Getting Coordinates from Google Maps Revisited

Google Maps continually evolves. I've covered getting Latitude and Longitude coordinates before, but here is the latest info as of this date: 6 March 2010

As you read this blog post open Google Maps in another tab or window and follow along as you duplicate the steps that follow.

Scenario: You are on vacation in Mountain View, AR and have lunch at the local Pizza Hut. You notice this Pizza Hut is not in the ProximityCast database and decide to add it, so you snap a picture. You forgot your GPS at the hotel so you decide to get the coordinates off of Google Maps later for your picture.

1. Okay your are back at your hotel ready to process your picture for uploading. To find the coordinates you go to http://maps.google.com/

2. You enter Mountain View, AR into the Search Maps text box and click the "Search Maps" button to get you in the neighborhood.

3. You see the "A" marker over Mountain View and click it use the "Search nearby" feature on the pop up to narrow your search.

4. You enter "Pizza Hut" into the Search nearby text box and click "Search" hoping that will drop you in closer to the Pizza Hut.

5. Numerous Pizza Hut markers show up for surrounding towns as well as the new "A" marker over Mountain View. The map is zoomed way too far out, so you proceed to step number 6.

6. You click the "A" marker on the map and cause the pop up info box to appear. Then you click the zoom scale found on the left side of the map close to the "+" sign to zoom way in hoping to see the Pizza Hut red roof on Satellite view.

7. Shucks, the "A" marker is in some farmer's field and looks like it is in the middle of no where. This is why you like ProximityCast so much. Google Maps are great, but so often you don't find things in their correct spot.

Well, the pop up info box did say, "Placement on map is approximate" Another reason you like ProximityCast because the picture is taken by a real person who places the coordinates on the picture as their certification that the location is correct. No more navigating to a location that is not correct.

8. You click the "-" minus button on the bottom of the zoom scale several times to zoomout hoping to see something recognizable.

9. Alright, were in luck, there is the intersections of 5 9 & 14 just north of the "Days Inn Mountain View" that the popup info box told you about.

10. Right click on the intersection and click "What's here?" on the pop up menu to place a green marker closer to hopefully the correct location. Now click the "+" plus button on the scale adjuster several time to zoom in.

11. GREAT! Now you see the red roof for what you think is the Pizza Hut where you ate. Right click on the map once again where you took your picture. In this case right click just to the left of the Hwy 5 symbol in the parking lot outside the Pizza Hut and once again click "What's here?" on the popup menu. A new green marker will be placed where you supposedly took your picture.

12. Click the green marker to see another popup info box. This box has latitude and longitude coordinates in both Decimal Degrees and Degrees, Minutes, and Seconds format. Drag across to highlight the format you prefer for your pictures, then right click and copy for pasting on your picture in your photo editor.

I got 35.865380, -92.108185 for Decimal Degrees and +35° 51' 55.37", -92° 6' 29.47" for Degrees, Minutes, Seconds. I would edit +35° 51' 55.37", -92° 6' 29.47" like this: N35° 51' 55.37" W092° 6' 29.47" and place them on my picture as I like.

Finally, click "Street view" on the popup info box to confirm you are at the right place before saving your edits on your picture and uploading to ProximityCast. As ProximityCast grows users who submit pictures will get an accuracy rating to give fellow users the proper amount of deserved confidence in their submissions.

Wow! This street view picture of the Pizza Hut looks really good, but not as good as the picture you took which is another reason you like ProximityCast so much. And there you have it. Leave your comments with how you thought this tutorial worked out for you.

Thanks,

Dave