I am a Geospatial Professional of 20 years. I started cartography and mapping before Google was even thought of. For years our industry has been monitoring and watching Google Maps and wondering how long it would take for Google Maps to dominate. It is fair to say that a large portion of the human race use Google Maps.
But is the data correct?
Geospatial, maps, locations, cartography is only good when your data is good. Just because everyone uses it doesn't mean its good.
Main Issue
Within our industry we, Geospatial Professionals, are often the data custodians of spatial data such as Street Addresses, Roads, and Property Boundaries. There are serious implications involved in making sure this data is accurate. Within in New Zealand, Local Government Agencies are tasked with maintaining and administering the local Street Addresses, Roads, and other spatial layers. This is vital to how that area will function across all walks of life. For example getting from A to B. Having your mail delivered. Ensuring customers find your business. A crucial reason is having Emergency Services, such as an Ambulance, find your house. Without accurate data the wheels start to fall off.
The Project
Over the past year I have worked with a Local Government Agency, Hauraki District Council, helping them create, maintain, and administer accurate Street Addresses and Roads. The project was mainly centered around a small town by the name of Waihi, a population of around 4,500 people. The main aim of this project was:
- Analyse the existing Street Addresses and Roads.
- Create a report of changes needed to clean up a historic mess.
- Work with the public to ensure minimal disruption to their lives by proposing major Street Address and Road Name changes.
- Make the changes.
- Notify the public, businesses, emergency services, all mapping agencies who have maps, of the changes.
GOOGLE MAPMAKER AND GOOGLE MAPS DROPPED THE BALL
What went wrong
During the Project Analysis phase in December 2015 we discovered that Google had Google MapMaker. A tool to let you change Street Addresses and Roads. We read a bunch of documents stating what the tool would do, we included this in the project change phase, and then we carried on with the project. So what was the issue you ask?
- We started changing 700 Street Addresses in January 2016.
- We also had to change 15 Roads to new Road Names, changed their direction, extend some roads.
- By February 2016 we had finished. All EDITS, as Google MapMaker called them, were lodged. Now we sit back and wait until Google MapMaker changes them.
NO ACTION FROM GOOGLE MAPMAKER
March 2016 rolls around, no change.
May 2016 rolls around, no change.
July 2016 rolls around no change.
Call Google, get routed to 7 different departments around the world. Finally the Nexus team respond to my call and say they cant do anything BECAUSE GOOGLE MAPS IS FREE.
FREE INDEED, but very incorrect.
It is now April 2017 and now with Google MapMaker gone, all our pending edits are gone. We have started to add more edits, we are told they are published, NO CHANGE TO GOOGLE MAPS. THE SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK.
MAJOR ISSUES DUE TO INCORRECT MAP DATA ON GOOGLE MAPS
- People are not getting their mail.
- People cant sign up for Internet, Gas, Power, etc, because those companies rely on FREE Google Maps to verify an address (that is incorrect).
- Emergency Services are going to the wrong house when a 111 call is placed. People are dying.
- Kids are getting lost because they cant find their homes.
- Other Local and Central Government Agencies are now starting to have the same issue.
MESSAGE TO GOOGLE
- We have the correct spatial data. You dont.
- We want to give you the correct spatial data. Please take it and upload it to Google Maps.
- Please do something. You are ruining your own reputation in a country that is now starting to get annoyed with your FREE Google Maps service.
[CONTACT INFO REDACTED]
2022
