CODEWITHSUNDEEP
rggmap
user2861089
user2861089

Reputation: 1235

Error in get_map using ggmap in R

About 90% of the time, when using get_map in ggmap, I get the following error. Can someone please tell me why?

map <- get_map(location = 'Australia', zoom = 4)

Error in download.file(url, destfile = destfile, quiet = !messaging, mode = "wb") : cannot open URL 'http://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/staticmap?center=Australia&zoom=4&size=%20640x640&scale=%202&maptype=terrain&sensor=false' In addition: Warning message: In download.file(url, destfile = destfile, quiet = !messaging, mode = "wb") : cannot open: HTTP status was '403 Forbidden'

Upvotes: 26

Views: 25053

Answers (3)

Sarah Grogan
Sarah Grogan

Reputation: 137

The 403 error is because Google now requires users to register for and use a (free) api key.

Upvotes: 3

Steen Harsted
Steen Harsted

Reputation: 1932

The problem is likely related to your API project not being authorized by Google.

An API project is easy to create, and get authorized:
Click this link and choose create. Alternatively choose select if you already have a created project, but just need to activate the API. After that choose "Enable". After that your code should work.

Link again: https://console.developers.google.com/apis/api/static_maps_backend?project=_

Upvotes: 6

heights1976
heights1976

Reputation: 500

The "zoom = 4" is, per documentation, "reserved for google business users only." I can't find much documented on why this would work intermittently or at all for a non-business user, but that's my best guess.

Upvotes: 2

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