Upcoming Changes to Birdseye Imagery in the Google Maps API
Google have announced that from the next version of their Javascript Maps API v3.62, the 45 ° imagery will be deprecated.
This is the map imagery (also called Bird Eye imagery) which is used in some of our mapping tools such as Dual Maps.
This change will also have an effect on some other Map Channels mapping tools.
For Dual Maps we will continue to use the current Maps API (v3.61) while it is available. This will allow the birds eye mode to be supported into 2026 but it's not possible to give an exact date yet. Other projects may be impacted earlier than this.
All the mapping tools will continue to work even after 2026, at which point the birds eye imagery option will instead display overhead satellite imagery.
We are working on new mapping tools which will include the new 3D Maps features, some of the projects on TripGeo such as Air Tours and Travel Cat use the 3D Maps.
Please contact us if you have any questions about this change.
TripGeo Updates
New games continue to be added to our site at tripgeo.com.
Citygrams is an anagram solving game where you try to unscramble the names of cities to discover the name of the hidden city.
Tube Recall tests your knowledge of the London Underground network.
Trip City is a prototype 3D sandbox featuring animated vehicles and citizens.
Videos and YouTube
On TripGeo there is now a Videos page featuring visual introductions to our games and mapping tools.
To see our latest videos when they are released please subscribe to our YouTube channels for
Map Channels YouTube and
TripGeo YouTube.
19 August 2025
Tour De France 2025
Explore all the stages of the 2025 Tour de France cycle race with this interactive map featuring animated street view. This map was created using Team Maps version 3 and uses data provided by the Cycling Stages website.
Team Maps v3 lets you map multiple data feeds in KML or GPX format. Also YouTube videos can be displayed alongside animated routes. There are many more additional features available.
More maps created with Team Maps can be viewed in the Featured Maps section.
View the map at https://www.mapchannels.com/tm3/map.htm?id=1-tour-de-france-2025
8 July 2025
Street View Animator
There is a new animated Street View tool available! Street View Animator is hosted on our new mapping tools site at https://maps.tripgeo.com/streetviewanimator.
This new tool is an improvement on the previous route animation tools hosted on Map Channels. Street View Animator has an improved user interface and better features.
Animation no longer has the motion blur effect in between frames and you can easily adjust the frame interval and the virtual vehicle speed. You can change the direction of view during the journey to view one side of the road as required.
When the journey is paused you can explore off-route areas and discover new places.
The big new feature of Street View Animator is that you can share journeys that you create with others in real time.
Invite others along for your virtual journey and share the experience.
This means that other viewers will see exactly the same imagery as you during the virtual journey. Street View Animator is ideal for sharing directions, shared virtual exploration and many other applications.
Street View Animator on YouTube.
View an example Animated Street View Journey.
Get Started with Street View Animator!
4 February 2025
Map Games For The Holidays
TripGeo has a new collection of map-based games to enjoy over the holidays.
These games have been created by Map Channels and Maps Mania.
16 December 2024
GeoTripper
Challenge your geography skills in GeoTripper, where you plot the perfect path between world cities!
Race against friends by choosing the most efficient route through major metropolises, with each game changing every 15 minutes.
Test your global knowledge, strategic thinking, and spatial reasoning as you aim for the highest score by finding the shortest possible path!
Map Memory
How good is your geography? Can you identify major cities on an unlabelled map?
It's time to test both your memory and your geographical knowledge with this classic Map Memory game!
Video Scramble
Inspired by Scrambled Maps, our new game Video Scramble creates a brand new kind of challenge.
Unscramble moving video fragments in a mind-bending puzzle! Like a jigsaw where each piece plays its own clip, VideoScramble challenges you to piece together the complete video. Are you ready to put the picture in motion?
Scrambled Hex Maps
Can you rearrange the city hexes to reveal the correct order?
It's just like Scrambled Maps but with hexagons instead of squares!
Also try a random city challenge or choose a city to unscramble.
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TripGeo Updates:
Scrambled Maps and Halloween Games
There are a number of new projects added for our map / games website at TripGeo.
Scrambled Maps
Can you unscramble the city map tiles into the correct order?
Scrambled Maps is a fun game that isn't as easy as it looks.
There is a different city each day to play!
Happy Halloween
Here are some special Halloween games for you to play!
Scrambled Monsters
Similar to Scrambled Maps but with monsters! Unscramble the monsters to view the special Halloween video.
