<http://schema.org/articleBody>
"Google has announced that it has released mayor updates to its Maps service for ten countries and regions in Europe, taking its 'Ground Truth' initiative to provide local details to 40 markets worldwide.\r\n\r\nGoogle Maps users in Andorra, Bulgaria, Estonia, Gibraltar, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain will now enjoy additional details, such as, the addition of a new 70 km section of Bulgaria\u2019s Trakiya motorway. The section is so new that it doesn't feature on many other maps of the country, thus highlighting how important Google's maps have become.\r\n\r\n&amp;quot;Today\u2019s update is part of a project called Ground Truth that began in 2008,&amp;quot; Google explains. &amp;quot;Through this initiative, we acquire high-quality map data from authoritative sources around the world and then apply a mix of advanced algorithms, supplemental data (including satellite, aerial and Street View imagery), and human input to create a map that corresponds as closely as possible to the real-world facts that you\u2019d find if you were to visit that location.&amp;quot;\r\n\r\nIt isn't just large scale new details like motorways, and Google has also updated some of the finite details such as\u00A0walking paths, ferry lines, building outlines, park boundaries and university campuses. These small details are what makes Google Maps so useful for locals and others that use them.\r\n\r\nFor example, in Madrid (Spain), the\u00A0Museo del Prado and Parque del Retiro includes walking paths around the nearby park. As someone who spends plenty of time visiting new places -- including Madrid and the museum (pictured above) -- I can appreciate the benefits for tourists and those seeking to explore new areas with little more than their smartphone.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe new additions now take Ground Truth to 40 countries worldwide, and Google is very much set to expand that number as it continues to map the world in greater detail - a task that is never-ending.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nHeadline image of Museo de Prado via\u00A0Rob Wilson\u00A0/ Shutterstock"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://thenextweb.com/google/2012/12/06/google-maps-updated-in-10-european-countries-as-project-ground-truth-expands-to-40-markets/>