Introduction
Here is a collection of the most common issues I've seen while reviewing Map Maker edits over the past five years. This list is not meant as a mapping tutorial, although there are links to a couple of tutorials included in the further reading lists. Hopefully this list can help everyone become a better mapper or at least reduce the number of edits that must be fixed before being published.
Note: the information below only contains the most common issues and doesn't address all requirements for mapping roads properly. Usage guidelines change over time and I'm not always right, so I cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information 100%!
On the other side of this issue is the inappropriate use of the ETA/PL attribute. Do not use ETA/PL in apartment complexes or on other residential streets or driveways (see Driveways below). Do not use ETA/PL on alleys or cemeteries.
Have fun mapping!
Jay
1. Road Priority
Map Maker sets the default priority on roads to newly created roads to Local, but most new roads added to Map Maker aren't Local priority. Roads that are dead-end, low-use, no-thru-traffic or enclosed areas (e.g. parking lots, trailer parks, cemeteries, campgrounds and apartment complexes) should be set to the Terminal priority.- Further reading: Road priorities
2. Abbreviations
All road names in Map Maker appear abbreviated. You'll see "NE Madison Ave" or "Main St" on the map, but this is the result of Google Maps automatically abbreviating the full names. When naming a road you must spell out the name fully. For example, "Northeast Madison Avenue" or "Main Street." When a new road name first appears in Map Maker it won't be abbreviated, but eventually, when the change is incorporated into the production map, the abbreviations will appear.
- Further reading: Name
3. Enclosed Traffic Area (ETA) / Parking Lot segment usage
This attribute, commonly referred to as ETA/PL, is misused more often than any other.
All segments in a parking lot need this attribute. This includes the parking aisles, thoroughfares, and entry/exit segments even if they don't have parking spaces. The aisles need the Terminal priority and the thoroughfares need Local priority. There is an exception for named roads (even in parking lots), which must not have the ETA/PL attribute.
On the other side of this issue is the inappropriate use of the ETA/PL attribute. Do not use ETA/PL in apartment complexes or on other residential streets or driveways (see Driveways below). Do not use ETA/PL on alleys or cemeteries.
When adding a new road, it's necessary to establish connections to existing roads in the very first part of the edit process. When you double-click or press enter Map Maker will make connections it thinks you intended and present this to you along with the option to set road attributes and even fix alignment issues on the segments you've connected to. Being able to realign those segments is a good sign that you've made a connection. If the connection wasn't made by this point you must undo the edit and start over: once you've progressed to this second stage of the edit process it's no longer possible to create connections. If you submit this edit it will get denied or the reviewer will ask you to revert or undo the edit to fix it since it cannot be fixed. Even very experienced mappers fail to make connections sometimes so please check carefully before submitting your edit!
- Further reading: Mapping Your First Parking Lot
5. Changing Road Names
If a road is incorrectly named and you need to change the name, please submit a single edit which removes any incorrect names and adds the correct name to the entire route in a single edit. Don't submit edits for each segment or only add the correct name without removing the incorrect name. Properly renaming a road is fairly easy, but not necessarily intuitive. The key is the Segment Tool (Edit, Select Road Segments). Using this tool you can select all segments of a road at once, removing incorrect routes and add new names all in a single edit.
- Further reading: Segment Tool, Name, The Correct Way to Rename a Road
6. Extending Routes
If you need to add or change a road name, and that name already exists on the map, use the Segment Tool to select the segments you need to rename along with an adjacent segment which contains the name (route). Choose the "Extend to all" option for the existing road name to add that name to all selected segments. You can also remove old or invalid names at the same time using the “Remove from all” option. You shouldn't need to enter the name again if it's already on the map.
The Private access attribute in Map Maker is not used to indicate privately owned or maintained roads, but rather to indicate restricted, private access. This usually involves a gate (which is always kept closed) or signs indicating private use only. If delivery vehicles, customers, or guests are permitted to use the road without special clearance, the road should be set to Public access. One notable exception is private residential driveways (more below) which are set to Private access.
- Further reading: Road attributes (Road Access)
8. Surface Type
By default, when adding a path or trail Map Maker will automatically select the unpaved surface type. This is great for mapping off-road trails, but isn't right for paved sidewalks and paths. Unpaved trails look different on the map (dashed lines) and so this attribute is important. Select paved, concrete, asphalt or other options as appropriate.
Guidelines also suggest adding short, paved paths using no-auto-traffic roads instead of trails (these will appear just like paved trails). Only more extensive trail systems should be mapped using the path/trail segment type. Be sure to set the surface type and bicycle, pedestrian access on these no-auto-traffic road/trails.
- Further reading: Trails and paths, Road attributes (Surface Type)
9. Sidewalks
Sidewalks along roadways should not normally be mapped as trails/paths. Please set the sidewalk and bicycling attributes on the roads instead. Only map paths which are far from the road, separated by a barrier from the road or deviate significantly from the road for a majority of its length. Also map any paths that connect these other paths to the roads.
Drawing any loop (e.g. cul-de-sac) in Map Maker requires at least two segments. A new segment won't connect to itself and although there's a trick to creating a loop in a single segment it completely breaks the ability to edit that loop's properties later. To make a loop, map only part of the loop in one edit, and once published, map the second part to finish the loop.
11. Private Residential Driveways
Residential driveways should only be added if they are fairly long or are shared by 3 or more houses. These roads should have the Terminal priority and Private access attribute. Leave the segment usage blank (e.g. do not add Enclosed Traffic Area/Parking Lot usage).
- Further reading: Road priorities (Priorities for unique roads)
12. Stacked Edits
If you submit an edit on a road and then try to submit another edit on the same road or a nearby road, your edits can become codependent. This codependency can wreak havoc on the Map Maker system. The second edit can't be reviewed before the first edit is approved, and if the first edit is denied or reverted or sometimes just re-edited, the second edit can get stuck permanently and never get reviewed and prevent additional edits and reviews. If you find yourself doing this accidentally, and want to fix it, try to undo/revert edits in reverse order (undo the most recent edits first) and sometimes you can start over. However, sometimes you just have to report the problem to Google to ask for help (even RLs can't help in these situations).Have fun mapping!
Jay