Nightmare on View Street
Street View has been possessed. Ghosts and goblins have begun haunting famous landmarks around the world. Get ghostbusting and help pinpoint these eerie spots on the map!
Haunted London
Explore spooky locations around London in this special Halloween game.
31 Oct 2024
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TripGeo
New Map Channels projects have been added to our Blazor-powered platform at TripGeo.
The aim of TripGeo is to host a collection of mapping tools, resources and games using ASP .Net and Blazor technology.
If you are interested in helping with the development of new TripGeo projects please get in touch.
TripGeo is mobile compatible and can be installed on your mobile as an App.
TripGeo Trivia
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TripGeo Trivia is a fun daily geographical game which takes a few minutes to play.
• Test your geography and travel trivia skills.
• Identify cities from trivia clues.
• There are 10 cities per game with 3 clues to help you find each city.
• Play a new challenge every day.
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TripGeo Cities
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The TripGeo Cities resource is used by the TripGeo Trivia game
and the Guess This City game.
• The data was generated by a combination of GeoNames, Open AI / ChatGPT and Wikipedia.
• The data is by no means 100% accurate and the project is definitely a work-in-progress.
• Generally the data is pretty good and will be a foundation for further development.
• There is an initial cluster map which contains 10,000 cities and towns.
• Each city has its own guide map containing approximately 20 landmarks and attractions.
• You can view the city guides using Google Maps and Street View.
The aim is to expand and improve the TripGeo Cities resource and to incorporate the data into more projects including mapping tools.
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More Games
Here are some of the map-based games that you can play at TripGeo. These have been developed by Map Channels and Maps Mania.
6 August 2024
About Map Channels
Map Channels provides a range of free mapping tools mostly based on the Google Maps API.
Map Channels tools let you create and embed a custom map for your website or blog without the need for coding.
The service is free. You can use the map scripts generated by this site for both commercial and non-commercial use.
Map Channels is an independent website which has been running since 2007 and is not affiliated with Google.
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Donate and Support
If you find Map Channels useful please support the site with a Donation.
News Updates
Register for a free user account and you can choose to receive occasional emails about new mapping tools and features.
Social Media
Follow Map Channels on Blue Sky at mapchannels.bsky.social.
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Site News
Computer Classic Warlord is an adaptation of the vintage board game 'Warlord'.
In Computer Classic Warlord you battle to build your empire against up to 6 AI controlled opponents using your armies and nuclear bombs.
The original Warlord game was created during the Cold War era by Mike Hayes. The game was first published in 1974, then published by Games Workshop as 'Apocalypse' in 1980 and later as 'Classic Warlord' in 2012.
This computer adaptation closely follows the presentation and game play of the board game and was developed in conjunction with Mike Hayes.
Computer Classic Warlord is hosted at our TripGeo.com site which hosts a collection of map-based games.
The game is still at the development stage and is presented as a demonstration version that you can play now.
Play Warlord Now
In time for Easter we have made a game for you. Explore locations around the world, find the hidden Easter Eggs and discover the Easter Creatures !
The game is hosted on the TripGeo.com site which is our new home for map-based games.
Visit www.tripgeo.com/Easter to play the game.
There are five cities to explore.
Play the State Locator game at TripGeo.
Find the locations of all 50 states in this jigsaw style map puzzle.
TripGeo is a Map Channels website which will be a portal for map-based games.
Please contact us if you have an idea for a map game to develop.
If you want a more challenging game try the Name The States Memory Game from Maps Mania !
With Tour Maps you can
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• Create and edit travel routes
• Add and edit place markers
• Use the index to locate places and steps along the route
• View your tour on desktop or mobile
• On mobile turn on geolocation to follow your progress along the route
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• See animated street view of the tour
• Auto-rotate the street view panorama when stationary
• Set the animation travel speed
• Customize the map appearance and behaviour
• Share your Tour Map with friends, family and colleagues
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Special Features for Halloween
Hosted on our new AI projects site at Mashed World.
TubeGuessr - Test your knowledge of the London Underground
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TubeGuessr
is a challenging new game developed by Maps Mania that tests your knowledge of the London Underground rail network.
The game has evolved over the last few weeks and now has features such as progress saving, filtering by line, and cryptic clues for some stations.
The source code is also available if you want to adapt or modify the game.
