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welcome screen
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choose location
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3d view
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location
Inspiration
Every year, tourists end up in trouble for accidentally breaking local laws — like chewing gum in Singapore or flying drones near historic sites. We realized there’s no proper, fun, or interactive way for travelers to learn the rules before they go. So we thought why not build an app that lets you explore places in 3D and tells you the do’s, don’ts, and legal stuff, all in one cool visual experience? That’s how WanderLaw 3D was born.
What it does
WanderLaw 3D helps users explore the world — legally and respectfully. You pick a country using a slick 3D card slider, then dive into the most famous places there — like the Statue of Liberty or Mount Fuji.
There are two main modes:
✈️ Tourist Mode – shows popular attractions with real-world laws, cultural etiquette, and how to get there in Google Maps.
🎭 Heritage Mode – lets you explore forgotten or abandoned places like Pompeii or Chernobyl with 3D views, history, “Then vs Now” sliders, and rules for exploring safely.
Each place comes with:
📌 3D zoom map animation
🧾 Local laws and cultural tips
📷 Real-time Street View preview
🧭 How to reach that spot
🗺️ Toggle for exploring old vs modern visuals
How we built it
We used:
Google Maps JavaScript API for the 3D map, pan/tilt animations
Street View API to give a live preview of each location
Places API + Geocoding to fetch details and directions
HTML/CSS/JS for the UI and transitions
We also played with localStorage for offline support and added a responsive layout for mobile users.
Everything was stitched together with smooth transitions, cool animations, and a clean user flow.
Challenges we ran into
Getting smooth 3D map zoom animations was tricky, especially for abandoned places with limited Street View.
Matching historical images and “Then vs Now” sliders for some locations took a lot of research.
Some laws are hard to verify and vary by region, so we had to be careful about accuracy.
Designing a UI that was both informative AND fun was a balance we had to keep tweaking.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
We created something that’s actually useful — not just a pretty UI.
The Heritage Mode became a fan favorite during testing!
We integrated real laws and safety rules in a simple, digestible format — without overwhelming users.
And of course — using Google Maps in a creative way, not just for location, but for education.
What we learned
The Google Maps Platform is way more powerful than we thought — and it can be very user-friendly with the right setup.
Simplicity matters. People love things that are visually cool but also practical.
Travelers genuinely want to respect local cultures — they just need tools that help them learn quickly and clearly.
What's next for Wander Law
Add multi-language support (starting with Spanish, French, Hindi)
Let users bookmark places and download info for offline trips
Expand to 100+ countries and add user-generated safety tips
Use AI suggestions to recommend travel spots based on your interests and travel history
Collaborate with local tourism boards or embassies to keep the info accurate
Ultimately, we want to make WanderLaw 3D the go-to tool for every traveler who wants to be respectful, informed, and ready for adventure.
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