Google Maps offers mobile 3D capability

GOOGLE HAS unveiled an overhauled mobile mapping application for its Android platform that offers 3D images of buildings and can be used even if your mobile network connection drops.

Google Maps 5.0 uses vector graphics to dynamically draw the map on your device as you use it.

The company made the announcement on its blog yesterday.

“Until now, Google Maps has always downloaded the map as a set of small, square images that we stitch together to form the map you see,” it said.

“Starting today, we’ll use vector graphics to dynamically draw the map on your device as you use it, allowing you to interact with it in new ways.”

Some 100 cities have had the 3D treatment, including Dublin, Copenhagen, Florence and Berlin. Madrid, Marseilles and Athens are among the other European cities available.

There are plans to map further cities in 3D, but as yet there are no definite plans to add more Irish cities to the service.

The new method of delivering maps also has other advantages. Google’s director of product management Hugo Barra said it reduces the amount of data it uses downloading the maps by about 70 per cent, and eliminates the need for a constant internet connection.

Google has built in support for an “offline” mode, which allows you to keep using the maps and navigation facilities even if you lose your data connection.

“It’s completely seamless,” Mr Barra said.

Maps 5.0 will also store large areas of maps onto a device based on where the application is used the most.

Although the new version of Maps won’t cache areas immediately, Google said it will start automatically saving areas of the map when your device is plugged in and connected to WiFi.

The new offline support would allow people to open a city’s map while on WiFi, and then use the cached version offline to find their way around.

Mr Barra said the company was “completely reprogramming the mapping experience”.

Google’s Maps service is available on a number of different platforms, but the latest development will only be available on Android for the time being.

However, Mr Barra said the company was planning to make it available to other devices, depending on hardware capability.