X does Not mark my spot !

May 5, 2009 6:43 AM

How do I correct a Google Maps error ? …2nd attempt.

We operate a home-based business that is off the beaten path, but near a major tourist area. The road we live on was originally a numbered State Route, and formed a loop that passed through 3 different villages. A few years ago, the State decommissioned the road, and granted ownership to the 3 villages. Each of the villages has its own name for this road, and this has resulted in several errors on Google Maps.

Last year after many attempts, I spoke with a Google human, and I explained my dilemma. I was directed to some Web2.0 application where I noted the errors, but there has been no correction. Not only that, but they made a change that further complicates the situation (using a name that already exists for another road).

Who the hell do I call/email to get this corrected? Our season is very short, and our potential clients tend to give up rather easily. Mapquest has it right, but a friend told me his GPS could not find us. Do I need to contact them too? Has anyone had any success changing a Google Map? This has cost us business, and I’m getting a little pissed about it.

posted by lobstah to computers & internet (13 comments total)

From here:

Where does Google Maps get its information?
Google Maps for Canada compiles information from many sources to bring you the best search results. Our listings combine information from our web search results, data submitted directly by local business owners, and sources such as publicly available Yellow Pages directories. Please note that we aren't currently able to share our full list of Canadian Yellow Pages sources.

The map data found in Google Maps is sourced largely from NAVTEQ and TeleAtlas. Similarly, the imagery found in "Satellite" mode is sourced predominantly from DigitalGlobe and MDA Federal. Although the frequency of updates may vary, we strive to refresh our map data consistently.

The problem is you have been bugging the wrong people about this. Google only provides the information, they don't create it. Take it up with NAVTEQ and TeleAtlas.
posted by Loto at 6:47 AM on May 5

NAVTEQ Map Reporter: Report changes/errors/additions to NAVTEQ maps.

TeleAtlas Map Feedback: Report Map Changes

It's probably going to take a while for these changes to propagate to whoever uses these companies for mapping data, though. Don't expect this to be instantaneous.
posted by Loto at 6:51 AM on May 5

It probably doesn't help your particular situation too much (because most people are using Google Maps to do business searches nowadays), but you could make sure there is at least one map data source that is accurate by correcting the data yourself in OpenStreetMap. Send me a MeMail if you're interested in learning more.
posted by yellowbkpk at 7:00 AM on May 5

This won't help with the street name issues, but have you tried searching for your address and then using the Community Edit feature to fix the location of the marker? In the past, I've successfully used this to relocate the marker for my home address to a more accurate position.
posted by sen at 7:32 AM on May 5

Boyfriend works on the Google Maps team. Maybe I could ask him nicely? MeFi mail me the particulars of your problem.
posted by halogen at 7:42 AM on May 5

Loto, as far as I know data bugs are occasionally (and very, very begrudgingly) fixed by hand.
posted by halogen at 7:44 AM on May 5

I think you'll be better served in trying to find other ways to communicate your location to your potential clients; speaking just to the GPS issue, there are millions of those things in people's hands, and even if the vendor corrects the map data, the owner of the GPS still has to update the maps, which probably won't happen for the vast majority of them.

I had a taxi out to my house a few weeks back. His GPS took him out to our house the slow way because it didn't know about the new highway that went in a couple-three years back. We directed him back into the city via the fast way and when I told him he could probably update his GPS with new maps, he was amazed that such a thing was possible. This is a guy who uses this as a daily tool.

So, I'd file the correction everywhere you can, but while waiting for it to take effect, I'd look for things to do with your marketing to communicate your location without relying on Google/Yahoo/MapQuest/portable GPS. Maybe an explicit disclaimer that "Most online maps and GPSs don't know where we are; use this link" and provide a link that goes to a latitude/longitude. Maybe directions to the nearest intersection and then "follow the orange signs" or whatever.

Google Maps put my home address a block away for years. I filed corrections [for years, with the map data source] and then one day it started showing up correctly. For years, though, I just got used to saying "Google Maps gets it wrong. They put us five doors north of where we really are".

I don't mean to be fatalistic, but there are many layers here, and none of them have any particular reason to care about you [or me] specifically. Aside from that, there's a good chance that once the source data is corrected it won't get to all the consumers [GPS nav units].
posted by chazlarson at 8:12 AM on May 5 [1 favorite has favorites]

My experience was the same as chazlarson...although not as dramatically wrong. It just started magically working properly one day.
posted by mmascolino at 8:28 AM on May 5

Thanks all, I'll report back later....Not only is it Cinco de Mayo, its my BIRTHDAY !!
posted by lobstah at 9:22 AM on May 5

Is the problem the same in other map apps, like Yahoo, Mapquest, etc? If not then provide a link to those other maps on your site instead.
posted by JJ86 at 9:38 AM on May 5

OK, so now it’s raining and I can’t work in the garden.

Loto, NAVTEQ had it right, but TeleAtlas did not. I tried to use their widget, but it did not work. I finally called CS, and she also had problems with it. We ended up submitting a report…we’ll see what happens.

yellobkpk and sen, Thanks for those tips, will do.

hologen Sweet offer, I’ll put something together…thanks.

chazlarsen and mmascolino , I know it will be a long process, and I have used secondary directions ( and a map) on printed materials, and on the web for years. The point is that they have misidentified a 10 mile stretch of highway, and that can be a safety issue. A few years back, my SIL had her rental car breakdown here, and because some dope at Enterprise’s call center could not find the road, they would not send a truck. It took half of a vacation day to resolve.
posted by lobstah at 9:55 AM on May 5

This link explains how to correct the location of the marker Google Maps will make for your address. That will help for Google Maps only, but that's already a significant improvement and happens quickly. For the rest, you'll have to convince Navtech and TeleAtlas to make changes to their databases and wait while it trickles down into new products and map-updates to old products. It may help to have the state or towns involved to send corrections on official letterhead, too. Until then, about all you can do is alert your friends and customers to the differences and point them to those sources you know to be correct, and perhaps include turn-by-turn local directions and/or map images on your website and advertising literature.
posted by TruncatedTiller at 3:00 PM on May 5

It's going to take a while. I reported a correction to TeleAtlas on December 10th, 2008. My status page is still on step 1: We received your report. The next step, if it ever gets there, is 2. We see the problem.
posted by IndigoRain at 11:56 PM on May 5