We've all seen the familiar images of our cars, friends or family, on Google Maps images, maybe even held a crazy pose while the Google car drove by. The popular application layers maps, user data from smart phones, crowd sourced traffic information and the imagery from planes & cars. The Google map cars provide 360° views where you could be immortalized on the "street view" until an update goes through.

Google Maps History

It all started back more than 11 years ago at "Where 2 Technologies" with a C++ program. Designed by brothers, Lars and Jens Rasmussen, "Expedition" was mapping software. Software that can be downloaded for use is great, but what about the internet, which is what Google's Larry Page wanted when negotiating for the prototype. Google acquired the company in October, 2004. What made this application so different was the use of a new programming ability, AJAX, which allowed you to put pins in the map on the wall, "geolocation". Using Expedition' as the backbone, the team added traffic analysis and geospatial layers, turning it into the application we are familiar with today. Google Maps was launched in February of 2005, and has stayed popular and relevant due to its continued collaboration with the public, every-day-people collaboration, not just system engineers and programmers.

Google Maps vs Earth and Satellite

In the beginning, Google Earth and Maps were extremely different. Advances in technology and imagery are closing the gap, but the difference is a macro versus micro usage type. Earth has amazing layers associated with it such as, below water 360° scenes and aerial analytics you can zoom into. It is the difference between looking at a globe with topology versus a map with a topographical legend. Google Maps is extremely helpful if you need directions somewhere, but if you are doing an in depth analysis on erosion of a desert based on water and wind patterns, you will find Google Earth very helpful.

Places on Maps

The Wikipedia layer on Google Earth is one of large differences in recent years. The layer was removed from Maps because of little use, but replaced with 'Places' a user review driven information snippet. The Wikipedia layer has stayed on in Earth, which makes sense when you think about the reason for the application, to really dig in and analyze the earth. Rarely have I ever looked for directions to a building, needing to know the year it was built and exactly why it has historical significance. I'm sure there are people that would like to know that information, and that is why we have different applications with those features, like Google Earth.

Driving Direction and Bike Trails

Google Maps is magical and while it is able to be used on a macro level in conjunction with Google Earth to accomplish many things, most people just need to be able to get by. We use Maps to get to work on time, to pick up groceries and actually make dinner before it's time to put kids to bed. Of course, everyone did this before the internet, but now it's easier with a splash of fun. Did you know that you can find paved bike trails in almost every city so you can learn to ride a bike without worrying about getting hit by a car? People that go out to a bar actually use Maps, not to get directions, but to find someone to drive them home on Uber (a non-traditional taxi service).

Mapping and Javascript APIs

The mapping service still runs on a C++ back end with JavaScript adding APIs (Application Programming Interface). This one application provides driving directions for most of the world with the exception (maybe) of the north and south pole. Google allows access to APIs in a paid service, allowing users to design programs around the Maps application such as drawing on the map, designating where certain places are, or geocoding, the process of converting a specific address to longitude and latitudinal coordinates, which is way more useful.