The Google Satellite interactive map is a free service from the well-known Google corporation.
The service provides access to verified cartographic information from almost any region of the planet, including the location and purpose of objects.
In this case, the display occurs in several modes and without advertisements and other unnecessary data.
Google created the service using satellite views and collected photographs of the Earth's surface.
The result is a service like Google Earth - without some features, but working online.
Working with the map
When working with Google Maps, there are several options for presenting information:
- In the usual form, reminiscent car atlas, with the names of settlements, streets and other objects;
- A satellite map shown not in real time, but in the form of photos from space taken some time ago (images are constantly updated). In this case, street names, house numbers and other information from the map are superimposed on top of the images.
Switching modes is done using the icon in the lower left corner of the map.
Previously, there were three modes, including a regular satellite photo without captions, but the service abandoned the last option, combining it with regular card.
Although names can still be disabled by selecting “Hide names” in the service menu.
The scale of the maps is based on the Mercator projection and remains constant. This means that as you approach the equator, the distances between the meridians increase.
Linking to the Google Maps globe is carried out using a similar service - Google Earth.
Detailed maps exist only for large populated areas.
For suburban areas and, especially, uninhabited areas, there are practically no clear photographs, and the resolution of the photographs is lower. Sometimes the area is hidden by clouds or their shadows.
Interface Features
The service works using search queries. Input keyword is compared with the marks on the map, and if there is a match, an image of the found location is displayed on the screen.
At the same time, in addition to the map, the weather forecast is shown, and the opportunity to view photos and panoramic images of the surrounding area (if available) is provided.
The picture switches to atlas mode in the same way.
A route planning service can also be useful, thanks to which you can find out:
- What routes can you take to get to the specified place?
- Distance from one point to another;
- Travel time on personal and public transport;
- Numbers of buses or metro stations that can be used to travel the required distance.
Using the navigation panel you can configure high quality and image accuracy. And right while using any other function of the service.
If necessary, the image can be shown in a different projection - side view. And the routes are chosen using not only vehicles, but also bicycles.
Information about moving from one point to another on foot is also available.
Possibilities
Among the additional features of the service is the ability to view the chronology of your movements - unless, of course, the application is built into the desktop browser, but is installed on a mobile gadget or laptop.
In this case, Google maps will allow you to view all visits since the installation of the program.
In addition, for a mobile gadget, the Google Maps service provides the ability to download offline maps of Russia or another country.
Thus, even if you find yourself without a connection, but with a smartphone or tablet, you can use map data, although without reference to the area.
All this is available for both iOS and Android devices.
If you still have the Internet, you can see online not only routes and objects, but also see, for example, where the nearest gas station is and even the price of fuel.
A traffic jam search function is available for populated areas. It even provides details such as traffic density and possible detour routes.
Advice! The option will be useful for traveling to and from work, and when planning an out-of-town trip.
Traffic viewing service
Google Maps is a leader among modern mapping services that provide satellite interactive maps online. At least a leader in the field of satellite imagery and in the number of various additional services and tools (Google Earth, Google Mars, various weather and transport services, one of the most powerful APIs).
In the field of schematic maps, at some point, this leadership “was lost” in favor of Open Street Maps - a unique mapping service in the spirit of Wikipedia, where every volunteer can contribute data to the site.
However, despite this, the popularity of Google Maps remains perhaps one of the highest of all other mapping services. Part of the reason is that Google Maps is where we can find the most detailed satellite photos for the largest regions of any country. Even in Russia such a large and successful company as Yandex cannot surpass the quality and coverage of satellite photographs, at least in its own country.
With Google Maps, anyone can view satellite photos of the Earth for free almost anywhere in the world.
Image quality
Pictures of himself high resolution usually available for the world's largest cities in America, Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Asia, Oceania. Currently, high-quality images are available for cities with a population of more than 1 million inhabitants. For less major cities and others settlements Satellite images are only available in limited resolution.
Possibilities
Google Maps or “Google Maps” was a real discovery for Internet users and indeed all PC users, giving an unheard of and previously unseen opportunity to look at their home, their village, cottage, lake or river where they vacationed in the summer - from a satellite. To see it from above, from a perspective from which it would be impossible to see it under any other circumstances. The discovery, the very idea of giving people easy access to satellite photos fits harmoniously into general concept Google is “making it easy for everyone to access every piece of information on the planet.”
