An immersive, engaging UX that brings your brand to life
Maps that offer rich information about new places and enable digital exploration give users a feel for their destination before they get there. With Google Maps Platform’s newest features, you can transform standard maps into 3D experiences that mirror the way users discover the real world.
3D Maps new customization tools give you unprecedented control over a map’s UI and UX so you can create a photorealistic world, then weave in your own brand identity and data.
And new programmable camera settings allow you to simulate wide-angle or telephoto lenses, enabling users to view a place from multiple perspectives using cinematic effects like tilt and rotation. You can also control how much of the map appears in the user’s field-of-view.
Developers have long been able to add custom map markers using Google’s default pin or by rendering image-based markers. Now, you can create custom HTML place markers to further control their look and feel for your brand, and even add animation and interactive features like hover-to-expand photo galleries or real-time pricing data.
And for those in urban planning, real estate, and media and events, new mesh flattening allows you to digitally declutter specific areas of a map by removing existing trees or buildings to create a clean canvas for your own architectural models or branded assets.
All three features are now available for web developers in 3D Maps for JavaScript and are coming soon to the Maps 3D SDKs for Android and iOS.
A holistic experience across every phase of the user journey
Photorealistic maps give users the on-the-ground feel of a neighborhood they need to explore before they arrive, while schematic, abstract maps facilitate navigation by providing the easy-to-understand graphical representations needed for successful wayfinding.
To ensure the entire map-using experience remains holistic, we’ve added an abstract basemap to 3D Maps. This feature enables users to toggle seamlessly between detailed photorealistic imagery and a simplified abstract view, integrating search, discovery, and exploration into one intuitive interface. This gives users the flexibility to explore a map in the way that best suits their needs, whether that’s gauging the vibe of a destination before they travel or pinpointing building entrances or parking areas after they arrive.
This feature is currently available for testing in 3D Maps for Web via the JavaScript alpha channel in the Maps JavaScript API, and for iOS by enabling the Maps3D SDK. And it’s coming soon to Android.
An intuitive, customized UI and granular data that users trust
An immersive interface is only as valuable as the data powering it. So we’ve significantly expanded the information about places that Google Maps Platform provides to help your end users find the right address and the right ambiance simultaneously.
With new Place Types, we’ve added nearly 200 granular categories — from tapas restaurants to e-bike charging stations — that help customers find exactly what they’re looking for. These categories, combined with exact-match localized place labels that can be customized for your brand, transform a simple keyword search into an opportunity to explore new neighborhoods.
And the Places UI Kit provides modular, customizable components for the web, iOS, and Android. The kit enables you to quickly build Google Maps’ information about places and intuitive interface into your products.
Our newest features are just a click away
We’re empowering businesses to build geospatial experiences that don't just point the way but captivate and inform as well. By turning exploration into a memorable, custom-branded experience, you can deepen product usage and help your customers navigate the world with more trust and confidence than ever before.
Get started with 3D Maps, or try out the Places UI Kit for free today.
