NaviGadget

where does navigation info come from?

Aug 18, 2006 gps navigation, misc news

If you’ve been our reader for a while then you must know how these GPS navigation maps are made, how they know each turn, and how they are so accurate. In fact we had an article about mapquest maps a while ago. Another big name in digital mapping business is TeleAtlas. They provide the map for GPS navigators such as TomTom, Pharos and Navman, and automobile makers including BMW, Ford, Honda and Toyota.

Anyhow, in this new article people at Digital Trends were able to get some up close shots of the vehicle TeleAtlas uses to create their maps. It is a good read that will give you an idea how it is all done.

A typical Tele Atlas GPS Mobile Mapping Van is a converted minivan which sports a roof rack like contraption holding a GPS antenna and four digital cameras. Inside the driver, in this case Vermeys, interacts with an IBM ThinkPad which runs several programs to help him in collecting map data. One program is the existing road data itself, with assigned roads for him to drive during a day. Another program monitors photographs which are taken by the four external cameras every ten meters.

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