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Post by BuckSkin on Jul 24, 2021 11:24:56 GMT
I "Googled" this question and, as usual, it was a waste of time chasing down rabbit holes.
I use Google maps, both plain flat-view and satellite-view, extensively; I also use Google Earth Pro, probably more than Maps.
I have not yet noticed this new mystery feature in Google Earth Pro; however, just within the last couple days, in both view styles of Google Maps, there are tiny 1- to 4-digit black numbers scattered all around, with no rhyme nor reason to their distribution.
I have yet to see more than four digits; that doesn't mean they are not there.
Mostly, these little numbers will be on buildings; but, just as often, they will be scattered in the woods or water, miles from any building.
Sometimes, whole communities, and even counties, will not have a single one anywhere; and, the next town over be covered with them.
I first thought possibly they were house numbers; but, there is no numerical advancement, nor sensible pattern to that theory, as there will be wild variances in the amount of digits, with a single digit being between 4-digit numbers and just as many 2- and 3-digits scattered within the vicinity; and, just as many buildings will have no number at all --- and then there is the fact that these little numbers will also be in the woods, corn fields, and lakes; plus, I have compared them to known addresses and they are way off.
They cannot be elevations for the same reason that they cannot be house numbers, as they just make no sense at all.
I have decided that, whatever they are, they are more of an annoyance than anything useful; but then, I may change my thinking when I find out what they represent.
Does anyone know what these little numbers mean ?
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Post by pontiac1940 on Jul 24, 2021 15:06:42 GMT
Can you post a sample screen shot? I have GE Pro and not seeing any new numbers.
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Post by BuckSkin on Jul 25, 2021 0:19:26 GMT
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jim0004
Junior Forum Member
Posts: 146 
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by jim0004 on Jul 25, 2021 10:31:54 GMT
I think those are addresses.
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Post by BuckSkin on Jul 25, 2021 15:14:26 GMT
I think those are addresses. I am beginning to agree that they are a weak stab at addresses. I checked several known addresses; and, of the ones that did happen to have the little numbers, about half of them are correct. I would not rely on the system to accurately find somewhere as you may end up in a lake. On a similar note, there is a very prominent church that is the only thing on a little road among huge soybean and corn fields and thick woods. A couple miles down the road, way out in nowhere, in heavy timber, is the Google pin for the church. I actually went to the trouble of filling out and submitting the form to have this incorrectness corrected. They emailed me a thank you and, for a few months, the pin for the church was right on the church roof in it's correct position. Then, the pin reverted back to it's former incorrect position; and, the last time I looked, it was still in the incorrect place. They had my father-in-law's road and the next road up from it names reversed; I submitted the correction and received the email thank you for my efforts; and, like the church location, it displayed correctly for a few months and then reverted back to the wrong information. |
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pete61
Junior Forum Member
Posts: 235
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by pete61 on Jul 25, 2021 17:52:50 GMT
Buckskin, you're on the right track....it's another way Google Maps is trying to pinpoint address information. Speaking only from an urban setting: - If you left click when your cursor is directly over one of those numbers the full text snail mail address of that number pops up, including the zip or postal code.
- If you right click when directly over the number a window pops up with GPS coordinates and other Google data as shown below:
- If you simply hover your cursor over the number a small window pops up with the short text address and a thumbnail street view of that address if available
- Hope this helps!
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Post by Inspeqtor on Jul 26, 2021 12:08:20 GMT
Buckskin, How do you get satellite view from Google Maps? When I click on the 3 lines from here:  Then I get these:   I also have Google Earth Pro but do not see any numbers like you show. |
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jim0004
Junior Forum Member
Posts: 146
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by jim0004 on Jul 26, 2021 12:25:46 GMT
Charles, click the "Layers" Icon in the lower left corner of the map. You will see several choices, such as: satellite, terrain, traffic, etc.
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Post by cats4jan on Jul 26, 2021 12:33:10 GMT
Was on Maps yesterday and the tiny numbers did correspond to the addresses of the houses - they were correctly placed, too. I discovered 'layers' in the lower left corner.
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pete61
Junior Forum Member
Posts: 235
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by pete61 on Jul 26, 2021 16:39:06 GMT
Charles, you need to zoom in quite closely before these tiny numbers display. They're usually on buildings that are otherwise not identified by text information.
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Post by Inspeqtor on Jul 26, 2021 18:04:45 GMT
Charles, click the "Layers" Icon in the lower left corner of the map. You will see several choices, such as: satellite, terrain, traffic, etc. Thank you very much for the help! On the map for MY area, all the numbers show are ALL for road numbers. No house address numbers shown. |
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Post by Inspeqtor on Jul 26, 2021 18:08:45 GMT
Charles, you need to zoom in quite closely before these tiny numbers display. They're usually on buildings that are otherwise not identified by text information. OK, yes they are on buildings AND houses on my map. Thank you Pete. |
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Post by pontiac1940 on Jul 26, 2021 19:59:54 GMT
I have GE Pro and not seeing any new numbers. AHA! I went into Google Maps and blew up the image and the numbers show in urban areas...but not in rural areas. (So far.) Thanks for this thread BuckSkin . Good to know. |
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Post by BuckSkin on Jul 27, 2021 11:51:02 GMT
Buckskin, you're on the right track.... That's exactly what Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer said to himself just before sticking his nose over that ridge....... Thanks for more thoroughly diagnosing the mystery of the little numbers. There is one thing still missing from both Google Maps and Google Earth Pro that would be very beneficial to have and that is identifying all the railroad tracks. Also, another switchable "layer" I wish they had is the Latitudes and Longitudes grid. Both of these missing features may very well be already there, but I sure have not been able to find them. |
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pete61
Junior Forum Member
Posts: 235
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by pete61 on Jul 27, 2021 16:35:59 GMT
"That's exactly what Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer said to himself just before sticking his nose over that ridge......."
Thank you for the morning laugh!!!
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