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This article is somewhat misleading about the exceptional nature of Google Map's road network data, particularly the claim that "I came away convinced that the

This article is somewhat misleading about the exceptional nature of Google Map's road network data, particularly the claim that "I came away convinced that the geographic data Google has assembled is not likely to be matched by any other company." In reality, though it seems the journalist didn't bother to try and find out, all the leading electronic mapping companies(the ones that have been building electronic maps for decades, long before Google got interested) have this level of data too.

paganel 9y ago
Google StreetView is unparalleled by any other map-maker that I know of. Yandex is doing something very similar for Russia and some other parts of the world (like Istanbul), I think Microsoft has been doing (is it still doing it?) the same for the Unites States, and probably some Chinese company has been doing the same for China. But Google's effort is the only one that is truly at a global scale. I'm biased because I really do love everything about maps and what they represent, but I think in retrospect Google StreetView will be seen as having the same cultural significance as the Library of Alexandria had back in the day. It has literally made almost the whole physical world accessible from the devices that we carry in our pockets.
- trevyn 9y ago
  There's a lot of knowledge that is not encoded in the layout of physical buildings. ;) Until they integrate Google Books into VR libraries. ;)
- jonp888 9y ago
  True, Google StreeView is unique. However, this article is not about Streetview, it is about the polar opposite - the invisible, detailed metadata about lanes, junctions, speed limits and manouveuring restrictions that is neccessary for autonomous driving.
- tuukkah 9y ago
  Mapillary is global and they keep pushing the boundaries of applications of street-level imagery - including building a semantic model of the world for applications such as robotic cars.

paganel 9y ago

Google StreetView is unparalleled by any other map-maker that I know of. Yandex is doing something very similar for Russia and some other parts of the world (like Istanbul), I think Microsoft has been doing (is it still doing it?) the same for the Unites States, and probably some Chinese company has been doing the same for China. But Google's effort is the only one that is truly at a global scale. I'm biased because I really do love everything about maps and what they represent, but I think in retrospect Google StreetView will be seen as having the same cultural significance as the Library of Alexandria had back in the day. It has literally made almost the whole physical world accessible from the devices that we carry in our pockets.

trevyn 9y ago
There's a lot of knowledge that is not encoded in the layout of physical buildings. ;) Until they integrate Google Books into VR libraries. ;)
jonp888 9y ago
True, Google StreeView is unique. However, this article is not about Streetview, it is about the polar opposite - the invisible, detailed metadata about lanes, junctions, speed limits and manouveuring restrictions that is neccessary for autonomous driving.
tuukkah 9y ago
Mapillary is global and they keep pushing the boundaries of applications of street-level imagery - including building a semantic model of the world for applications such as robotic cars.