Google has announced a new service that will enable users to move incorrect markers on Google Maps for their home and businesses to the correct locations.Writing on the Lat Long Blog, Google engineer Seth LaForge stated that people can now click on a location flag on Google Maps and then choose edit in the pop-up box.
In order to guard against "people monkeying with markers", whenever a recently-moved address or business is identified, a "show original" link will appear so that users can see where it has been moved from, he added.
Access to certain listings, such as government buildings and hospitals, however, will be restricted and some edits, including moving a marker more than 200 metres from its original location, will require a moderator's approval.
According to Mr LaForge, "fixing markers can be downright addictive". He added that he has "spent hours using Street View to locate businesses and houses and then moving their markers".
Commenting on the new service, Greg Sterling wrote on his Screenwerk blog: "The move is consistent with [the] increasing 'socialisation' or openness of Google and part of a broader effort to obtain fresher and better local data.
"Allowing the community and business owners to edit and update information is the only viable way to have an accurate database."
The provision is currently available in the US, Australia and New Zealand.
