march 14
Apple has quietly introduced a new application called “Maps Surveyor,” allowing selected users to contribute directly to enhancing Apple Maps by submitting detailed data about their surroundings.
Launched without fanfare on Friday, the Maps Surveyor app invites users to collect and upload local information, such as images of streets, landmarks, street signs, and roadside features, directly to Apple. However, access to this app is currently limited and requires the use of a partner application called Premise, a task-based platform offering monetary rewards to users for performing simple assignments, such as completing surveys or taking photos at specific locations.
According to early information, participants using the Maps Surveyor app must link their accounts to Premise, which compensates users for their contributions. Users can earn rewards by answering questions, sharing their location data, or taking photos requested by Apple to enhance Maps accuracy and reliability.
The app’s description indicates that participants may receive specific instructions for collecting data in their areas, such as mounting their devices in a particular manner or orientation. Apple will use these user-submitted contributions alongside data collected from its dedicated mapping vehicles, which regularly travel through cities worldwide.
Currently, Maps Surveyor is exclusively available in the United States. Apple has not yet officially announced whether the program will expand internationally or how it plans to utilize the user-generated content alongside its existing Maps data-gathering efforts.
Stay tuned to DC Brief for further updates on this story and other technology developments.
