The future of digital maps

Creation date: 04 September 2006

The EC-supported FeedMAP project held a 5 October user forum workshop in Brussels to present its concept for map data feedback and solicit the views of all interested stakeholders on its results to date.

The FeedMAP project is studying the commercial and technical feasibility of map data feedback, using a standardised mechanism for delivering incremental map updates. Up-to-date map data are essential for current and future in-vehicle ITS applications, in particular Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and navigation applications.

In general, mapmakers rely on road authorities and user feedback to detect the latest changes in the road network. In order to improve the flow of map feedback, the FeedMAP concept uses all vehicles equipped with a digital map as probes, to check if the existing maps are accurate. In addition, the project is developing a framework that will easily detect map deviations, based on information from only a limited number of vehicles, and quickly update the maps of all other vehicles. The end result should be a sustainable source of map updates at a reduced cost.
 
At the workshop, the requirements for map deviation feedback were presented and key aspects of the FeedMAP framework were discussed. The results of the discussion within the Forum will be included in the final version of FeedMAP’s report on requirements.