December 20, 2010 - Google introduced Google Maps 5.0 for Android recently with two new features viz. offline reliability and 3D interaction. To create the two features, Maps had to be rebuilt via vector graphics for dynamically drawing the map as it’s used by you. The biggest challenge lied in the building of vector graphics engine that can achieve visual quality as well as performance level expected from Google Maps, so that all types of possibilities are enabled for future. Let’s have a closer look at the technology driving the next generation mobile maps.

To start with, let’s talk about vector graphics first. Before we delve into the topic of Maps using vector graphics, it’s important to discuss how maps were created so far. Earlier, the map was downloaded by Google Maps as individual image tiles of 256x256 pixels. Each of the pre render image tile came along with its own set of map roads, imagery, labels and other key features downloaded with it. Each tile would be downloaded by Google Maps as needed by you and after that all tiles are stitched to provide you with the map view that you get to see as end result.

With vector graphics, drawing the map has gone dynamic. Vector tiles will be downloaded by the Maps. The tiles describe the map’s inherent geometry. It’s quite similar to the blueprints that are required for drawing a map rather than static map images. As you just have to download the blue prints, the data that is required for drawing maps using vector tiles is much less compared to the earlier method wherein pre rendered image tiles were used. Prior to Google Maps, Google Earth and Navigation (Beta) have already been using vector graphics. However, modern hardware combined with innovative engineering enables streaming of vector tiles smoothly while maintaining the readability and speed that’s needed in Google Maps.

The aspects of Google Maps 5.0 for Android

There comes a natural flexibility of re drawing the map from different aspects with vector tiles as the same data can be used for the purpose. Take the example of zooming. Magnifying the map image took longer to load new data on a mobile data connection. Worse still, in case there is an error in mobile network while passing through a subway or a building where network isn’t available, the app would fail. While in case of vector graphics, one vector tile comprises of the blueprints (or the vector data) for drawing the map at several different levels of the scale. Now while zooming, the map would stop the moment you stop your fingers and labels and roads are crisp. This technique is right behind the latest 3D map interactions including rotate, compass or tilt mode. Just as in the case of zooming, same vector data is used by the Google Maps for drawing the map from just any direction or angle as you rotate or tilt.

Similar to other features of the map, labels can be drawn dynamically for staying decipherable if you use the compass mode or rotate the map. To avoid the map from getting cluttered, Google Maps picks the best labels for showing you depending on several factors.

The other features of Google Maps 5.0 include offline reliability where you can continue viewing the map no matter how poor the network connection is. With offline rerouting, additional caching is also allowed with offline re-routing.

According to Google, this is just the beginning there’s much more vector graphics technology can do to the next generation Google Maps.

Written by SynapseInteractive Copywriting Team.