This game was inspired by the SF-Street Names game by Benjamin Tran Dinh who has since released his own London Tube memory game and now has a collection of these games at metro-memory.com.
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Mashed World : A New Home For AI Projects
Mashed World has been updated.
The main new project is the The Library of Quizzes where you can find a selection of AI generated quizzes to test your general knowledge.
Also you can Create Your Own Quiz to share with others (Google sign-in required).
Other new projects include The Gallery of Fine AI Art and The Cinema of AI where you can explore collections of AI generated media.
Mashed World is a sibling website of Map Channels that predates Map Channels. Over the years it has hosted a range of projects.
The new aims of Mashed World are to :
• Provide a range of interesting and fun AI-related projects.
• Continue to learn more .NET Core and Blazor and to develop more projects using this platform.
• Keep non-mapping projects separate from the main mapping tools hosted on Map Channels.
Do you need a web project built ?
Please get in touch using the Contact page if you need any kind of web project developing.
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Create Amazing AI Generated Videos using Neural Frames
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Introducing Tour Maps
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Tour Maps is a new project hosted at tour.mapchannels.com.
The site's server-side code has been developed using ASP .NET Core, Blazor and SignalR.
The project builds upon the features of earlier tools such as the Map Channels v4 and v5 Tour Maps, Map Channels v9, Animated Route Maps and Team Maps.
Demonstration Tour Map : A visit to Tour Map of Bagnoles de l'Orne in France.
With Tour Maps you can
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• Create and edit travel routes
• Add and edit place markers
• Use the index to locate places and steps along the route
• View your tour on desktop or mobile
• On mobile turn on geolocation to follow your progress along the route
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• See animated street view of the tour
• Auto-rotate the street view panorama when stationary
• Set the animation travel speed
• Customize the map appearance and behaviour
• Share your Tour Map with friends, family and colleagues
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Explore The International Map of Mascots
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Have you ever wondered what all the national animals of the world's countries would look like all dressed up in their nation's colours ?
Well thanks to the wonders of AI technology and Google Maps you can now see for yourself some of these animals in their smartest national dress.
Using the International Map of Mascots you can see detailed images of these mascots expertly rendered by our resident AI artbot (Bing Image Creator).
Find out more about each national animal and explore their natural habitats using Google Street View !
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The Mascots Are Awaiting Your Visit
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The International Map of Mascots started as a demo for our new mapping tool, Map Channels version 9, which lets you create and share your own Google Maps
with Street View and custom markers.
It turns out that there are quite a lot of countries in the world so in this initial release our AI artbot only managed to imagine 75 of the mascots.
More mascots will be added sometime in the future !
Thanks to Maps Mania with help on this project !
Map Channels v9 is part of a move to use more modern web technology for our mapping tools.
The version 9 site uses ASP .Net Core with Razor. Blazor and SignalR will be used for the next project (coming soon).
If you need an advanced custom web project developed please get in touch !
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Introducing Map Channels v9 Beta
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Map Channels v9 is the latest in a series of free mapping tools created by Map Channels.
This new project has been developed using ASP .Net Core
and is hosted on it's own subdomain at mc9.mapchannels.com.
You can log in using your existing Map Channels account. The dashboard system works like that of other Map Channels tools.
The initial release of Map Channels v9 is aimed at users who want to quickly create a simple map to display a collection of placemarks.
More features will be added in future updates.
For more advanced mapping tools please visit the Overview page.
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Map Channels v9 Demo Map : New York Landmarks
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Map Channels v9 Features
Create maps for your own use or to embed onto your website.
• An integrated map editor which includes a place editor, category editor, map settings and sharing links.
• A SQL database stores the place data. Changes appear immediately on the map rather than needing to click a publish button.
• A choice of map creation options :
- Create an empty map.
- Create from the URL of a KML or KMZ feed.
- Create from a Google My Map.
- Copy and paste KML data.
- Upload KML or KMZ data.
• Manage custom marker icons with the category editor.
• Display a banner above your map to help users return to your website.
View more details at Map Channels v9.
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Custom Project Development
Map Channels v9 uses the ASP .Net Core framework which includes Razor and Entity.
.Net Core is a step-up from ASP .Net Forms which is used for the main Map Channels website.
Further technologies such as Blazor and SignalR are also available for use.
Map Channels v9 is available as a web application template on which to add further functionality.
Using ASP .Net Core allows applications to be deployed onto a choice of server platforms including Windows, Linux and cloud platforms such as Google Cloud, AWS and Azure.
