{"id":7378,"date":"2010-09-24T15:07:42","date_gmt":"2010-09-24T19:07:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blumenthals.com\/blog\/?p=7378"},"modified":"2010-09-24T17:04:23","modified_gmt":"2010-09-24T21:04:23","slug":"google-maps-report-a-problem-process-in-the-weeds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blumenthals.com\/blog\/2010\/09\/24\/google-maps-report-a-problem-process-in-the-weeds\/","title":{"rendered":"Google Maps – Report A Problem Process “In the Weeds”"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last October, Google replaced TeleAtlas<\/a> as their primary geo data provider with their own StreetView data. At the time, they also rolled out<\/a> the “Report a Problem” link on Maps. The idea was\/is that users could help Google keep all of this Map data up to date. Google’s goal<\/a> at the time was to resolve each map edit within a month. From the LatLong Blog (bold mine):<\/p>\n

So where do you fit into this? Well, we’ve found our users are also remarkable data sources themselves, so we’ve added a new tool to Google Maps that lets you communicate directly with Google about any updates that you think need to be made to our maps. You’ll find this “Report a Problem” link on the bottom right of Google Maps (you can also find it by right-clicking on the map). Has that new highway on-ramp finally opened up? Do we have an outdated name for your local school? … Tell us! Once we’ve received your edit or suggestion we’ll confirm it with other users, data sources, or imagery. We hope to resolve each edit within a month<\/strong>. If you submit your email address, we’ll even keep you posted on our progress.<\/p>\n

Well I am here to inform you that, even for Google, the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray. Google is officially in the weeds<\/em><\/strong><\/a> on processing and absorbing end user corrections into the Maps geobase. Either that or their email system is broken.<\/p>\n

I just received this email from Google on a change that I suggested to them on August 16 about a problem<\/a> with Sunset Fl:
\n\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Admittedly, Google has fixed<\/a> the Sunrise Fl problem. They certainly had enough feedback on the problem (CBS<\/a>, NBC<\/a>, AP<\/a>, CNN<\/a>, BBC<\/a>, Time<\/a>, the forums, the Mayor of Sunrise<\/a>) but it doesn’t appear that my appeal through normal channels has been heard yet.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery hour, our users make over 10,000 corrections<\/a> or additions to Google Maps, like updating the position of markers or correcting other small errors, and for the most part people are being really helpful to other users.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hmmm… no wonder they are just getting around to my request and that I stand in line behind the AP. Perhaps there are limits to the benefits of crowdsourcing<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Last October, Google replaced TeleAtlas as their primary geo data provider with their own StreetView data. At the time, they also rolled out the “Report a Problem” link on Maps. The idea was\/is that users could help Google keep all of this Map data up to date. Google’s goal at the time was to resolve …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":262,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7378","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-google-maps-google-local"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t