Determining Traffic Levels in Cities Using Google Maps

Abstract

This article describes how to determine live traffic levels in cities using Google Maps. Google Maps offers a program interface that allows one to graphically visualize a custom configuration of a selected map in any web-browser. A transport layer can be added to this configuration, which can be symbolized by four different colors on major thoroughfares depending on current traffic flow levels and nodes. The main goal was to define this level of traffic as a numerical value that can be subsequently processed. To begin with, users need to convert these maps to HTML5 canvas to create individual canvases because Google Maps are represented by complex div tags in a user web-page. From canvas, a simple algorithm can read the pixels at any coordinates and then evaluate their colors. The whole solution is then implemented, using JavaScript programming language and designed to be used in real environments.