If you need a project developed using ASP .Net Core please get in touch via the Contact page.
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Dual Maps Update
Two interface improvements have been added for Dual Maps.
(1) Click on either map to select the nearest street view to the clicked point.
(2) When the Auto Street View option is selected (the checkbox in the bottom left corner) then the street view heading will change to face the place marker.
These two changes make it easier to quickly view a location in street view from multiple angles.
Palace of Versailles
View this example Dual Map featuring the Palace of Versailles in France.
More information is available at the official site and the Wikipedia page.
Visit the Dual Maps page to create your own interactive Dual Map for any location.
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Street Earth Map
Street Earth Map is an old project that has been reworked to use the new Google 3D Photorealistic tiles. Using Street Earth Map you can view synchronized Street View, overhead map and 3D imagery.
This is an early prototype which will be developed further. Please use the contact page to provide feedback.
Dual Maps version 8
Dual Maps version 8 has replaced older versions of Dual Maps. Version 7 is still available here if you wish to use that.
The new version has improved synchronization for the second map and new streamlined sharing and settings options.
Here is a demonstration Dual Map showing the Roman amphitheater at Nimes, France.
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Dual Maps Version 8 is now the default version of Dual Maps.
Dual Maps let you view a location using a synchronized combination of road map, birds eye imagery and street view.
Try the new Dual Maps now at https://www.mapchannels.com/DualMaps.aspx.
Features in version 8 include integrated map settings and sharing so that you can create a map for a new place and share the link, all from within the Dual Map.
The Street View and Place Marker on the second map can also be dragged and dropped to new locations. During the dragging the street view coverage layer is displayed so that you can move the marker easily to a location with street view imagery.
Here is an example Dual Map of Warwick Castle in England.
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There is a new beta version 8 of Dual Maps available. Dual Maps let you view a location using a synchronized combination of road map, birds eye imagery and street view.
Try Dual Maps version 8 beta now at https://www.mapchannels.com/DualMaps.aspx.
• Version 8 of Dual Maps has a more streamlined interface. It's now even easier to create, edit and share links with Dual Maps.
• There are new Settings and Share icons which let you change settings and generate new map links within the Dual Map itself.
• The POI (Points of Interest) control has been moved. Also when you click on a POI map marker the street view for that location is automatically displayed.
• Dual Maps version 8 is free to use without the need to register on the site.
• One ad unit is displayed on the loading panel. After this is skipped no further ads are displayed.
• Feedback on v8 is welcome via Twitter or the website.
• During the beta phase the default version 7 will continue to be available as the default version of Dual Maps.
Explore this example Dual Map of The Angel of the North, Gateshead, UK.
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AI Map Markers : How To Use AI Art To Create Your Own Map Markers
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This is a prototype project which explores using AI Art to create marker images which can be displayed on a map.
Visit the AI Map Markers page to view the guide, see the AI marker library and get started creating your own AI map markers!
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Animated Route Maps Version 3
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Animated Route Maps let you easily create and modify a travel route on Google Maps and then view the scenery along the route using animated Street View.
There is a range of options to customize your maps's appearance and functionality.
View the maps in either 2D or 3D mode.
Switch locations by clicking on any point along the route.
Generate new routes directly within the map.
You can embed animated route maps in your web site or blog and easily share links to the maps on social media.
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Featured Map : Combe Laval, France
The Combe Laval road is a scenic route located in the Vercors Massif region of southeastern France.
It is a narrow and winding road that climbs up to an altitude of 1,450 meters, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
View the Combe Laval Travel Guide to see how Animated Route Maps provide an interactive experience for visitors.
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Example Maps
Here are examples of some of the most scenic routes from around the world :
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The Great Ocean Road, Australia
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Chapman's Peak Drive, South Africa
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Amalfi Coast Drive, Italy
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Lysebotn Road, Norway
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Icefields Parkway, Alberta, Canada
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Coastal Road, Iceland
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Seward Highway, Alaska, United States
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North Yungas Road, Bolivia
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Milford Road, New Zealand
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Combe Laval, France
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Visit the Animated Route Maps Project Page to create your own Animated Route Maps !
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Cat Has Hat
I have recently started work learning mobile app development using Xamarin and .Net MAUI with the aim of creating a range of apps.
In time for the holiday season the first app is now available which is a simple image based game.
