Tele Atlas at CES - How Sat-Nav maps gets made
Ever wonder how maps in your sat-nav system get made?
Tele Atlas is the largest electronic 'mappers', providing digitized road topography for nav systems from companies like Navman, TomTom, Pioneer – they work with 55% of the personal navigation market suppliers.
They showed Chris at CES the vehicle that actually does the mapping. The Toyota Sienna pictured is equipped with roof-top cameras hooked into computers. The Sienna here is one of eight in the U.S., and 'maps' info from 180 degrees. Some mapping vans already in use in Europe go 360-degrees, however.
They also cull data from 50,000 sources (places like the postal service and zoning commissions) for heightened accuracy.
Follow the jump to learn more about how digital maps are made for your fancy sat-nav...
Tele Atlas is working to create interactive 3D maps that will include branding (easy to find the nearest Starbucks or Citibank ATM, etc.) and realistic images (a certain building looks correct and to scale, etc.). This technology is ripe for advertising potential, which could be a benefit or could be really annoying, too.
According to Tele Atlas difficulties in mapping include wide roads (which can require several passes) and heavy traffic that can disrupt data flow.
They also have a network of 'spotters' that go around in regular cars and write down information about locations all day (imagine how boring that'd be - zip codes, store names, etc.).
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mike 10:55AM (2/16/2006)
"the vehicle that actually does the mapping"? Maybe they should consider getting more than one. The U.S. is a big place. ;-)
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rich g 12:06PM (10/12/2006)
do you have an update for the pioneer aviv z1. my area is not listed on the map and neither is my work. both have been around for about 5 years. they are both included in microsofts street trips and maps.
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Christina French 7:12PM (1/06/2006)
This work is far from boring!!! I'm the data collector at the CES with this MMS van. I also do local digitization and verification in San Antonio, TX. Imagine driving the country alone, maybe with say, Tomek, the Tele Atlas-Poland partner I have with this van. With the collection of addresses, signage, new construction that I can add to the map as I'm sitting in my vehicle, I am the on-the-ground eyes for my company. Talk about a power trip! Also, a year ago I was a graduate, today I'm in Las Vegas at the CES and traveling all over the country for the best company I could work for. Beat that!!
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Chris R 2:22AM (1/08/2006)
How about not wasting time at CES when you could be out in your little van mapping I-485 around Charlotte, NC. It's not included in the dataset for my TomTom, but it's been open for several years now.
I'll be buying a product that uses Navteq next time....
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Sam J. 1:10PM (1/10/2006)
Ive been using your maps with a TomTom GO for several months now and I am very impressed with your accuracy. I tried using a garmin with navteq maps but when I found out that it designated a walking path as a road I decided I might want to invest in another product. So far I am very happy with my switch.
Christina is there a way we can find out when you are local so maybe interested folks can take a glimpse at all that cool hardware you have packed in that van?
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Christina French 3:01AM (1/11/2006)
Guess what, Chris R, they've been there for a month! Don't forget to update your maps regularly!
Sam J, looks like we'll be doing about 6 or 7 shows this year. Hope you can see us at one!
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Sam J. 9:46AM (1/11/2006)
Is there someplace I can find out about the 6 or 7 shows? I would love to come by if possible. I am in the DC area if you know of anything close by. Thanx!
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Christina French 1:08AM (1/13/2006)
I'll check on that, Sam. If not at a show, I'd expect the van/s to make it to the DC area for mapping in the spring/summer season.
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Sam J. 12:30PM (1/13/2006)
Thats great to hear Christina. I look forward to possibly being able to meet some of you folks and see how you put together these maps. You think I could actually drive the van? :-) j/k
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