Input from Global GPS Community Helps Create New Geometry in Multiple European Countries, Enhances Maps of Asia Pacific Region, Sets New Standard for Map Accuracy
GENT, Belgium — (BUSINESS WIRE) — December 15, 2009 — Tele Atlas, a leading global provider of digital maps and dynamic content for navigation and location-based solutions, today unveiled the latest version of its database, MultiNet® 2009.12. For the first time, MultiNet now includes changes from drivers in the Asia Pacific region, as well as nearly 5,000 kilometers (3,100 miles) of new or adjusted geometry across Bulgaria, Hungary, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and Turkey. MultiNet also sets the new standard for map accuracy, with community input now helping Tele Atlas to detect changes and perfect its maps worldwide to the highest industry standard of five meters or 16 feet or less.
MultiNet encompasses nearly 32 million kilometers (20 million miles) across 94 countries and territories. It is the only digital map database in the world that is constantly validated by the tens of millions of drivers who use it in GPS devices, smartphone applications and online. To date, Tele Atlas has validated and processed well over one million edits sourced from this group of users, the largest GPS data collection community in the world. The latest release of the database includes edits across 16 attributes and features that changed crossings into roundabouts, added or adjusted street names, and adjusted traffic flow. Tele Atlas also leveraged anonymous GPS measurements in combination with other sources and processes to validate and realign or extend the world’s road network.
“We’re excited that the user community has expanded so significantly this year and that the breadth and depth of its contributions continues to grow,” said Peter Davie, director of product management at Tele Atlas. “We look forward to expanding it even further in the future, so that public service partners and other contributors worldwide can actively help us create the most accurate maps and local search content.”
To update its maps, Tele Atlas captures and verifies changes from a comprehensive network of global sources, ranging from government documents and public safety officials to construction companies and truck drivers, as well as satellite and aerial imagery. By validating and adding contributions from individual drivers as an additional source, Tele Atlas is able to increase the total number of changes identified by its network, particularly in geographically dispersed and rural areas covered less frequently by other data sources. This community input is backed by stringent review and validation processes and further enables Tele Atlas to create fresher, higher quality maps and deliver a better experience for end users of its maps. Recent quality tests show Tele Atlas maps of the United States, Canada and Mexico rate highest in terms of quality and reliability, and in certain markets are up to 10% more accurate than other maps. Tele Atlas quality testing uses a process certified by the TÜV SÜD, a leading global testing and inspection organization with 14,000 experts providing consulting, testing, certification and training services at more than 600 locations in Europe, North America and Asia.
About Tele Atlas
Tele Atlas delivers the digital maps and dynamic content that power many of the world’s most essential navigation and location-based services (LBS). Through a combination of its own products and partnerships, Tele Atlas offers map coverage of more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. The company was founded in 1984 and has offices in 27 countries around the world. Today, Tele Atlas maps are developed with the insight of a community of millions of GPS system users worldwide, who are adding to the company’s unmatched network of sources to track and validate changes in real time, and deliver the best digital maps and dynamic content. For more information, visit www.teleatlas.com or http://investors.tomtom.com/index.cfm.Tele Atlas is a subsidiary of TomTom N.V. (AEX: TOM2).
Tele Atlas and the Tele Atlas logo are registered trademarks of Tele Atlas. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
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