16 Incredible Uses of Google Maps You Should See and Try

Briallyn Smith September 26, 2016 8 minutes

16 Incredible Uses of Google Maps You Should See and Try

Google Maps is an incredible tool on its own.

But innovators have harnessed its power. They have created games, tools, and visuals that take Google Maps to the next level.

Google Maps makes a certain amount of its platform available to third-party developers, and the results of these collaborations go far beyond navigation tools.How Does Google Maps Work? [Technology Explained] How Does Google Maps Work? [Technology Explained]READ MORE

If you have an afternoon to spare, take some time to play some great Google Maps games, investigate the history of your local area or far-off destinations, appreciate literature in a whole new way, or explore the world from your living room.

Google Maps for Gaming

Google Maps may not seem an ideal platform for games. But it can be. Whether you’re fighting zombies in your hometown or trying to figure out your location based on context alone, these games are a great way to spend a few hours

1. PokéCrew

2016 will forever be remembered as the year of Pokémon Go, so it seems only fitting that it has a dedicated Google Maps tool.10 Pokemon Go Tips that Every Beginner Needs To Know 10 Pokemon Go Tips that Every Beginner Needs To KnowPokemon Go can be a little daunting if you're just getting started, so we've made a list of 10 things you need to know to be the very best!READ MORE

Use this site to see exactly where different Pokémon are spotted by other users and add your own sightings to help other users figure out where they’re most likely to capture rare Pokémon. Users can search by location and type of Pokémon, setting PokéCrew apart from other similar tools.

2. Streetview Zombie Apocalypse

Have you ever wondered what would happen if zombies invaded your neighborhood? Wonder no more. Street view Zombie Apocalypse populates your neighborhood with zombies and your goal is to run away from them as fast as you can using Google Streetview. How long can you stay ahead of the undead

3. Pursued

In the game Pursued you find yourself the unfortunate victim of a kidnapping that lands you in an unknown city on Google Maps. You get a five-minute head start on your captors, and must successfully identify the city you are in to your friend before time runs out.

There are only 20 levels to this game, which is fewer than other similar games, but it’s nice to have both a backstory to your situation and levels that you know are solvable. For example, there is no chance you’ll be ending up in the middle of the Sahara Desert!

4. GeoGuesser

GeoGuesser is similar to Pursued, but with more locations. You receive a certain number of points based on how close your guess is to your actual location on the map. With a free account you can choose to play a “challenge” version of this game against your friends.

5. MapsTD

Maps TD is a strategy game that can be generated on a map anywhere in the world. The system will automatically generate an area that you need to defend against invaders using towers and upgrades.

You can choose to play the game using Google Maps’ classic imagery, or a “watercolor” setting as seen below. While the game may seem simple, it’s surprisingly addicting — especially when you’re protecting key cultural centers or your home town! 

Google Maps for History

Google Map’s focuses on presenting you with up-to-the-second information on traffic and road conditions, but it’s also a great tool for looking back in time.

6. What Was There

One of the best known tools for historical information on Google Maps is a website called What Was There. Using this site, you can see still photos from different cities over the past century. Then, overlay them over the city’s modern street view.WhatWasThere: See How Cities Looked In The Past WhatWasThere: See How Cities Looked In The PastREAD MORE

Images are uploaded by individual users, so some areas are more populated than others. No matter how many images are available, this site is a great way to really feel connected with a city’s past and to gain appreciation for its history.

7. Old Maps Online

This website merges old maps with new technology in a fascinating way. First, enter the location that you’re interested in to see any existing maps of the area. Then, choose three control points on both the old map and the new map to help the system to line up the two images.

Once you have chosen your control points, you are able to overlay the two maps — giving you a whole new perspective on the area and its history.

8. Back in Time With Street View

If your interest in history is more recent than ancient, Google Maps has recently opened up access to their historical Street View data. This means that you can watch how neighborhoods change over time, how natural disasters have influenced an area, or if weird Google Street View finds have stood the test of time.What Is THAT? 9 Of The Weirdest Things You Can See On Google Street View What Is THAT? 9 Of The Weirdest Things You Can See On Google Street ViewI have to say that I have been on some really cool adventures in Google Street View. I've strolled down cobblestone streets in Italy, cruised along the mountainous shoreline of northern California, and creeped along...READ MORE

To access this feature, enter Street View at your location of choice. Then, select the clock button in the top left corner of your screen (as seen below) to see all previous versions of Street View at this location.

Google Maps for Literature

When you think about maps, literature probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. These tools help you see both maps and their relationship to reading in a totally new way.

