The evolution of Google online mapping

Online mapping has been revolutionised by the involvement of large IT companies such as Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo. Companies which have invested significant amounts of money into research and development of advanced technologies to produce a calibre of online spatial products that we have never seen before, and, just a few years ago, didn't think possible. These companies are also the world's foremost search engine providers. Through their networks, spatial applications have received global exposure, and arguably, are now main stream media products. This research project has provided a largely theoretical overview of the current online mapping climate, and future directions of online mapping applications. This paper takes a practical look at one company that has contributed considerably to the recent evolution of web mapping: Google. Beginning with the company's inception and brief history which is less than ten years, it analyses Google's foray into the spatial market, and their product development and impact, on both the public and the geospatial industry. It also provides an overview of how these applications will be strategically integrated with existing and developing Google applications in the future.