It is a mobile adaptation of the game 'Cat Has Hat' which was initially released last year on Map Channels Arcade.
The Cat Has Hat app is available for Android devices (sorry no iOS yet). It can be downloaded from the Google Play Store.
If you enjoy the app please rate it and leave a review.
The Cat Has Hat app needs no special permissions, does not require an internet connection to run and does not contain adverts. The cat images were supplied by the Cat API.
More Apps
More mobile apps will be added over time. The next app currently in development will be a simple map based app.
If you would like a custom app developed please get in touch with a summary of your requirements.
See also the new Apps page.
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This new primer video shows the use of Team Maps in real estate / property searches.
See how to create the map, add a property location and a route. The video then demonstrates the use of animated street view to explore the locality around the property.
Links :
Team Maps Project Page
Demo Map
View On YouTube
Music : "From the Mountain Tops" (c) MH Media Services
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Team Maps Interface Improvements
Visit Team Maps to get started.
1. When only one place or route is displayed on the map then the index and filters are initially hidden to simplify the interface (similar to Dual Maps).
The place/route is initially selected (which displays place information and route animation controls).
2. The order of the 'Create map' options has been changed. 'Create map from directions' is now the default option.
3. The 'Create map from directions' interface has been improved.
• The default directions map type in now 'hybrid'.
• You can click on the directions map to create the start and/or destination markers.
• When the start marker is created the directions map will zoom in to make selecting the destination simpler.
4. The route animation 'play' and 'pause' icon colours have been changed.
5. The 'route draw' icon is always visible.
6. The link icon shape has been changed.
7. Routes and polygons can be edited by dragging and dropping their component points (up to a limit of 2,000 points since editing really large shapes can slow the browser).
8. The default speed of the street view animation has been slowed. This speed can be modified as required in the map settings page.
Upcoming Changes to Dual Maps
From next month (October 2022) the api key parameter will no longer be supported. One skippable intro ad unit will be displayed for all Dual Maps (and the default Map Channels API key will be used for all maps).
More ad free options for maps will be available once we find a partner company to assist with a licensing system (currently searching).
Note: Before 2022, two ads were displayed by default or one ad if an api key was supplied. The current system reduces the number of ads without requiring an api key to be supplied.
The latest update to Team Maps lets you display maps in a similar format to Dual Maps.
Site supporters can locally host Team Maps without ads.
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More updates have been made for Team Maps.
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Secondary Map
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• The default setting for the secondary map is now 'initially visible'. This can be changed in the settings page.
• Only the selected place marker is now displayed on the secondary map.
• Both the map centre and the zoom level are synchronized between the primary and secondary maps (when no place is currently selected).
• When a place is selected the secondary map will zoom in to view the selected place location at a high zoom level.
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Polygons
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• There is a new setting 'Polygon Label Marker'. Enable this option to display a labelled marked at the centre of the polygon (approximately). This makes identifying polygon locations much easier at low zoom levels.
• When a polygon is selected it is displayed with a transparent interior. Also the info window is no longer displayed. This makes it easier to view the full interior area of a selected polygon.
• A 'zoom fit' link is displayed in the place header to quickly zoom in and view the polygon area.
• If the secondary map is enabled then selecting the polygon will automatically perform a zoom fit on the secondary map.
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Route Progress Overlay |
There is a new option to display the 'progress overlay' for animated routes. This overlay displays the portion of the route travelled in a bolder colour.
Enabling this option can cause a minor slowdown when clicking on a point along a very long route, so it can be switched off if desired (default is enabled).
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Bugfixes |
• Category Colour Picker : Category colours are now selected correctly after other categories are moved or deleted.
• Layers : The checkboxes correctly toggle layers on or off when clicked.
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John o'Groats to Land's End : Street View Animation
Here is another excessively fast street view video created with Team Maps showing the route from John o'Groats to Land's End in the UK.
The animation step here was around 300 metres with a pause of 5 seconds per frame. The video was sped up by x64 to turn a 7 hour video into under 7 minutes.
There will be less motorway footage in the next video. View more on the Videos page.
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This update contains features aimed at multi-user maps.
More features are planned in this area and if you would like to help with testing and development please contact us.
The current system is suitable for small groups or community maps.
If you have a requirement for a larger scale multi-user mapping system please get in touch using the link above.
Visit the Team Maps project page for more.
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User Contributions | Maps can be configured so that users can add new places to the map.
