Over the past decade, Muon Chamnan has uploaded over 10,000 photos to Google Maps and received more than 100 million views of his contributions. His passion for technology, along with a belief in the power of technology in transforming people's lives, is the motivation that keeps him actively contributing to the map.

In addition to uploading tens of thousands of photos, Chaman has also added many missing places to Google Maps. Overall, he received more than 100 million views of both photos and places he added. Some of his photos have as high as 1 million views.

The number of views of the over 10,000 photos he has uploaded to Google Maps have garnered more than 70 million views. In the maps, there are badges, and Chamnan has received a badge identifying him as a master photographer in Google Maps.

Muon Chamnan has uploaded over 10,000 photos to Google Maps and received more than 100 million views of his contributions. Kiripost/Rov Hongseng

Besides uploading photos to Google Maps, Chamnan, who is currently working as a Deputy Manager of Information Technology & Design at Cambodia-Japan Cooperation Center, has also added many businesses, landmarks, and other points of interest in Cambodia since 2011.

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Chamnan's work has had an impact on the way people use the internet in Cambodia. By adding and updating businesses on Google Maps, Chamnan has made it easier for people to find local businesses and learn about their products and services.

A Spark of Inspiration

Chamnan's journey as a Google Map contributor began in 2011, when he visited Ang Kom Ping Poy and Phnom Sampov or Sampov Mount, two popular tourist destinations in Battambang Province. Upon realizing that these locations were absent from Google Maps, Chamnan felt compelled to contribute to the web mapping platform and ensure that accurate information is available to domestic tourists and foreign travelers.

When foreigners visit Cambodia, they use Google Maps to get around the country. Before 2011, there were tourist destinations that were not on the map. That is why Chamnan started contributing, because he thought it would be helpful if those places could be searched on Google Maps.

After that, he learnt that anyone can pinpoint places on Google Maps, and he started uploading photos and adding many businesses, landmarks, and other points of interest in Cambodia.

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From Local Contributor to Global Recognition

Chamnan's dedication soon caught the attention of Google and in 2016, he was selected as one of 75 participants to attend the Local Guides Summit in the United States. This prestigious event brought together contributors from around the world, providing them with opportunities to learn, share experiences, and connect with Google's mapping team.

Over the years, Chamnan has consistently participated in Local Guides Summits, attending four times in total. His contributions have not only enriched Google Maps, but also inspired others to join the platform and contribute their local knowledge.

By contributing to the maps, people will receive benefits, such as free storage on Google Maps, and the chance to attend global conferences, to mention a few.

In 2016, Google launched the Local Guides Summit in the United States to bring together contributors from around the globe. At that time, Google provided 75 slots by covering all fees relating to the conference.

Chamnam said that he was surprised to be selected as one of the 75 participants of the conference because thousands of people applied for it. The conference took place at Google Headquarter at 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway in Mountain View, California.

Chamnan was the first Cambodian to attend the global conference in 2016. One year later, Google organized another conference. and three Cambodians attended. In total, Chamnan attended the conference in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Chamnan attending Local Guides Summit the United States. Kiripost/Supplied

Now, there are 47 Google Local Guides Connect users in Cambodia, who are voluntarily contributing to the map.

In Google Local Guides, Chamnan is currently a level nine user and he is also working closely with them. Moreover, Chamnan also used to be a map moderator, whose roles are about reviewing content on Google Maps to ensure accuracy and up to date.

Chaman is currently a level nine user in Google Local Guides. Kiripost/Rov Hongseng

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Motivations for Mapping

Chamnan's motivation to contribute to Google Maps stems from two primary factors: a desire to help his community and a genuine curiosity about technology. He believes that accurate and up-to-date maps can significantly impact people's lives, making it easier for them to find businesses, landmarks, and navigate unfamiliar areas.

He said, “Unlike some people who have the belief that they first need to be ready before being able to contribute to the map, I just started contributing, even when I was not ready because I wanted to help the community. ”

Overcoming Obstacles

Chamnan's journey has not been without its challenges. Initially, he faced limitations due to a lack of specialized equipment and photography skills. However, his determination to contribute overcome these obstacles, and he continuously sought ways to improve his skills and techniques.

