Рossibilities of using Google (My maps) for cartographic visualization of tourist routes

Abstract

The possibilities of using the free Google My Maps service for cartographic visualization of independently developed tourist routes are considered. The research is carried out on the example of one of the variants of the author’s tourist and local history bicycle route of the weekend-on the territory of the Saransk-Ruzaevka industrial hub, the largest in the Republic of Mordovia. Key stations of the route—reference points, confined to historical, cultural and/or natural attractions, are located in the cities of Saransk and Ruzaevka, and their immediate surroundings. The result of the visualization of the route is presented in the form of a map, with the overlay of its individual sections, infrastructure and recreational facilities. The sequential connection of layers and/or previously prepared routes in the service allows the user to easily navigate the features of the spatial movement of key route stations. In the process of studying the features of using the service, the possibilities of adding the semantics of individual route objects were clarified, which allows the user, within the framework of one service, to get acquainted in detail with all reliable information about the object of interest. The Google My Maps service can contain in one layer all types of vector representation of spatial data, which makes it possible to create detailed detailed excursion plans for tourist and recreational objects and territories. If the corresponding icon is located in the immediate vicinity of the transport highway, the application will display the corresponding panoramic photo. This allows the user to get acquainted with all the reliable information about the object of interest within one service. The possibilities of the service may be useful to public authorities, enterprises in the sphere of tourism and hospitality, administrations of educational institutions; students and all interested parties.