Google Maps gets more detailed in colorful update

Google has posted on its blog the upcoming updates to Google Maps. Over the past few years, Google has been steadily adding useful features and information to Maps, and it’s time for the maps themselves to be updated. Google used a color mapping algorithm to correctly color the maps representing different terrains and geographic features.

Google map of Iceland: old (left), new (right)

The result is a “more comprehensive and dynamic map of an area on a global scale”. Lakes, rivers, and oceans are blue, beaches and deserts are tanned, and lush areas are green.

According to Google, you will notice an improvement whether you are looking at a large city or a small rural town.

“Soon” we will be able to see more accurate maps of streets, sidewalks and pedestrian islands at a more precise scale. Google plans to start rolling out more detailed road maps of London, New York and San Francisco “in the coming weeks” with the intention of expanding to more cities over time.

Source