Google Maps – latest update shows you how the world has changed over the years

NEW UPGRADE to Google's worldwide map reaches back in time to show off our changing planet.

GETTY

Google Maps users can now look back in time to see the Earth changing

Google Maps users will now be able to get a much more in-depth look at how the world has changed in recent years thanks to a major new upgrade.

The company has partnered with TIME magazine to boost the Timelapse feature of Google Earth to reach back over 30 years.

Users will be able to see satellite imagery dating back to 1984 to see landscapes changing and evolving across the globe.

anging and evolving across the globe.

The new update to Timelapse, which was first released in 2013,goes four years further back in time than previous launches, and also adds in extra legacy satellite data alongside extra data from newer satellites.

This means you can track glaciers retreating, rivers changing course, and the expansion of utan areas such as Las Vegas and Nevada, all from the comfort of your own home.

The images are also sharper and more detailed than ever before, with the new update utilising the same technology Google used to improve Google Maps and Google Earth back in June.

This Chinese river is one example of the changing world shown in the update

TIME magazine will also give further information on some of the most intriguing areas.

Users can upgrade to the new services now by heading to the Google Earth Engine website, with some of the most interesting images also available on a special YouTube playlist. 

The launch is the latest attempt by Google to improve and expand the capabilities of its mapping products.

The rebuilding of the San Francisco - Oakland Bay Bridge can also be seen vividly

This includes an awesome new feature called Traffic Nearby to its Google Maps software on Android.

The nifty feature does exactly what you would expect – it shows you congestion on the roads, accidents, or anything else that could delay your journey, in the nearby area.

Until now, Google Maps users have had to enter a destination or engage Driving mode to see the condition of the roads close to their location.

Also new to Google Maps is the introduction of specialised voice commands, which allows drivers to keep their hands on the wheel when looking for a destination or tracking traffic. 

Google has also added voice commands to start a phone call and choose a music track.

The app will also now display local speed limits as part of its GPS journey guide, with a road sign appearing in the bottom corner of Android devices using the Google Maps navigation mode.