙂

[LuisRG]

Thanks for the idea @DanielSt. Editing roads is already available, as you can see in one of the screenshots shared (although not yet in all locations, that's true). I'll keep the idea open for voting because of the adding roads bit.

[MWJones]

@LuisRG

My current problem with the way "editing" roads are being done now is there is no easy way to "edit" complex issues. I am fortunate in that the imagery for my region is updated at least once a year, so Google always has a semi-accurate point of beginning for adding new roads, but like many new subdivisions, road names change when the direction changes. I have sent a complex request to one existing "segment" that said "when it goes this direction it is this name, when it goes another direction it is another name" and so on, but what I end up with a road that should have 3 or 4 names with 1 name.

Likewise, with adding new roads and with editing roads, they are being done by Googlers who appearantly have a large workload, because to submit any change seems to take weeks or months, if at all (see my suggestion on "Feedback Feedback"). I have requests dating back to April/May 2017 still pending as far as I know, since I never got any feedback. Under Map Maker, roads were live within HOURS if not MINUTES (some of that is attributed to the Regional Leads, like myself, that were the first line of review on most edits, and also due to auto-publishing by the platform)

The point of this idea is to provide a means for Local Guides, likely via an "advanced" editor (another idea I've suggested), to add/edit roads directly - much the way they were able to be done in Map Maker - so "intent" is easier to interpret. Even if those direct edits were still subject to Google review, the time on Google's side to review and publish would be much shorter.

I have many hand drawn maps, GPS tracks, and even photos taken by drone to back up my information - there is no means today for me to hand those over to Google and have the 100's of roads that have been added or changed in one city alone updated in a timely and accurate manner - a problem that could be resolved by allowing the direct drawing of roads.

[MWJones]

Another point I'll add to my previous remarks. There are many hike/bike trails that are being added as communities push towards being friendlier to those modes of transportation. In our area, many new trails are following existing waterways, and thus are undercover. Since the retirement of Map Maker, there is no easy way to report these new trails, as without some kind of a linear editor to draw the trails by the reporting party, a Google Employee is going to not have any means of accurately drawing these new trails short of an expert with "boots on the ground" (when I walk/bike my phone and fitness tracker both produce KML files from GPS data, so I have the easiest way to capture an accurate path, but again there is no means of submitting KML files).

Likewise there are at least two freeway interchanges that have had extensive ramp modifications, that even with updated imagery, it is hard to explain to another person exactly what is changed - and since Street View doesn't update nearly as frequently as the annual Satellite image updates this area gets, that can't always be trusted either.

[AnitaAO]

100% support on this, I posted on this something back, am glad someone is thinking in same direction @DanielSt

[VlLo]

Just a thought on this - 

If it has to pass moderation - a certain level of trusted LG might have an approach to some kind of a linear editor, maybe some sandboxed one,  which might be a tool for suggestions to some moderating or editing service... Suggestions might include types of routes, their extension/s and/or notes for moderators on how some map issues should be resolved - even some faster method of Road closure reporting...

I certainly miss MapMaker...

[Przemo]

Hello, 

The tool for adding road to Google Maps is needed. It may work like in old Google Map Maker: https://youtu.be/qyXTvj-Mm9k?t=44s

Reporting of missing roads (or new road report) doesn't work good – GMaps are always 2-3 months after community driven maps, like Waze or OpenStreetMaps. Many reports about minor local roads go to the black hole (it means: the roads are never published).

I can understand, that Google prefers to add road in his own resources, but I think that it should be simpler to check/review somebody's (LG) drawing, then to look for any resources and to draw it by Google workers who doesn't live here. I believe that new roads will earlier on Google Maps then now.

The idea applies also to paths, bicycle ways, tourist routes etc. 

It is also necessary to edit existing roads (geometry, connections, etc.).

Regards

    :-Przemo.

[Lazarus01]

I would like google maps to have a feature,  so like when you live in a city and the city changes a street name.  There should be a select option to be able to change the name. 

[StephenAbraham]

@Lazarus01 We can suggest road name change via the Send Feedback in Maps. Try this.

> Go to Maps app

> Seach for the road / location

> Menu, Send Feedback, Wrong Information

> Select the road you want to rename, Next

> Edit the name, add some note, 

> Send

Let us know how it goes after you try it. This will submit the change as a suggestion to Google Maps. 

[FelipePK]

Hey @Lazarus01, 

I just wanted to let you know that I've changed the label of your post to Google Maps. 😉

As it looks like you may be new to Connect, so I'll take this opportunity to share some information with you that you may find helpful in making your experience here on Connect much more enjoyable and easier to navigate:

• Search the community before posting as others may have asked your question (and received an answer) already.
• Use a descriptive title for your post to make it easier for people to know whether they should open it.
• This section of the site has some good tips on how to use the community and interact with your fellow Local Guides.
• For tips and best practices on using this community, you can check out this post.
• Please read the Local Guides program rules and Local Guides community policy before posting on Connect
• Sharing personal information on Connect is not encouraged, so feel free to use the private messaging option instead.

I hope that you'll the find this information useful!

See you soon and don't forget to introduce yourself in this month's Introduce Yourself topic. 🙂