9. We Tell Stories

We Tell Stories is a fantastic initiative by Penguin Books. This 2008 initiative focused on modern authors re-imagining six classic stories in a digital format.

Author Charles Cumming writes The 21 Steps (inspired by The 39 Steps by John Buchan) entirely using reference points on Google Maps. Follow his protagonist around London through the story’s 21 chapters, taking time to explore Street View and totally immersing yourself in the action.

10. Google Lit Trips

Google Lit Trips is one of the many ways Google is integrated into the modern classroom. Each Lit Trip features key locations featured throughout a book, and allows readers to better understand a book’s settings.7 New Google Drive Features Every Student Must Know 7 New Google Drive Features Every Student Must KnowSchool is in session and Google is ready to make things easier for students with Google Drive. New features have been introduced and old ones refined. We have the details.READ MORE

To use this program, you will need to download Google Earth to your computer, and open a free account. Then, you can request different Lit Trips through e-mail.

Many of these Lit Trips correspond with required reading lists, and are organized by grade level. If a book you are looking for is not already featured, it may be a great idea for a class project!

11. Poetry Atlas

Poems are commonly written as odes to different locations worldwide. Poetry Atlas is a website that is dedicated to featuring each of these locations using a pushpin or feather quill for any location that a poem has been written about.

You can browse poems by location or by searching poet, title, or first line. If one of your favorite poems is missing, send a suggestion via the site’s posted e-mail address.

Google Maps for Exploring

Of course, maps are best for exploring — and Google Maps offers endless opportunities to do just that. These programs give you the chance to explore all parts of the world from different perspectives.

12. Google Cultural Institute

It’s impossible to write an article about Google’s hidden gems and not include a link to Google Arts and Culture.7 Hidden Gems from Google That Can Still Surprise You 7 Hidden Gems from Google That Can Still Surprise YouAdd a little fun and education to everyday tasks with the help of seven brilliant tools from Google.READ MORE

This website is a fantastic resource for scholars of any age or level. Explore museums, world heritage sites, artifacts and more. No third-party developer can challenge the incredible resources that this website offers.

13. Verne

Have you ever wanted to explore the Himalayas? What about exploring the Himalayas with a yeti?

If you have an Android phone, you can download Verne. The app gives you the chance to explore the Himalayan mountains in 3-D using Google Maps’ data.  This app is the perfect blend between whimsy (meeting virtual yaks), beauty (the breathtaking views of the mountain range), and learning.

14. Panoramio

Google Maps is amazing, but it can also feel a bit impersonal. Panoramio challenges this feeling by including photos of landscapes from users all over the globe overlaid on Google Maps. You can add your own photos (of both indoor and outdoor locations) after registering for a free account.Five Fascinating Uses For Google Maps & Earth Five Fascinating Uses For Google Maps & EarthI think there can be little doubt that writers here at MakeUseOf really love Google Maps and Google Earth. We've written about them extensively, such as John's Google Maps mashups article or Ann's article on...READ MORE

Photos range in styles and subjects. But they help to showcase the diversity of our world and the many colors to it.

15. Plane Finder

Wonder what route a certain plane takes to get from point A to point B? Tracking a relative’s movements as they fly across the globe? Plane Finder uses flight information to track planes in real time as they complete their journeys.

You can search for a flight by its airline, flight number, or departure/arrival destinations, and receive information on its flight path, anticipated arrival time, and airplane model. It’s also pretty crazy just to see the sheer number of planes in the air at any given time. See below for an example!

16. Google Sheep View

Chances are, if you’re using Google Street View for any length of time, you are going to come across a sheep or two. If you do, consider submitting a screenshot of your flock to the creators of Tumblr blog “Google Sheep View”. This is a project dedicated to collecting Google Maps’ images of sheep from across the world.

Image Credit: Nosik via Shutterstock

This project has been underway for well over a year now.  The creators continue to update the blog regularly with new flocks as sheep deserves its time in the spotlight.

More Than a Navigation Tool

This list barely scratches the surface of all the Google Maps innovations that are available for use. Tools like these are just in their infancy. So, there’s no telling where technological developments in this area will take us next!9 Awesome & Useful Google Maps Mashups 9 Awesome & Useful Google Maps MashupsREAD MORE

Are there any Google Maps tools that you can’t believe I left off this list? Please let me know about them in the comments! If not — what kind of tool would you love to see next?

Image Credits: BEGUN/Shutterstock

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Infographic About Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest is a popular beer festival that started way back in 1810. It started as a wedding celebration of Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese, and has now grown into an annual alcoholic party.

