What’s Here?

A new feature was recently added to Google Maps that increases the functionality for me. I’ve long used maps to do a little exploring, getting driving instructions, and for calculating mileage when I forget to set the odometer in my car.

Just enter an address or a pair of addresses or a lattitude/longitude combination and voila. The whole concept of Geographic Information Systems is magic to me as an end user although the computer scientist in me lets me know that rationally, it’s just information that’s highly organized and easily retrieved.

When bored, I often just load a map and explore.

Google’s new feature enhances the exploration for me. Until now, one of the limitations of maps is that you need to know the actual address to plot it. That’s still the best way when you know in advance the address of your place of interest. However, when you just have a notion of what you’re looking for, check out the “What’s Here?” feature.

You might be new to Windsor, Ontario. Downtown Windsor looks like this according to Google Maps.

It’s a nice looking map. Certainly the yellow roads help you navigate parts of the downtown core. If you look, you can see where the tunnel entrance is to take you under the Detroit River to downtown Detroit. You can identify beautiful Dieppe Park. Until recently, the Windsor Spitfires played hockey at the Windsor Area.But, if you look closely, you’ll see an area of green at the corner of University Avenue and Goyeay Street.

What’s here?

Short of hopping in the car and driving there, a great deal of research and trial and error would be required to figure this out. No longer, with the new feature of Google Maps.

Just place your cursor over the green area and click your right mouse button. The bottom option is “What’s Here?” Select that and watch what happens.

Why, it’s part of the City Hall complex! Now you know. Exploration goes to a new level with this feature. In addition, to identifying the location, any geo tagged photos are presented and Google invites you to “Explore this area”. Go ahead. Geographically, you’ll be all the richer.

Imagine the possibilities in the classroom. Exploration and Scavenger Hunts just became that much richer and exciting.

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