Abstract: A point of interest (POI) viewpoint generation system and method may analyze attributes of photographs captured in the vicinity of a POI to automatically annotate a digital map with a viewpoint marker that corresponds to the POI. The viewpoint may include a geographic location in the vicinity of a POI which serves as a vantage point from where an observer (e.g., a photographer, a person viewing the location, etc.) may view or photograph the POI. The viewpoint marker may include a visible indication (e.g., an icon) included with the visual representation of the digital map. The geographic location of the viewpoint marker may roughly correspond to the cartographic location of the viewpoint.

Abstract: Systems and methods for applying one or more route-based modifications to a map are provided. In some aspects, a system includes a pathfinder module configured to determine a primary route from a beginning point to a destination point on the map. The pathfinder module is further configured to generate one or more primary modifications to the map based on the primary route. The system also includes a restyling module configured to apply the primary route and the one or more primary modifications to the map. The one or more primary modifications include at least one of a) adding a first object to the map that would otherwise be excluded from the map if the primary route is not applied to the map and b) excluding a second object from the map that would otherwise be added to the map if the primary route is not applied to the map.

Abstract: Methods and systems for navigating panoramic imagery are provided. If a user rotates panoramic imagery to a view having a view angle that deviates beyond a threshold view angle, the view of the panoramic imagery will be adjusted to the threshold view angle. In a particular implementation, the view is drifted to the threshold view angle so that a user can at least temporarily view the imagery that deviates beyond the threshold view angle. A variety of transition animations can be used as the imagery is drifted to the threshold view angle. For instance, the view can be elastically snapped back to the threshold view angle to provide a visually appealing transition to a user.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to rendering three-dimensional (3D) models to increase visual palatability. One or more computing devices may render an image of a 3D model. This rendering may actually occur in one or more stages. At an interim stage, the one or more computing devices determine an error value for a rendering of a partially-loaded version of the image. The error value is compared to a threshold. Based on the comparison, the one or more computing device generates an at least partially blurred rendering based at least in part on the rendering of the partially-loaded version of the image. The one or more computing devices provide the at least partially blurred rendering and subsequently provide for display a completely loaded version of the image.

Abstract: To generate a description of a raster map image that includes a representation of a body of water having a color gradient that appears constant in response to a zoom operation, a description of geometry of the body of water is generated for a selected geographic area. Using a raster representation of the body of water having a color gradient, at least two blur raster images are generated: a first blur raster image is generated using a first blur radius, and a second blur raster image is generated using a second blur radius different from the first blur radius. The description of the geometry of the body of water, the first blur raster image, and the second blur raster image are provided to a client device for generating raster map images of the selected geographic area.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for selectively providing images. In one aspect, a method includes receiving image data that specify feature values for a plurality of images. The image data include, for each image, location data that specify a geographic location for the image. A group of images in which each image has location data specifying a geographic location that is within a threshold distance of a reference location are selected. Pairs of matching images are selected from the group of images. A reference image for the geographic location is selected from the pairs of matching images. Data that cause presentation in a map space of a photo collection image that includes a visual representation of the reference image are provided. The photo collection image is presented in the map space and at a map position for the geographic location.

Abstract: Systems, methods, computer programs, and user interfaces are provided to identify a route extending from a route start location to a route end location and including a plurality of route segments, determine a route type for each the plurality of route segments, and provide for display of a trip progress bar for the route. The trip progress bar including one more bar segments corresponding to one or more of the route segments, and each of the bar segments of the trip progress bar having a display characteristic indicative of the route type for the corresponding route segment such that a user can graphically identify a route segment type corresponding to each of the displayed bar segments of the trip progress bar.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to determine specularity of an object. As an example an object or area of geometry may be selected. A set of images that include the area of geometry may be captured. This set of images may be filtered to remove images that do not show the area of geometry well, such as if the area is in a shadow or occluded by another object. A set of intensity values for the area are determined for each image. A set of angle values for each image is determined based on at least a direction of a camera that captured the particular image when the particular image was captured. The set of average intensities and the set of angle values are paired and fit to a curve. The specularity of the area may then be classified based on at least the fit.

Abstract: Methods and systems for navigating panoramic imagery are provided. If a user rotates panoramic imagery to a view having a view angle that deviates beyond a threshold view angle, the view of the panoramic imagery will be adjusted to the threshold view angle. In a particular implementation, the view is drifted to the threshold view angle so that a user can at least temporarily view the imagery that deviates beyond the threshold view angle. A variety of transition animations can be used as the imagery is drifted to the threshold view angle. For instance, the view can be elastically snapped back to the threshold view angle to provide a visually appealing transition to a user.

