Google Maps Adds User Content

Google have today announced that higher quality user generated content in Google My Maps and in kml's will be added to Google search results in Google Maps.



This is good news for map developers. If your content shows up in Google Maps search results it will obviously drive significant traffic to your maps. This page tells you how you can submit your kml's to Google.

Via: Google LatLong: Will It Blend? Yes!

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San Francisco Transit Time Map

Transit Time Map

WalkScore have produced a Google Map mashup that can show you how far you can travel in San Francisco, Portland or Seattle on public transport in 15, 30 and 45 minutes. The map can show you how far you can travel on public transit from a given location and at any time of day.

The map was created using the Graphserver trip planner, which in turn uses data from OpenStreetMap.

Where Can I Live? does something similar in London. Where Can I Live? mashes up London tube journey times with properties for sale. The map therefore allows you to find properties within a set commute time from your work.

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Using Google Maps to Produce Heat Maps

HeatMapAPI

Heat maps are a graphical representation of data on a map through the use of colors to indicate the density of something. For example a heat map could be used to show the level of unemployment in different states.

The HeatMapAPI is an API that enables anyone to create their own heat maps. If you wish to use the HeatMapAPI the GeoChalkboard blog has a good tutorial on how to create a heat map with the API and Google Maps called Density Mapping in Google Maps with HeatMapAPI.

The GeoChalkboard tutorial shows you how to create a heat map using data showing Starbucks closure of 600 stores.

One alternative to the HeatMapsAPI is using Google's Visualization API with Google Spreadsheets. Ouseful has a good example of a heat map of Olympics medal winners created using Google Spreadsheets.

The Google Maps creation website Maker! also has an option to create coloured heat maps (Choropleth Maps).