I recently heard a fantastic story about how Google Earth helped scientists uncover an undiscovered rainforest high atop a mountain in Mozambique. Scientists noticed this natural wonder when they saw a big green smudge on the Google Earth satellite image over Southern Africa. Upon checking it out, they found a pristine, untouched rainforest with several animal species that no one has ever classified before. Amazing!
I guess consumer mapping and satellite technology has come a long way. Except when you need it to get from your house to the grocery store.
Here in the good ol’ U.S., I recently mapped out a trip into our nation’s capital using Google Maps. I was on my way to the American Independent Writers conference at the George Washington University’s Cloyd Heck Marvin Convention Center at 800 21st NW. My route began in Front Royal, VA. Simple enough, right? 60-some odd miles up I-66 then, according to Google Maps, “Take left at 23rd St. NW.” So with plenty of travel time, I made my way to my destination.
I arrived in DC with 20 minutes to spare. 23rd is the first numbered street that you can reach from Constitution Ave., so I thought I should have plenty of time to get to the location, park and find my conference room. I just had to make a left on 23rd St., right? WRONG. NO LEFT ON 23rd. Huh? Google Maps you lead my astray. And in Washington D.C. no doubt.
If you’ve ever driven in Washington D.C. you know that most roads are one-way and many lead to dead ends. So my 20 minutes of stress free driving turned into 20 minutes of sheer aggravation. Stuck on dead end streets and missed service roads, I finally found the GW campus and eventually the convention center and parking.
Don’t get me wrong. Google Maps is a vast improvement over MapQuest which would consistently take me on routes totally out of the way or through bad neighborhoods (my personal fave). I’m sure that it’s difficult to give the correct directions all of the time as signs change and roads open and close. But, Google Maps, I was depending on you, Saturday. <sniffle>
So, for extra credit, Google Maps – can you accurately map my way from Front Royal, VA to a tropical rainforest in Mozambique?