He recalled when he first started contributing to the map. He said, “Before 2011, people had to manually draw particular places they wanted to include in Google Maps.” However, these days, Artificial Intelligence technology is used to automatically render shapes of roads and buildings on the maps.

He said that if the photos taken are blurred, when uploading them, Google will detect this and not allow the photos to be uploaded to the platform.

Despite these challenges, Chamnam managed to overcome them. Now, he has received a Master Photographer badge from Google Maps. The badge recognizes his contribution to the map by bringing places to life with amazing photos of places people care about.

Chamnan recieved a Master Photographer badge from Google Maps in recognitoin of his contribution to the map by bringing places to life with amazing photos of places people care about. Kiripost/Rov Hongseng

Sharing Knowledge and Empowering Others

Chamnan's passion for mapping extends beyond his personal contributions. He actively participates in Google Map communities, providing training and guidance to aspiring contributors. He also organizes map-up events, encouraging others to explore their local areas and add their knowledge to the platform.

For instance, he was a community manager of Google Business Group Phnom Penh. The community provides training to people through map-up events.

Chamnan said, “Through map-up events, which were partially sponsored by Google, I organized events in some provinces, such as Kandal, Kampong Saom and Prey Veng, between 2014 and 2016 to provide training to aspiring contributors and assist business owners in mapping their shops’ location on Google Maps.”

Chamnan working with Cambodians to provide training to aspiring contributors. Kiripost/Supplied

In provinces, Google Maps is not well not known among locals, especially older generations.

At that time, when Chamnan requested shop owners to add additional information about their business, some of them refused. He said, “Those who did not provide consent to add information about their business because they did not know about the benefits of it.”

However, since the Covid-19 pandemic hit, activities relating to this community have been suspended, he said.

For Google Maps users, some might have experienced inaccurate mapping of the roads. With over 10 years experience, Chamnan shared his insights about how Google fixed this issue.

Now the feature that allows people to draw shapes of the road and building is not available anymore, Chamnan said that Google uses data from users, reports and so on to draw roads.

He said, “When Google detects the number of people driving through a certain road that does not appear on the map, Google will consider adding that road to the map after many other factors, such as data from users, and reports have been taken into account. ”

Besides uploading photos, people can also report incorrect places to Google, and business owners can request Google to remove inaccurate reviews.

Chamnan said that people should report inaccurate mapping to Google for the public interest because doing so provides users with accurate information and Google can improve the quality of its products also.

Additionally, when it comes to reviewing certain places, especially businesses, people leave good and bad reviews about a particular business based on their experience.

So, if a restaurant received negative reviews on Google Maps, it would be easier to request Google to remove the review if their restaurant is registered or verified by Google, Chamnan said.

However, even if their business is verified, other factors are still taken into consideration before deciding to remove certain reviews. “Those factors include help from local guides, Google staff and Google machine learning technology,” he said.

Chamnan also provided some tips for taking 360-degree photos, his photo that received over one million views. To take 360 degree photos, people can use both personal phones and 360 degree cameras, he said.

Chamnan used his smartphone to take 360-degree photos at Choeung Ek Genocidal Center.

Chamnan's 360-degree photo was taken at Choeung Ek Genocidal Center which recieved over 1 million views. Kiripost/Rov Hongseng

For other 360-degree photos, especially those taken by Google, a camera system is used to capture the photos which result in high quality images. For instance, Google launched a project called Google Street View.

This project is conducted by using a car equipped with a camera system on the roof to capture 360-degree images or Street View imagery. According to Google, the Street View imagery is made using special cameras that simultaneously collect images in multiple directions. These are then stitched together into a single 360-degree image.

During the past decade, Chamnan’s passion in technology and his belief in lifelong learning has elevated him to the status of trainer in digital literacy based on Google Workspace tools, including Google Analytics.