Google users can now make their own maps

Google has expanded its popular mapping technology to allow users to create their own personalised maps complete with their own pictures, locations.

Google has expanded its popular mapping technology to allow users to create their own personalised maps complete with their own pictures and locations.

HT Image

The new features launched on Thursday allows creators to share maps, giving them the possibility of creating localised maps of points of interest in specific neighbourhoods. Users can choose whether to make their maps public or private.

Maps can be further customised by specifying the scale of the map, the order the landmarks appear in the sidebar, and even the design of the landmark icons on the map. They can also be toggled between map and satellite views.

The Silicon Valley company is hoping the simplicity of the new features will generate millions of highly specialised maps to be stored in its search index.

Google Maps is currently the third-most popular map site, following AOL's Mapquest and Yahoo Maps.