Navteq announced a system for mapping Navteq True

A leading global provider of digital maps for American company NAVTEQ announced the launch of a new system - Navteq True, specially designed for mapping.

Navteq True System will be installed in vehicles of Navteq Company that are used for collecting spatial data in the United States. It is expected that in future this system will operate in Europe, and the end of 2010 - in the Asia-Pacific region.

Navteq True - a combination of sensors and innovative solutions used to collect and process a large quantity of information at high speed. As the producer said, thanks to this system it became possible to create more accurate visual solutions.

The system is equipped with a Russian laser distance gauge, high-resolution cameras and panoramic cameras. It’s also possible to use GPS and IMU-positioning. Thus, developers managed to combine visual image and spatial coordinates, which contributes to a detailed picture.

New system uses the technology needed to transfer map data from two-to three-dimensional image. All the data is supplied with geo links thank to which they can be put on each other to obtain digital images of a high quality.

Rotating LIDAR-radar is created using proprietary technology that makes it possible to capture more than half a million coordinates every second. Application of lasers makes it possible to track information at a distance of 120 m. Navteq True may collect information about road signs, kilometer posts, and at the same time produce detailed scanning of area in the radius.

It is noteworthy that all the existing analogues perform linear scanning and are able to collect data at an angle less than 90 degrees. While Navteq True can monitor images within 360 degrees.

The main advantages of new system include the ability to independently measure the parameters of objects (for example, find the width of the span or height of the bridge) up to a centimeter. Therefore, the use of Navteq True allows to obtain more accurate than aerial data, on the basis of which three-dimensional image will be formed in future.

High resolution cameras multi-view help to catch every detail: for example, the menu at the entrance of a restaurant. Simultaneously, multi-dimensional panoramic cameras catch the most complete image of areas, from which separate fragments will be singled out.

Positioning via GPS and IMU has increased the accuracy of determining the location of a car at the moment. IMU (Inertial Measurement Units) is intended to find the rate of slope, curvature and other parameters that require high accuracy.

While such producers of maps as Google, Tele Atlas and AND rely on information made by the users, Navteq company relies on the accuracy.