What's new on Google Maps Platform
Keep up to date with our summary of the most important updates
Updates August 2023
Data-driven Styling
Data-driven styling makes it easy to style and visualize your own geodata in GeoJSON, CSV, and KML formats as points, lines, and polygons on a map. With the new Maps Datasets API, you can now import, store and manage geospatial data server-side in Google Cloud Console. The demo we created of Data Driven Styling and the documentation will help you with the implementation.
Improved Maps Styling
With the new styling options of Google Maps, geodata can now be displayed even more individually. You have more control over the visualization and can integrate your own design into the map styling. The new features also include customizable map features that support nearly 100 custom map elements, as well as many new filtering options and POI categories. Learn more
Photorealistic 3D Tiles
As part of the Map Tiles API, city blocks up to entire cities can now be visualized in 3D. The photorealistic 3D Tiles are textured with the high-resolution optical RGB images of the Google Maps Platform and use the same 3D map source as Google Earth. Currently, over 2,500 cities in 49 countries can be visualized in 3D and created directly in the app. Our demo of the 3D Tiles is available here.
Aerial View API
The Aerial View API lets you create and view photo-realistic 3D aerial videos. These videos simulate, in 3D view, video of a building being circled by a drone. Currently, the view is still limited to US addresses. Learn more
Routes API
The new Routes API builds on the features of the Directions and Distance Matrix APIs and includes features such as comprehensive, up-to-date directions with real-time traffic information and calculation of distances and arrival times for origin and destination combinations. The Routes API also includes new, enhanced features for more informative and flexible routes and improved accuracy in arrival time prediction, for example, 2-wheel routes for motorized vehicles, toll data for more accurate pricing for specific routes, real-time traffic information along each segment of a route, indication of whether a waypoint is a transit point or a stop, green routing, and more. Learn more
Cloud Fleet Routing API
With the Cloud Fleet Routing API, you can solve route planning problems in seconds. Batch processing of large amounts of data can also optimize large logistics operations. This uses either a custom Distance Matrix or native integration with Google Maps for AI-powered ETAs. Learn more
November 2022
Advanced Markers
Advanced Markers enables you to create highly performant markers, and offers new marker functionalities. With Advanced Markers, you can customize the default marker's background, border, and glyph color, adjust marker size, and replace the default marker icon with a custom graphic image. You can make accessible markers that respond to DOM click events and keyboard input. For even deeper customization, Advanced Markers supports the use of custom HTML and CSS, including the ability to create completely custom markers. For 3D applications you can control the altitude at which a marker appears. Read more
Address Validation API
Address Validation helps detecting inaccurate addresses by identifying missing or unconfirmed address components. The API standardizes the input, provides typo corrections, completes street names, finds the appropriate locality-specific formatting and more. Read more
Earth Engine for Commercial Use
Google Earth Engine combines a multi-petabyte catalog of satellite imagery and geospatial datasets with planetary-scale analysis capabilities. Scientists, researchers, and developers use Earth Engine to detect changes, map trends, and quantify differences on the Earth's surface. Earth Engine is now available for commercial use, and remains free for academic and research use. Ubilabs is one of the first Partners in Europe who is able to resell this new product. Read more
