Google launches new mapping tool to combat climate change

According to foreign media reports, Google recently announced several new mapping tools to help solve global challenges including climate change. The latest tools mentioned include wildfire layers on Google Maps - which are available to users around the world, tree canopy insights for 100 new cities, and a new application called Address Maker for non-governmental organizations - to help them provide unique addresses for people and businesses around the world that were not available before.

The wildfire layer on Google Maps builds on the wildfire boundary map that Google launched in the United States last year, which helps users get a rough idea of ​​the size and location of the fire from their devices. Now, the layer is built directly into Google Maps, making it more accessible. It is reported that it covers the entire Earth.

When you click on a wildfire, you'll see links to resources provided by local governments. They include emergency websites, helpline numbers and information, and details about any evacuation plans. If information is available, Google Maps will also tell users how contained the fire is, how many acres have been burned, and how up-to-date that information is.

The WildFire tier will be available on Android this week, with support for iOS and desktop clients coming in October. While basic information will be available worldwide, the United States and Australia will be the first countries to receive detailed information.

Tree canopy insights coming to Google Maps are expected to roll out in 2022. The Environmental Insights Explorer (EIE) tree canopy tool is currently available in 15 cities in the United States, and in the future it will cover more than 100 new cities around the world, including Guadalajara, London, Sydney, and Toronto.

The tool uses aerial imagery and artificial intelligence to highlight areas in cities that are most at risk of rapidly rising temperatures due to climate change. Not only can this data help users find the best spots for a picnic, but it can also help local governments decide where trees need to be planted to keep the area cooler.

Finally, Google said it is launching a new app called Address Maker. Governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) can use this tool to provide addresses for people and businesses. While addresses are taken for granted in developed countries, in some countries they don't exist. Not having an address can make it more difficult to vote, open a bank account, apply for a job, or deliver a package.

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Address Maker uses an open source system called Plus Codes to provide people with addresses. Google said that governments and non-governmental organizations in Gambia, Kenya, India, South Africa and the United States have already started using the tool, and more communities will join in the future.