Google Maps Continues Rapid Evolution

It’s easy to forget that Google Maps has only been around for a little more than a year. Since it launched in 2005, the mapping service’s functions – and influence – have rapidly evolved thanks to creative minds and the development community.

The core features – which include the usual mapping services along with satellite and hybrid views – are enough to capture one’s attention. But since Google released its API last summer, developers have customized and extended its offerings in seemingly limitless ways, including “mashups” that combine content and functionality from multiple sources.

Google Maps Mania has tracked this progression with links to hundreds of sites. Most mashups are variations of the maps extension popularized by Frappr (and others) that allow you to easily set push-pin-style markers on maps and plot members of a particular community.

Consider just a few of the creative applications listed on Google Maps Mania. In a matter of clicks, you can:

• Locate the most convenient New York City wine shop
• View the nearest cell phone tower
• Check out condos in Minneapolis or real estate in Miami Beach
• Research people in your area who donated to the 2004 presidential candidates
• Review every location used to film Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters 2
• Track more than 30 years of Bruce Springsteen tours

Let’s hope this trend quickly expands to web-based mapping applications for government and other organizations. While it’s great to have this information online, most of the systems (often used for listing property information, GIS and other details) are too clunky and slow for the web.