For those that are into technology, they knew it would only be a matter of time before AI was brought into play for map making.
Map Making with Modern Technology
Maps had to be created to be used in the different formats that are now used to access them. For example Google Maps or a GPS. Creating these maps is time-consuming and it does require the need for map makers. Although the map makers do rely on more modern resources for the map creations. The problem is there is still a huge 
amount of territory that needs to be mapped out that has not been done as yet.
What is Road Tracer
When a problem is identified technology scientists will try and find the solution. This is where Road Tracer came into action. This is a map maker based on AI. While Google uses all the resources at their disposal, many techs will admit that Road Tracer goes beyond those resources. The problem was the gaps in maps meaning that a mapping system is often incomplete. A good example where this is a huge problem is with the self-driving cars.
How Does Road Tracer Work?
In other attempts to automate map making there was an issue with the automated map creator looking at aerial pictures of the roads then identifying them by pixels to determine which was a road and which was not. There is a lot of flaws in this method. Road Tracer works differently based on its AI. It is able to begin mapping from a known location on the image and is able to identify the surrounding areas. It is able to determine which direction to start mapping from a road it has identified.
This AI method is proving to be much more accurate and much quicker.