Google maps out your world with new service

Londoners are to get their own personalised maps from Google - thanks to a 35-year-old from Lewisham.

Jonah Jones is in charge of design for Google Maps, which is rolling out its most advanced service ever.

This will incorporate all the capital’s rail, Tube and bus networks and more indoor areas. It recently added Gatwick airport so that travellers can find their departure gate.

Mr Jones said: “I’ve always loved maps and been super-interested in them. I’ve been at Google seven years, and working on maps pretty much the entire time, in London, Zurich, Sydney and now San Francisco.” He added: “Initially I worked on transit, so I did the first bus and Tube transport in London, then expanded into directions, and now I lead the design for the whole of Maps.”

He said of the relaunch: “We like to say we’re creating a billion different maps — they are now personalised for people. So if you’re in London you can see all the Tube lines if you’re near Tower Bridge.

“If you’re logged in, we know your home and work locations and can tailor the map for that.”

Mr Jones — who is also a filmmaker and has had work shown at the Cannes festival — said he was inspired by classics such as Harry Beck’s Underground map: “Maps can be beautiful — and it’s a challenge to design them so they are easy to read. It’s continually challenging, especially as we move into 3D.”

Google has been adding Street View images of hard-to-reach places such as the Grand Canyon, the Thames and Regent’s Canal.

Mr Jones said: “We’re also adding underwater, indoor and other data, and we want to build it all into this one experience that’s almost like an amazing video game.”

He added: “When we turn this on by default, we know we’ll have to hold people’s hands a little, and we’re learning a lot as people begin using it.”