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Have you ever been frustrated that Google Maps didn’t define your neighborhood well? Well, now you can draw the missing roads yourself.
Until now, Google Maps users could report a missing road by dropping a pin on the map where it should be and then submitting that information to Google. But the new tool will allow you to directly edit the roads, draw the path they need to take, and change their name or other details.
The ability to edit or add routes is being rolled out on the desktop version of Google Maps, so it will work whether you’re using a MacBook, Windows 10 PC, or Chromebook.
Google says it will be available “over the next few months” in more than 80 countries that may already report missing routes. But it doesn’t appear to have reached the UK yet – we still have the option of flagging a missing road, but not drawing it.
How to draw the missing roads in Google Maps
Fortunately, Google has provided a video showing how to use the feature and it certainly looks easy. Here is how it works.
To get started, launch Google Maps on your desktop or laptop computer.
Click on the menu on the right side, then scroll down and select “Edit Map.” Then select “Missing Road”.
You will now be able to add missing roads or modify the route followed by a road by drawing lines with the cursor.
You can also add a name for new roads, or change an incorrect name on an existing road, and change the directionality of the road if it is a one-way street and Google currently has it wrong.
Of course, these changes won’t just go live immediately – it would be chaos. Instead, all updates will be checked by Google Maps first, with this process taking up to seven days.
The new route editing feature is one of three additions to Maps, and Google explained that it’s all part of using “community-driven updates” to help people “get better.” decisions on what to do and where to go “.
The second new feature is “Photo Updates” – which will allow users to share an image of a place in Google Maps, without needing to leave a review or a rating. You can also include a brief description with the photo, which will make it easy to tell others in your area that a beach is particularly busy today or that a parking lot is closed for example.
It will be rolling out in the coming weeks and users will be able to find these photo updates by clicking the “Updates” tab when searching for a location in Google Maps.
Finally, Google encourages users to leave reviews and updates as part of a community challenge.
The pilot program will see Android users in the United States challenged to add ratings and reviews and to confirm information about local businesses. Google says it wants to update a total of 100,000 companies and can try it later in other countries.
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