Google Maps Hong Kong Version

I've just realized there is a Google Maps for Hong Kong that was announced a few days ago. Checking the map data, they provides road network which is no surprise, many photos, no surprise again, DTM, at low resolution, this is fine. Then, satellite photos, this is tradition from Google Maps. No surprise too. Well, there is building footprint for the whole territory. This really shocks me. I thought if Lands Department supplies that. The answer is negative and I cannot find any LandsD logo. The only map data suppliers are MapKing and TeleAtlas. For China portion, it should be from Mapabc.

At present, there are a few web mapping application in Hong Kong. The most famous one should be centermap (www.centamap.com) who uses map database solely from the Government. In fact, they need to pay for the map database usage by number of map clicks. This is a successful partnership and Centamap is also free to public. After all, resources putting in developing the map database can help the public.

Finally, after years of operation, both centmap and the Government encounters a competitor. The impression of Google is always creative, young, high-tech and aggressive. Google maps can provide routing function plus linkage to real time image from TD that is what I think the most critical function to people like me who drives in Hong Kong. Of course, if I have a iPhone 3G, it will be good to surf the google.maps outdoor. By the way, I think my tomtom720 is sufficient enough to guide me at this moment. Honestly, considering the map quality, the system performance, functionalities, and so on, I cannot find any good reason not to use Google Maps as my default web map portal.

I heard that the TIS will be launched a few month later. Why don't they need to spend so much money and year of time to develop something that someone has been done at high quality. Any officer would be creative enough to think about buying map from Tele Atlas instead?

http://maps.google.com.hk/

BTW, I've just tried the Hong Kong version again. The routing result is wrong as it does not consider direction of traffic flow. Clearly, someone didn't do his job well.