Google Maps is getting new features: All you need to know

Google Maps is getting a lot more detail. The search giant has announced some new visual improvements and features for one of the world's most-popular navigation app. Here's all about the update

Google Maps is adding more detail and granularity to its map. The aim is to make natural features easier to see. 'Exploring a place gives you a look at its natural features—so you can easily distinguish tan, arid beaches and deserts from blue lakes, rivers, oceans and ravines. You can know at a glance how lush and green a place is with vegetation, and even see if there are snow caps on the peaks of mountaintops," said Google in a blog post.

"For example, a densely covered forest can be classified as dark green, while an area of patchy shrubs could appear as a lighter shade of green," said the post.

The 'colourful update' will be available in all 220 countries and territories that Google Maps is present in.

Wonder how exactly this color-mapping technique work? This is what Google has to say: "First, we use computer vision to identify natural features from our satellite imagery, looking specifically at arid, icy, forested, and mountainous regions. We then analyze these features and assign them a range of colors on the HSV color model. For example, a densely covered forest can be classified as dark green, while an area of patchy shrubs could appear as a lighter shade of green."

Other than going colourful, Google Maps is also getting new features for pedestrians. Users will soon be able to see highly detailed street information that shows accurate shape and width of a road to scale. They will also be able to see exactly where sidewalks, crosswalks and more are located.

As per Google, the detailed street maps feature will start rolling out in London, New York, and San Francisco in the coming months. More cities will be added over time.