User contributions can be set to display automatically or to be reviewed by the map owner before being included.
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Multi Feed Mapping | One of the important features of Team Maps is the ability to display multiple data feeds.
With this update you can now display feeds created in other Team Maps. This makes it easier to manage your data and combine data sets for different situations.
It is possible now to combine map data created by different users where each user edits one or more of the component feeds.
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Auto Pan | 'Auto Pan' is an option for street view animation that changes the direction of view to look at nearby places as they are passed along a route.
In the Auto Pan setting enter the range in metres at which to modify direction of view.
See this demonstration map which uses the Auto Pan option.
Select the route, click the 'Play' button and view the Seattle Space Needle from different angles during the journey.
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Map Layers |
Display a custom set of layers on the map with controls within the settings panel.
• Display KML or GeoRSS Layers.
• Display Traffic, Transit and Bicycling Layers.
• Display the Street View Coverage Layer.
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Cluster Marker Limit | This is a new setting which can be used to define when clustering is activated.
Enter the number of visible markers at which to activate clustering.
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KML Feeds |
(1) The extended data field list is created automatically when importing a KML feed.
(2) Places without a name or address are displayed as 'Untitled'.
(3) There is an option to not display the place description field since this field can sometimes contain the same information as the extended data fields.
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Videos Page | A collection of tutorial and demonstration videos for Team Maps is now available.
View these on the Videos Page.
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Two new videos are available to view.
Many thanks to MH Media Services for providing the music used in these videos.
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An introductory video showing some of the key features available within Team Maps.
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A speeded-up recording of animated street view generated using Team Maps.
The video shows a journey to the Chateau de Montreal-de-Sos in the French Pyrenees.
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There is also a new tutorial available showing how to create your own animated street view videos.
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Introducing Team Maps
View on YouTube
View the Team Map.
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Street View Animation
View on YouTube
View this route using Team Maps
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Team Maps Updates
A number of improvement and fixes have been added for Team Maps.
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Street view keyboard controls | While the cursor is over the street view panorama press the 'U' key to hide or show the User Interface controls.
Press the space bar to pause or restart street view animation (when a route is selected).
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Expanded help | Each section of the Map Settings page now has detailed notes available which can be viewed by clicking the help icon.
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Colour picker | All colours can be selected more easily using a colour picker popup window.
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Spreadsheet feeds | TSV and CSV spreadsheet feeds now have field mappings to let you customize how to present the data on the map.
Note: these spreadsheet feed are not editable. It is recommended to use KML feeds if you wish to edit your map data.
Because Team Maps can display multiple feeds it is possible to combine a non-editable spreadsheet feed with an editable KML feed.
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Address feed | Map feeds generated using a list of addresses are now created as editable KML feeds allowing you to add further places interactively.
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Street view animation bugfix | A bug that caused street view animation to occasionally halt has been fixed.
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Map loading | The map load progress indicator has been restored.
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Map settings |
Categories can be created and edited in the settings page.
More settings have been added for the display of filter controls.
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Editor improvements | When the category colour is changed the colour of all routes and polygons is also now changed.
The layout of the sidebar index is updated when changes are made to the data schema.
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Please visit the Team Maps project page to get started.
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• Street View Labels are a new feature available in Team Maps. Street View Labels can be used to identify important places or features within a panorama.
Create and edit the labels in the Team Map Editor.
• The Data Schema within the Team Map Editor can be used to create and manage extended data fields for the map.
These fields can be used with custom filters and can be displayed in the index side bar as a data column.
• The Sidebar Place Profile layout has been improved.
The profile now includes extended data field values, street view labels and external maps links.
• Mobile Compatibility: A number of improvements have been added to make Team Maps function better for mobile devices.
View these new features using the test map below.
Visit the Team Maps project page for more.
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Further features have been added for Team Maps.
• More functionality is available within the integrated Team Map editor.
Categories and extended data fields can be created and edited.
• Routes can be displayed with (or without) a labelled start marker.
• Photographs and other images can be used as place markers.
A range of image marker options are available (e.g. square or circle shape, arrow size).
See the example map below.
Examples of Team Maps can be viewed on the Featured Maps page.
Visit the Team Maps project page for more.
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Team Maps now has an improved user interface and an integrated map editor.
The video above shows how it is easy to create a map with place markers and animated street view routes
(Best viewed in 720p, link).
Visit the Team Maps project page to get started.
