Using Google Maps to check for global hotspots before travel

The availability of some government data in a digital format and open source code for products such as Google Maps allows for some interesting and useful mashups.

Using Google Fusion Tables, The Guardian newspaper in the UK has combined government travel advice data on every country around the world with a interactive map so travellers can quickly check areas of conflict or danger.

Of course, as the Guardian says, travel advice is different depending on the government controlling the data.

This example uses data from the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the de facto source that most travel companies use to determine the relative safety of a country and whether tourists should visit or not.

Such advice (and this tool in particular) tools have become more useful in recent months following the uprisings in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya, as well as problems in other countries such as Syria, Yemen and Bahrain.

Iran, Sudan and North Korea remain seemingly appear to remain undisputed no-go countries.

Click on the map to check it out:

The Guardian newspaper in the UK has combined government travel advice data on every country around the world

Related posts:

1. Check before you leave – live webcams on Google Maps
2. Google Maps with hotel prices and date search now running in the UK
3. Google expressed interest in Mobissimo, viewed product demo, launched own hotel maps