Newest Google Maps Update offers COVID-19 Related Alerts
New features within Google Maps are giving travelers new features that will inform them if their trip might be impacted by COVID-19. Some of the new features include alerts to travel restrictions, COVID-19 checkpoints, and how crowded the public transport is.
Google has also announced that in several countries, Google Maps will display transit alerts from local agencies to help users prepare for government mandates that may impact public transit. These types of alerts would include mandates requiring users to wear a mask, or potential service closures.
Another feature being introduced into Google Maps are alerts that show if your trip will intersect with a COVID-19 Checkpoint, or if you’re crossing an international border where coronavirus restrictions may be in place. This alert type is being rolled out in the U.S., Canada and Mexico first. Google has not announced plans for this alert to be rolled out in other countries.
Alerts will also appear when you are planning to visit a medical facility or COVID-19 Testing center. These alerts will be used to inform travelers of any guidelines that are in affect so that they are not turned away when they get to their destination. For example, if your destination requires that you set up an appointment to receive a coronavirus test, that would be made clear in the alert. These alerts are based on data received from authoritative agencies such as local, state and federal governments. They’re also based off of the medical facility’s websites.
“Crowdedness Predictions”, a feature that was already introduced to Google Maps users last years, will expand its access to users in the latest update of the app. The data pulled for this alert is taken from tens of millions of contributions from public transit users who use Google Maps. Using this data, Google makes predictions on how crowded bus or train lines might be at any given time throughout the day. Users can also provide their own observations by telling the app if it is “very crowded” or “not too crowded”, among other options.
With crowdedness predictions, you can now see when a transit station has been more or less crowded based on historical data. You can also choose to look at live data to plan your trip accordingly. This element of the crowdedness predictions is powered by anonymous data that is received from users who have opted in to Google Location History.
Additional features that are unrelated to COVID-19 that are available in the newest update will provide information including temperature, accessibility, onboard security, wheelchair accessible doors and seating, and designated women’s sections where available.
Story via TechCrunch
