loading google maps data into searchable data structure

Question

For my CS bachelors I am doing a Senior project using android and google maps.

My vision was to do a (relatively) simple Dijkstra shortest path using google maps road data. I was going to add elevation change along with 2D distance. I am doing well playing with maps in android but I am completely stumped trying to access google maps data in any sort of searchable form.

How would I go about accessing the data for say intersections of roads (lat/long) in a particular area?

There has to be a way to pull that data in some sort of tree form. It seems like it may be possible with kml?

Any pointers would be awesome.

I want my paths to follow roads but If i cant this is going to turn into an orienteering application fairly fast.

Jeff

Answer 1

I don't believe you can access raw road data from Google Maps (such information is very valuable - if Google gave it out for free I can see car navigation companies going bust!). The best you can do is get the end result.

Answer 2

You might want to look into http://www.openstreetmap.org/ instead, they have the lat/long points of streets available for view. Google and others buy theirs, which keeps you from being allowed to access the raw information.