Google Maps allows you to see from a satellite simultaneously those things and objects that cannot be observed at the same time when observed from the ground. Satellite maps differ from ordinary ones in that simple maps colors and natural forms of natural objects are distorted by editorial processing for further publication. However, satellite photographs preserve all the naturalness of nature and the objects being photographed, natural colors, shapes of lakes, rivers, fields and forests.
Looking at the map, one can only guess what is there: a forest, a field or a swamp, while on satellite photography it is immediately clear: objects, usually round or oval in shape, with a unique swamp color, are swamps. The light green spots or areas in the photograph are fields, and the dark green ones are forests. With enough experience in orientation in Google Maps, you can even distinguish whether it is a coniferous forest or a mixed one: coniferous has more brown tint. Also on the map you can distinguish specific broken lines piercing the forests and fields of the vast Russian expanses - these are railways. Only by looking from a satellite can you understand that railways are much larger highways influence the natural landscape around them. Also in Google Maps It is possible to overlay maps with the names of regions, roads, settlements on a national scale and the names of streets, house numbers, metro stations on a city scale on a satellite image of an area or city.
Map mode and satellite view mode
In addition to satellite images, it is possible to switch to the “map” mode, in which it is possible to view any territory on the surface of the Earth and study in detail the layout and location of houses of any more or less large city. In the "map" mode it is especially convenient to plan your movements around the city if you have already seen enough satellite views of your city.
The search function by house number will easily point you to the desired house, giving you the opportunity to “look around” the area around this house and how you can drive up/approach it. To search for the required object, just type in Russian in the search bar a query like: “City, street, house number” and the site will display to you the location of the object you are looking for using a special marker.
How to use Google Maps
To begin, open some place.
To move around the map, left-click on the map and drag it in any order. To return to the original position, press the centering button located between the four direction buttons.
To enlarge the map, click on the button "+" or roll the mouse roller when the cursor is over the map. You can also enlarge the map double click mouse in the location you are interested in.
To switch between satellite, mixed (hybrid) and map views, use the corresponding buttons in the upper right corner of the map: Map / Satellite / Hybrid.
While driving in a car, your hands are usually busy. Therefore, the voice control feature will come in handy. Just say the passphrase “Ok Google” in navigation mode, and then clearly say your request. Voice assistant can tell you your current location, remaining travel time, traffic jams and other useful information. In addition, with its help you can, without taking your hands off the steering wheel, dial the desired number, send a text message or even turn on music.
It is often difficult to find the place where you left your . Especially if it happens in a parking lot crowded with thousands of cars or in an unfamiliar city.
To mark a parking spot on the map, simply click on the blue dot of your current location. A blue screen will appear with several options, from which you need to select “Save parking location.”
3. Location display
4. Search on the route
If you are driving along an unfamiliar route and suddenly decide to grab a bite to eat or refuel, then Google Maps can show you the necessary establishments near your current location. To do this, simply tap on the search bar and enter a query in the form of “gas station along the way” or “Cafe near me,” for example. You can also use voice search if you are driving.
5. Street View
Street View is one of the coolest features of Google Maps and always comes to the rescue if you are not sure that you are really in the right place. To switch to this mode, you need to select any point on the map, and then tap on the photo that appears in the lower left corner. After this, you will see 360-degree panoramas of the selected location and will even be able to “walk” around the surrounding area.
6. Time machine
Google continually updates map data to ensure the information is accurate. However, the old data does not disappear anywhere. You can view them at any time in the desktop version of Google Maps, turning this service into a kind of time machine.
First of all, you will need to go into Street View mode by dragging the little yellow man to the location of interest on the map. After that, click on the small watch face icon in the upper left corner. A pop-up window will open with a timeline, moving along which you can see what this place looked like in the past.
It is more convenient to prepare for or travel on the large screen of a desktop computer. However, on the road we have to be content with only mobile devices.
The Google Maps web application has a special function for this case that allows you to send the necessary information to your mobile phone. You only need the corresponding device to be registered with your Google account.
8. Estimation of arrival time
When planning a route, sometimes you need to know the exact time of arrival. However, calculating it is not so easy, because the duration of the trip depends not only on the distance, but also on many other factors. For example, from the transport schedule and traffic intensity in different time days.
