Summer 2006

Developers using Navteq digital mapping in tracking, navigation and route-planning applications can now take advantage of a feature for identifying the location of speed or safety cameras.

The company's Camera Alert for Navteq feature is designed to allow geo-referencing of various types of camera location, which can then be used for a range of alerts or other functions within applications.

Navteq itself is updating the location information, distributing the details on a monthly cycle to support its dynamic properties. The first release contains the location of both permanent and pre-announced speed cameras.

The company sees the feature as helping to influence driving in a positive way. It makes a point of the fact that it supports government efforts to improve driving behaviour and the desire to alert customers to high-asualty travel areas.

 

It also sees benefits of the system in research and map development, pointing out that it helps reduce the incidence of "false positives". It says these can occur when a camera location is no longer valid, when it has been geo-referenced incorrectly, or when the location has not been geo-referenced to the map - all of which increase the risk of the map displaying the location incorrectly, it says.

Navteq Camera Alert is initially available in France, and a version for United Kingdom is due in the third quarter of this year.