Google Maps tries physical landmarks for navigation
In countries with well-developed transportation infrastructure, it isn’t too weird to see mapped directions by street and split by distance. In other countries, and in some North American areas, the infrastructure isn’t that well developed and it becomes tough to navigate or give/take directions unless we make use of physical landmarks. Google Maps India is doing this, changing its way of offering mapped directions to include the use of physical landmarks, many of which have been added by the community through Google Map Maker.
According to the Google India blog:
“Our new algorithm determines from available signals, which of these landmarks are most useful for navigation, based on importance and closeness to the turns that you’re making. We now combine landmark data, counted turns (”the 2nd right”), intersection names, and road names, and try to use whatever information is most relevant and useful for the direction you’re heading in.”
Not only will the new features be available with Google Maps on the desktop for providing information about where to turn and providing confirmation that travellers are on the right route, but also on Google Maps for Mobile for those with cellphones.
