Regular readers know that I'm a big fan of Google Maps hacks and mashups. There's just something about the creative way that people think to use what should be a mundane feature that makes it fascinating. Apparently, it's time for mashups to go to the next level. A company called Ebebeam R&D has introduced a new library knows as VGMap that allowed developers to overlay vector-based drawings through the GMap API.

From the VGMap site:

The VGMap library runs entirely in the browser. It is a client-side library that is compatible with Firefox, Safari, and Internet Explorer. Its files are served statically, so it should work with any web server. Applications using VGMap may have server-side components, but that is entirely up to the imagination of the developer.

While there haven't been many hacks built with this technology yet, one standout is the New York City Subway system done in Flash. Users can mouse over a station for more information.

I'll be interested to see who makes use of this in the future and what they can come up with.