GPS mapping enriched with historical traffic speed data

Satellite navigation can already tell you the shortest route from A to B, or the way that uses the most high-speed freeways - but on a gridlocked arterial freeway, speed limits are more of an insult than an indication of travel speed. That's why Tele Atlas have included new information in their latest U.S. mapping data so your SatNav system can analyse 2 years' worth of historical traffic speed data and tell you which route is likely to get you there fastest at a particular time of day.

The new Tele Atlas mapping data includes raw and aggregated GPS probe data from commercial fleet, delivery and taxi vehicles across the continental U.S., combined with DOT sensors and highway toll tags to determine the average roadway speeds based on historical traffic information for the past two years. The traffic speed data currently covers about 500,000 miles of U.S. roadway data for every hour of the day, every day of the week.

Combined with the system's existing real-time incident modelling, traffic flow and predictive traffic information, the system can allow SatNav systems to accurately predict a quickest route and time of arrival. The historical data is going to be most helpful where live traffic flow data streams are interrupted or unavailable for a particular area. It all adds up to a system that gives drivers what they want most: the quickest possible trip, and the knowledge that they're taking the optimal route.

Tele Atlas will demonstrate the new product at Telematics Update 2007 in Detroit, Michigan, May 22-23.