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Multiple improvements have been made to Team Maps.
• A streamlined header menu.
• More options are available within the settings panel.
• Layers within a KML feed can be presented as separate place categories.
• Improved controls for animated Street View routes.
• A new banner panel option allows you to display your own website banner above the map.
• The advert panel now displays below the map.
• Both the banner and advert can be hidden using options within the settings panel.
• Site supporters can locally host Team Maps.
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A new interactive Feed Editor is available for Team Maps.
Use the Feed Editor to edit place data for your maps. You can add, edit and delete place markers, polylines and polygons.
Team Maps lets you combine multiple KML, Spreadsheet and GPX format feeds to display on a Google Map.
The Feed Editor incorporates a backup system so you can retrieve old copies of your data if needed.
View this Tutorial for more information about the Feed Editor.
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Several improvements have been made for Dual Maps.
Responsive layout for mobile devices
Dual Maps now work much better on mobile devices. The menu and information panels are only displayed in landscape mode, leaving more room for the street view and maps in portrait mode.
Point of Interest (POI) Options
Options are available to hide and show the POI / Business markers on the maps.
Iframe vs Full Page maps
It is recommended now to use the full page map link when creating a Dual Map.
Iframe embedding of Dual Maps is still available but when this is used a link to a full page map is displayed.
This is mainly due to the fact that Google Ads (which help to fund the site) were no longer appearing within the iframes.
The new full page option has an ad panel which you can hide after 5 seconds and does not obscure the maps.
Banner options
You can display your own custom banner above the map in full page mode to help users return to your site after viewing a map.
Map Channels Version 5 Update
There is a small update for Map Channels v5 which adds the option to hide or show the Google POI / Business markers on the map.
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Geocoder
An Integration Guide has been added to provide examples of how to add maps for geocoded places.
The Geocoder can now generate links for Team Maps.
Street View Driver
An address search control now lets you use Street View Driver to explore any location in the world where street view is available.
Quad View Maps
Bugfixes have been made to improve the synchronization of the birds eye maps within Quad View Maps.
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Quad View Maps (beta)
Quad View Maps display a set of synchronized maps plus street view that let you simultaneously view a location from multiple angles.
• When the 'Map x4' option is selected four separate maps are displayed in birds eye mode, each facing in a different direction.
• When street view is enabled a pegman marker is displayed on each map. The pegman marker on the first map can be dragged and dropped to change the current street view position.
• Use the address search text box to view different locations.
• Quad View Maps are free to use, no registration is required.
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Geocoder (updated)
Use the Geocoder to find the coordinates for an address and generate an instant map link to display the location.
The Geocoder generates links for the following maps :
Team Maps
Dual Maps
Quad View Maps
Local Maps
Location Maps
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The site has been re-organized for the new year to make the home page more streamlined and to make resources easier to find.
Visit the new Overview page for a list of mapping tools and features.
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With the holidays fast approaching, we are pleased to present you with Cat Has Hat - a little festive game created for the new Map Channels Arcade site.
Cat Has Hat will test your powers of observation and reaction while viewing a series of super-cute cat pictures.
Thanks to the Cat API for sharing their awesome collection of photos of cats both with and without hats.
Please use the social media links to share Cat Has Hat with others.
Although this is not exactly a mapping project some of the background technology (HTML5 Canvas and image sprite sheets) will be employed in future mapping projects.
If you need a custom mapping or media project created then please contact us.
Seasons greetings and best wishes for the new year to all Map Channels users. Normal mapping work will definitely resume early in 2022!
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The recent development of GPX Maps involved working with HTML5 Canvas which in turn has opened up new development possibilities.
As part of learning more HTML5 Canvas I have taken a temporary break from maps development and have created a few non-mapping projects over the last month.
These projects are now available at a new subdomain : https://arcade.mapchannels.com.
Three new projects are hosted at Map Channels Arcade, providing a range of content which hopefully is useful, interesting and/or fun in areas beyond mapping.
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GPX Maps are a new addition to the Team Maps project which are based upon the Leaflet mapping tools in the Video Maps project.
You can use GPX Maps to create a simple map showing an animated route recorded by a GPS Logger app or dashcam device.
GPX Maps can be displayed with or without video.
There are options to adjust the size and presentation of the map.
An optional elevation chart is available.
There is also a local hosting option where you can download all the files needed to display a GPX map on your computer or website.
