Google map API more detailed than maps.google.com?!

August 6, 2006 1:12 AM

Why does Google Maps API show more detail than maps.google.com?

I went to fish lake today, found the lake info on this URL, it uses google maps API.

http://www.brainygeography.com/features/WA.lake/tucqualalake.html

I went to maps.google.com, and it doesnt have the lake, the road is a little different, and the Topo info isnt the same zoom level.

http://maps.google.com/maps?near=%2B47%C2%B0+30%27+51.98%22,+-121%C2%B0+3%27+54.00%22

Any ideas why they are different? I noticed yahoo and microsoft are also missing updated info on lakes in the areas.

STRANGE...

posted by IronWolve to Travel & Transportation (3 answers total)

Google Maps uses data from NAVTEQ, while the API serves up data provided by TeleAtlas, presumably because of licensing issues. Nathan Torkington has a post on O’Reilly Radar entitled "Google Maps and Their Data Providers" discussing exactly this issue. In fact, the TeleAtlas FAQ specifically mentions the Google API functionality.
posted by RichardP at 3:40 AM on August 6, 2006

Note that the API isn't always more detailed; in tracing the route of the Boston Marathon last year, I noticed that there were areas where maps.google.com had more detail, and other areas where the API provided the best detail. It's a bit insane, actually; there are clearly reasons for the need for two map data providers, but it's a need Google should work to eliminate.
posted by delfuego at 9:58 AM on August 6, 2006

Anecdotally, in every instance I've ever come across where they differ, it's always been maps.google.com showing more accurate information than the API version.
posted by dmd at 3:12 PM on August 6, 2006