Making a 2D city map: Background & Navigation

Hello Peeps :)

First, let me apologize if this has been asked before. I did do a search but did not find the answer I was looking for.

I am working on a project that requires me to use a city map as a reference. For example, it could be a map of a city from Google Maps and I want to be able to move around on the map and zoom in and out like in Google Maps.

I am thinking, that the approach to do this, would be to create a set of tiles or planes, and then put textures (map pictures) on each of those tiles until it is big enough for my liking and then add scripts for the mouse control e.g. drag to move and scroll to zoom and such?

But is there more than one way to make the map (tiles itself) and if so, what would be the most effective way and can I find any references for the mouse scripts that I would need to use?

Thanks in advance :) - Mikkel