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• A Leaflet version of Video Maps is now available. Leaflet is an alternative API to the Google Maps API.
• The Leaflet version is simpler and does not use all of the options available for the Google Maps version of Video Maps.
• Scripts for the Leaflet version are available for any Video Map that you have previously created. Visit the Video Map Edit page to get the scripts and/or links.
Demonstration Video Map
Full Page Map
This map displays trail data from 360 TrailView, a website which lets you virtually explore ATV trails using panoramic YouTube videos and Google Maps.
This particular video is panoramic so you can view the trip from any direction. A map marker indicates the current location and field of view.
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• Data can now be imported from spreadsheets in tab separated value (TSV) and comma separated value (CSV) formats.
• Data from Google Spreadsheets can also be imported.
• Data Templates can be used to format all the fields within the spreadsheet for display on the map.
• Custom filters are available to add advanced functionality and filter places by numeric and non numeric fields.
• Three types of custom filter are available: range slider, drop-down list and checkbox list.
View the Team Maps Reference for more information on these new features.
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Data can now be imported from legacy data feeds. Use this feature to display place data from maps created with Map Channels v4, v5, v6, v7 and v8.
KML feeds can be displayed with the KMLLayer object which uses a recent cached copy of the data and the original place markers.
A choice of layouts is now available. Use the widescreen layout to display the street view in full height beside the map, or use the standard layout to display the street above the map.
The route drawing tool within the tools panel has been improved. You can now use this tool to measure distances between points. Routes that you create can be traversed using animated street view.
More options have been added to the map settings and various other improvements have been made to the user interface.
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Create a Team Map from existing Map Channels map data
• Click on Create a new Team Map from the Team Maps menu.
• Select the 'Add Legacy Feed' option.
• Select an existing feed from one of your Map Channels then click the 'Add Feed' button.
• Your Team Map will now display the selected map data. You can change the map settings and add further feeds as required.
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Team Maps have been updated to support the new WebGL 3D maps from Google.
When 3D Maps are enabled the map heading will adjust to synchronize with the street view panorama.
A compass control is displayed on the map to indicate current heading. The compass control can be clicked to reset the heading to north.
To rotate and tilt the map hold down both the shift key and the left mouse button and then move the mouse.
Note: To view the 3D map imagery please ensure that your browser is WebGL enabled (guide).
Another new feature is the multi-function Tools Panel which includes controls for geolocation, address search and route drawing.
Demonstration Team Map: New York Tour
View the Full Screen Demonstration Map.
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Team Maps version 3 is a brand new mapping tool with special features to display multiple places, animated routes and video routes.
Key features of Team Maps include:
• Multiple resizeable panels including two Google maps, Google Street View, YouTube video, index panel and profile panel.
• Combine multiple feeds. KML and GPX format feeds are supported.
• Display routes using animated street view.
• Display routes with synchronized YouTube video recorded from dashcam devices.
• Click on any point along a route to view the imagery for that location.
• Use advanced features such as clustering and filters.
• A range of settings to customize your Team Map.
•Team Maps Home Page
• Create A New Team Map
• Team Maps Dashboard
• Team Maps Reference
• Demonstration Map.
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Map Channels Review of 2023
New exciting mapping projects are on the way for 2024! Here is a list of the top 10 new and updated Map Channels projects from 2023.
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Animated Route Maps let you easily create and modify a travel route on Google Maps and then view the scenery along the route using animated Street View.
Dual Maps version 8 lets you view a location using a synchronized combination of road map, birds eye imagery and street view.
AI Search Map utilizes the power of ChatGPT to let you search for anything, anywhere and to view the results on a Google map.
AI Map Markers view collections of AI generated map markers and create your own.
Street Earth Map uses the new Google 3D photorealistic tiles to display synchronized Street View, overhead map and 3D imagery.
Map Channels v9 is aimed at users who want to quickly create a simple map to display a collection of placemarks.
The International Map of Mascots uses Map Channels v9 to displays national mascots, expertly rendered by our resident AI artbot (Bing Image Creator).
Tour Maps lets you create annotated tours with animated street view for desktop or mobile.
Mashed World hosts a collection of AI projects including quizzes, art, cinema and special features.
TripGeo has been re-designed as a portal for map-based games.
Test your geographic skills with the State Locator game and
the US States Quiz game.
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31 December 2023
Feature Index
Visit the Overview page for a complete list of mapping tools and features.