Trouble Getting an Edit Approved.

[wolfenfang]

I'm having issues getting Google Maps to accept an edit.  It's a trail at a park for which they've included all the other trails except it.  I've drawn it several days in a row using waypoints I carefully dropped while hiking the trail and I included links to the park map, AllTrails, and another trail outline in the detailed description.  It keeps getting rejected though.  Any suggestions or tips for how to get this approved?

[podory]

Hi @wolfenfang,

I faced the very same problem a couple of years ago. I wanted to include a hiking trail and got rejected.

Since then a railroad was also turned down. Nevertheless, there is no such option like railroad when adding a missing road in GMaps.

Rgrds,

Peter

[MortenCopenhagen]

Hi @wolfenfang and @podory 

We can add POINTS of interest and not lines and other geographic features.

Others have added trails by adding a pin (point of interest). Typically at the start of trail.  

What category did you use?

Alternatively, you can draw the trail in Google My Maps. There will be no issue with approvals but they will not show publicly on Maps.

Cheers 

Morten 

[podory]

Hi @MortenCopenhagen 

Here is how I recently added a road with success. 
Right click on GMaps/Report a data problem/Add or fix a road.
As you can see in this picture, I was able to add an existing (paved or dirt) road to the map.

When I tried to add a trail with the same method, I either failed or addition was declined.

Rgrds,

Peter

[MortenCopenhagen]

Thanks, @podory 

You are adding them as roads. That is great.  For trails you should user the type walking+bike path.

Adding roads that are not well connected to existing roads can be an issue.

You may also take a look at this manual for adding roads.

I was never able to get more than 30 percent of my new roads approved.

Cheers 

Morten 

[ErmesT]

Hi @wolfenfang , welcome back to Connect.

Can you kindly share a link in Google Maps with the position of the trail?

In this way I could give you a more specific reply.

After how many days was your edit rejected? The timing can help to understand on which step the edit was rejected.

The approval process is made in multiple steps:

An AI analyse the edit, by comparison of what you draw with what it is possible to see from the satellite view of Google Maps. If the edit is not plausible the AI will reject it immediately. If the AI is not able to reject the edit, your pathway will be moved forward, for an operator to analyse it. The edit will receive a priority, based on several factors. The highest priority is for locations with high density of population, because more people will use it.

Edits related to clearly visible roads will have an higher priority than less visible ones.

Simple edits will be analysed before complex edits.

After 90 days, everything that was not possible to analyse will be rejected not to keep it in an infinite queue.

On which step do you think your edit was rejected?

[wolfenfang]

Based on your description, I assume it's probably being rejected by the A.I. as it's a forest trail and only a brief section is visible on the satellite view.  Previous wooded trails I created at that location were added relatively quickly, but that may have been prior to the AI regime.  I also included a park trail map in the description, but if it's not getting past AI I guess it wouldn't matter.  I've entered it fairly regularly for over six months.  Below are links to Forest Park Nature Center and a visible section of the trail in question:  "Wake Robin Trail".  I've also included an image of the official trail map and a few extra supporting links.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/t1Kpg7VSoa2EY9PG6

https://maps.app.goo.gl/UZDuxj5DS9gAJ4jp7

<span;>https://www.peoriaparks-planning.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/FPNCMap2021.pdf

<span;>https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/illinois/wake-robin-trail?u=i&sh=tozndl

<span;>https://www.hikingproject.com/trail/7036252/wake-robin-trail