In Africa, for example, road coverage on Google Maps increased from 20% in 2008 to 75% last year, while the number of towns and villages for which detailed maps are available grew by more than 1,000%. This has not only facilitated trade and transport, but also translates into faster response times for emergency services, saving thousands of lives each year.
数字化测绘技术对世界最偏远的欠发达地区影响最为深刻。比方说在非洲，谷歌地图的道路覆盖率从2008年的20%提高到去年的75%，而可以找到详细地图的村镇数量去年实际增长1000%多。这在促进贸易和运输的同时缩短了应急服务响应时间，每年都有数千条生命因此而得救。