April/May 2007

How would you like your satellite navigation system to be able to display a three-dimensional view of the locations you're approaching? That's one of the possibilities with a new option available with Navteq street mapping.

The system is called Visual Content, and the company says it is designed to improve digital maps in location-based and navigation applications with relevant images. Its locally-based geographic analysts have helped define the boundaries of the coverage areas for City Model content to include those most important to both local people and visitors.

It means that where previous satnav systems might give three-dimensional perspectives of two-dimensional roads, they will now be able to show actual representations of the streets you're driving through. Navteq says users have found this helps them understand and even anticipate the satnav instructions better.

The company says the increasing power and data storage capacity of modern computers has made these developments possible, but it stresses that it has kept real-world system constraints in mind - and presumably avoided overloading users with data.

 

Coinciding with this development, Navteq has also launched a range of 3D pictures of famous landmarks.