Go or No-Go on Indoor Maps and Navigation for Google Maps

You are the product manager for Google Maps, and Google is weighing whether Maps should offer mapping inside buildings. Should it? Make a recommendation and support it: who would benefit and how, what it would take to build and maintain, what could go wrong, and how you would measure success if Google goes ahead. ```hint Ask what replaces GPS and street data Outdoor maps rest on satellite positioning and widely available road data. Work out what plays each of those roles inside a building, and let that answer shape where, if anywhere, you would start. ``` ### Clarifying Questions - Does indoor mapping mean floor plans people can browse, step-by-step directions inside a building, or both, and should it connect to outdoor directions? - Which kinds of buildings are in scope: airports and stations, malls and large stores, hospitals, campuses, offices? - Is the aim more use of Maps, new advertising and local commerce revenue, or a product sold to building owners? - What budget and time horizon should the recommendation assume? ### What a Strong Answer Covers - The specific indoor problems people face, by venue type and user, and where the pain is greatest. - How indoor mapping fits Google Maps' mission and business, including value to venue owners and the businesses inside them, and the competitive landscape. - Feasibility: getting and maintaining indoor map data, positioning without satellite signals, floor detection and routing. - Privacy, security and safety risks of indoor location, with mitigations. - A clear go or no-go recommendation with a phased plan, success metrics and conditions for stopping. ### Follow-up Questions - An airport declines to share its floor plans, citing security. How would you proceed? - A year in, users like indoor directions, but every new venue is costly to map and keep current. What would you change? - How would you make money from indoor maps, and what would you rule out to protect user trust?