What determines whether a state route appears yellow or white on GSV?

[thspfc]

On GSV, some state routes are yellow and others are white. Why?

[hotdogPi]

I think it would be clearer if each type was a slightly different color (like a gradient from white to yellow to orange), and not just two colors in total. Google Maps has two classifications of road at at least the state route level but below freeway, and that's just where the color happens to switch.

That being said, there's no explanation to which roads are the higher classification; upstate New York has a whole bunch, but New England has very few.

[webny99]

That being said, there's no explanation to which roads are the higher classification; upstate New York has a whole bunch, but New England has very few.

I suspect it has something to do with whether they're considered long-distance/through traffic routes.

If that's the case, New England would have fewer because of higher population density, shorter and more winding routes, and more roads in general, so individual roads and corridors are less likely to meet whatever criteria are used.

[kphoger]

Aggregate-to-binder ratio.  That's the best I've been able to come up with.

[Dirt Roads]

Garmin and other GPS systems use device location tracking to map which routes have traffic conditions, and also to map which routes are typically used as through routes.  This information is used to calculate traffic issues (which also is collected from other sources).  Garmin also uses this information to change the display and color of the route display in the basemapping data from time to time. 

Google also collects location tracking data from devices that utilize its services.  (Google is supposed to only collect from those users that have agreed to continue using these services, but that is a different story).  Although I can't find any evidence that Google actually uses this information for anything other than advertising purposes, they have sufficient manpower and poured significant levels of capital into Google Maps to have developed such technology.  On the other hand, Google has a Map Base Partner Program that pulls this type of data from other sources for a minimal cost. 

In a similar vein, Google has been trying to utilize the location tracking data to develop "maps" of the indoors of large buildings and public facilities.  The meme in all of this is that Google is trying to figure out where you "go". 

[Dirt Roads]

Aggregate-to-binder ratio.  That's the best I've been able to come up with.

Are you suggesting that Google Maps should use various shades of grey?   

[Scott5114]

The phase of the moon.

What the Google Maps devs had for lunch the day they digitized that route.

The ratio of unicorns to leprechauns.