Abstract: Systems, methods, computer programs, and user interfaces are provided to obtain a number of transit route features, perform a spatial comparison of a first transit route feature of the transit route features with a road spatial data layer, modify a transit location of the first transit route feature to intersect a road feature of the road spatial data layer based on the spatial comparison, obtain a road layer style for the road spatial data layer, determine a transit layer style for the first transit route feature based on the road layer style, and generate, based on the transit layer style, a transit map such that a transit label for the first transit route feature is contained by the road feature.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for selectively providing images. In one aspect, a method includes receiving image data that specify feature values for a plurality of images. The image data include, for each image, location data that specify a geographic location for the image. A group of images in which each image has location data specifying a geographic location that is within a threshold distance of a reference location are selected. Pairs of matching images are selected from the group of images. A reference image for the geographic location is selected from the pairs of matching images. Data that cause presentation in a map space of a photo collection image that includes a visual representation of the reference image are provided. The photo collection image is presented in the map space and at a map position for the geographic location.

Abstract: Provided is a process for personalizing an interactive map that includes the following: receiving a user request to view an interactive map; determining a map extent responsive to the request; obtaining a profile of the user; personalizing, with a computer, an interactive map based on the profile; and presenting the personalized map to the user. Personalizing includes determining whether to depict geographic features within the map extent in the personalized map based on the profile, and formatting a depiction of the features to have, for each respective feature, a prominence determined based on the profile.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for selectively providing images. In one aspect, a method includes receiving image data that specify feature values for a plurality of images. The image data include, for each image, location data that specify a geographic location for the image. A group of images in which each image has location data specifying a geographic location that is within a threshold distance of a reference location are selected. Pairs of matching images are selected from the group of images. A reference image for the geographic location is selected from the pairs of matching images. Data that cause presentation in a map space of a photo collection image that includes a visual representation of the reference image are provided. The photo collection image is presented in the map space and at a map position for the geographic location.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a content based, custom labeled map is provided. A request for a map is received. The request includes a geographical area to be displayed in the map and a type of content item to be displayed in the map. A plurality of orientation points to display on the map is determined based on a ranking of locations in the geographical area, and one or more pieces of content to be associated with each orientation point is determined. Each orientation point is ranked based in part on ranks of the one or more pieces of content associated with each orientation point. A map is generated to display at the locations of the plurality of orientation points the pieces of content associated with each orientation point at a level of prominence that is based on the ranking of each orientation point.

Abstract: A digital map of a geographic area is displayed via a user interface, and a 3D representation of a multi-story building located in the geographic area is displayed on the digital map. The 3D representation includes multiple stacked, individually selectable floor maps corresponding to the floors of the multi-story building. A scrolling gesture over a point within the 3D representation of the building, that includes a motion in a direction substantially along a vertical axis of the 3D representation of the building, is received. In response, the floor maps are consecutively activated, and visual attributes of the activated floor map are changed relative to every other floor maps in the 3D representation, so that no more than one of floor maps is activated at one time.

Abstract: Systems and methods for applying one or more route-based modifications to a map are provided. In some aspects, a system includes a pathfinder module configured to determine a primary route from a beginning point to a destination point on the map. The pathfinder module is further configured to generate one or more primary modifications to the map based on the primary route. The system also includes a restyling module configured to apply the primary route and the one or more primary modifications to the map. The one or more primary modifications include at least one of a) adding a first object to the map that would otherwise be excluded from the map if the primary route is not applied to the map and b) excluding a second object from the map that would otherwise be added to the map if the primary route is not applied to the map.

Abstract: A mapping system tailors maps and directions for bicyclists. The mapping system stores map data including data about the suitability for biking along roads in a road network. A cost model, including a turn model, a hill model, and a penalty/bonus model is applied to the road network. The turn model models how long it takes to traverse an intersection. The hill model models a bicyclist's speed based on the road grade. The penalty/bonus model adjusts the calculated cost of a road segment under the turn model and hill model to take account of steep hills and other unfavorable or favorable conditions along the road segment for bicycling. The mapping system generates one or more routes between an origin and destination. The generated route that has the lowest adjusted cost is determined to be a recommended route. The mapping system formats maps and/or directions to display recommended routes.

Abstract: A system and method may truncate entered text of a text box user interface element to display both a beginning portion of the text and an ending portion of the text. Within a displayed user interface, a collapsible text entry box may include a text entry field having a maximum size based on a spatial relationship between the field and the box. The text entry field may include a text entry capacity of a threshold number of characters based on the text entry field parameter. The field may receive a stream of characters and the user interface may initially display all characters as the field receives them. When the displayed characters exceeds the threshold number, the system and method may truncate the displayed characters at a truncation point. The position of the truncation point may include a displayed character after a first displayed character of the received character stream.

Abstract: Systems, methods, computer programs, and user interfaces are provided to receive a route request including a start location and an end location, generate a route from the start location to the end location, the route including a number of route segments, determine a route proportion for each of the route segments, generate a progress style based on the route proportion of each of the route segments, and send the route and the progress style to a user device, the user device displaying a segment progress to scale for a current route segment of the route segments based on the progress style.

Abstract: An off-screen content indication system receives an identification of a geographic term, generates an off-screen content indicator that indicates a location of an off-screen entity associated with the identified geographic term, places the off-screen content indicator outside a viewport that currently displays a portion of a map to a user, and temporarily moves or shifts the viewport toward the general direction of the location of the off-screen entity to reveal the generated off-screen content indicator.