Every year around 6 million people attend the Oktoberfest and close to 7 million beers are consumed. With extreme numbers like these, Oktoberfest is more than just a carnival. It is a huge business involving thousands of labor and months of effort. 

Oktoberfest has an impact of 1.2 billion dollars on Germany's economy. There are 524 businesses involved in making this fest a successful one. The infographic below, helps in seeing Oktoberfest in a business perspective. It summarizes information that is an outcome of thorough research, and is represented with facts and figures.

Take a look at the infographic below to understand the magnitude of the popular beer festival. 

Source: https://www.market-inspector.co.uk/ 

Easily Decipher Client-Speak

Interesting And Weird Facts About North Korea

North Koreans born after the Korean War are about 2 inches shorter than South Koreans on average.

"Analysis of escapees from North Korea shows that those born after the Korean War in the late 1950s were on average about 2 inches shorter than South Koreans," USA Today reported in 2013.

1

North Korea created its own time zone: Pyongyang Time.

Last year, North Korea created its own time zone, called Pyongyang Time, named after the North Korean capital, which is 30 minutes behind South Korea and Japan. 

The country started using Pyongyang Time on August 15, 2015, to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japan. Pyongyang Time was the time zone used before Japanese rule.

2

Kim Jong Un ordered all male citizens to copy his haircut.

"A source from Pyongyang" told South Korea's The Chosun Ilbo that authorities issued an order requiring men to keep their hair no longer than 2 centimeters and requiring women to keep their hair at a bob length.

The men were told to model their hairstyle on Kim Jong Un, whose haircut is known as "ambitious" in North Korea (and terrible everywhere else). Women were advised to copy his wife.

3

It costs $8,000 to defect from North Korea.

Since Kim Jong Un took power, it has gotten more expensive to defect from the hermit kingdom.

It cost about $8,000 to get to China last year, which is far more than the average North Korean can afford, considering the gross domestic product per capita was estimated to be $1,800 in 2014.

4

Kim Jong Il's annual cognac expense was about 500 times the average North Korean's annual income.

Kim Jong Il, the father of Kim Jong Un, reportedly spent £700,000 on Hennessy each year. That's about $913,000 at today's exchange rate; Kim Jong Il died in 2011.

The average annual income in North Korea according to a 2013 estimate, is thought be $1,000 to $2,000.

5

Bill Gates' net worth is four and a half times as large as North Korea's estimated GDP.

Bill Gates' net worth at the time of publication was estimated at $78.2 billion.

Trading economics estimates North Korea's gross domestic product to be $17.4 billion. (The World Bank does not list an official figure.)

6

If North Korea's capital were a US city, it would have the fourth-biggest population.

The population of Pyongyang is 2.863 million, according to 2015 estimates.

That figure would bump Houston, which had an estimated 2015 population of 2.3 million, down to fifth place.

7

North Korea scored a goal against Brazil in the 2010 World Cup.

But it still lost, 2-1.

8

North Korea is about the size of Pennsylvania ...

Pennsylvania is 46,054 square miles, or 119,279 square kilometers.

North Korea is 120,538 square kilometers.

9

... but less than 20% of its land is arable. That's about the size of New Hampshire's land area.

Only 19.5% of North Korea's land is arable, which amounts to about 9,000 square miles.

New Hampshire's land area is 8,953 square miles.

10

North Korea says it has a 100% literacy rate.

The CIA World Factbook defines literate people as those ages 15 and over who can read and write.

North Korea has self-reported its literacy rate as 100% for both men and women.

11

Less than 3% of roads in North Korea are paved.

There are 25,554 kilometers of roads in North Korea, but only 724 kilometers are paved. That's only 2.83% of all roadways.

12

In fact, while all of North Korea's roads could circle Pluto 3 1/2 times, the paved roads alone would cover only the distance between New York and Cleveland.

The circumference of Pluto is 7,445 kilometers, which means you could wrap North Korea's 25,554 kilometers of roads around it over three times. 

But the 450 miles of paved roads isn't even enough to cover the 463 miles between New York and Cleveland.

13

Qatar's GDP per capita is more than 73 times that of North Korea.

At $132,100, Qatar's GDP per capita was the highest in the world in 2015.

North Korea's 2014 estimated GDP per capita was $1,800.

14

North Korea was recently named the most corrupt country in the world — tied with Somalia.

According to the 2015 Corruption Perceptions Index, North Korea and Somalia are tied for the title of the most corrupt nation. 

Scores between zero (highly corrupt) and 100 (very clean) were given to 174 countries and territories.

North Korea scored an 8.

15