Google Maps can take all these factors into account. To accurately calculate the time of arrival at the desired location, simply click on the “Departure Now” item and specify right time departure or arrival. or distance to work, use mobile app Google Maps. Just select the start button, go to its properties and select “Measure distance”. After this, you can build a route of any complexity on the map, and its length will be shown below.
10. Additional points
Very often it is necessary not only to move from point A to point B, but also to drive along the road to points C, D and E. Google service Maps can build complex routes with several intermediate points. In the web interface, to do this, click on the button with a plus sign and add the necessary points. In the mobile client, you need to select “Add a stop” in the start and end point selection menu.
Google Maps is a leader among modern mapping services that provide satellite interactive maps online. At least a leader in the field of satellite imagery and in the number of various additional services and tools (Google Earth, Google Mars, various weather and transport services, one of the most powerful APIs).
In the field of schematic maps, at some point, this leadership “was lost” in favor of Open Street Maps - a unique mapping service in the spirit of Wikipedia, where every volunteer can contribute data to the site.
However, despite this, the popularity of Google Maps remains perhaps one of the highest of all other mapping services. Part of the reason is that Google Maps is where we can find the most detailed satellite photos for the largest regions of any country. Even in Russia such a large and successful company as Yandex cannot surpass the quality and coverage of satellite photographs, at least in its own country.
With Google Maps, anyone can view satellite photos of the Earth for free almost anywhere in the world.
Image quality
The highest resolution images are usually available for the largest cities in the world in America, Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Asia, Oceania. Currently, high-quality images are available for cities with a population of more than 1 million inhabitants. For smaller cities and other populated areas, satellite imagery is only available in limited resolution.
Possibilities
Google Maps or “Google Maps” was a real discovery for Internet users and indeed all PC users, giving an unheard of and previously unseen opportunity to look at their home, their village, cottage, lake or river where they vacationed in the summer - from a satellite. To see it from above, from a perspective from which it would be impossible to see it under any other circumstances. The discovery, the very idea of giving people easy access to satellite photos, fits harmoniously into Google's overall vision of “easily providing everyone with access to any information on the planet.”
Google Maps allows you to see from a satellite simultaneously those things and objects that cannot be observed at the same time when observed from the ground. Satellite maps differ from ordinary maps in that on simple maps the colors and natural forms of natural objects are distorted by editorial processing for further publication. However, satellite photographs preserve all the naturalness of nature and the objects being photographed, natural colors, shapes of lakes, rivers, fields and forests.
Looking at the map, one can only guess what is there: a forest, a field or a swamp, while on satellite photography it is immediately clear: objects, usually round or oval in shape, with a unique swamp color, are swamps. The light green spots or areas in the photograph are fields, and the dark green ones are forests. With enough experience in orientation in Google Maps, you can even distinguish whether it is a coniferous forest or a mixed forest: coniferous has a browner tint. Also on the map you can distinguish specific broken lines piercing the forests and fields of the vast Russian expanses - these are railways. Only by looking from a satellite can one understand that railways have a much greater influence on the natural landscape surrounding them than roads. Also in Google Maps, it is possible to overlay maps with the names of regions, roads, settlements on a national scale and the names of streets, house numbers, metro stations on a city scale on a satellite image of an area or city.
Map mode and satellite view mode
In addition to satellite images, it is possible to switch to the “map” mode, in which it is possible to view any territory on the surface of the Earth and study in detail the layout and location of houses of any more or less large city. In the "map" mode it is especially convenient to plan your movements around the city if you have already seen enough satellite views of your city.
The search function by house number will easily point you to the desired house, giving you the opportunity to “look around” the area around this house and how you can drive up/approach it. To search for the required object, just type in Russian in the search bar a query like: “City, street, house number” and the site will display to you the location of the object you are looking for using a special marker.
How to use Google Maps
To begin, open some place.
To move around the map, left-click on the map and drag it in any order. To return to the original position, press the centering button located between the four direction buttons.
To enlarge the map, click on the button "+" or roll the mouse roller when the cursor is over the map. You can also enlarge the map double click mouse in the location you are interested in.
To switch between satellite, mixed (hybrid) and map views, use the corresponding buttons in the upper right corner of the map: Map / Satellite / Hybrid.
