HERE makes HD map data in US, France, Germany and Japan available for automated vehicle tests

HERE, a leader in mapping, navigation and location services, is making high-definition (HD) mapping data of sections of public roads in four countries available to all automotive companies to support their highly automated vehicle initiatives.

HERE has been developing its HD map using its LiDAR-equipped data capture vehicles and advanced processing technologies. As part of that effort, HERE has mapped several private test tracks for automated driving projects.

Now, for the first time, HERE is offering HD mapping data of specific stretches of open road in Silicon Valley and Michigan in the United States, as well as in France and Germany, to all carmakers and automotive suppliers for test purposes. HERE plans to offer data for Japan too later this year. HERE is currently working with more than 10 leading automotive companies on automated driving projects.

“We have been providing mapping data for the automotive industry for three decades,” said Bruno Bourguet, Senior Vice President of Sales and Business Development at HERE. “Now we are building on those long standing relationships to help our customers advance their leadership in this crucial technology.”

In order to map roads at a 10-to-20 centimeter accuracy, HERE uses LiDAR technology to collect billions of 3D points and model road surfaces down to the number of lanes and their width. It captures important details such as the slope and curvature of the road, lane markings and roadside objects such as sign posts, including what that signage denotes.

“The HD Map is a crucial component of automated driving technology, helping highly automated vehicles precisely position themselves on the road,” said Ogi Redzic, Senior Vice President of Automotive at HERE. “This highly detailed information helps highly automated cars better plan maneuvers and make driving decisions.”

Redzic is scheduled to address the topics of automated vehicles and digital infrastructure Wednesday at the Automated Vehicles Symposium 2015 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

USA
HERE is mapping parts of San Francisco Bay Area roads including US-101, CA-92, I-280 and CA-85.

Route on here.com: Bay Area

HERE is partnering with the University of Michigan’s Mobility Transformation Center, a facility devoted to testing connected and automated cars. HERE is mapping the university’s Mcity, a full-scale 32-acre cityscape on campus for testing connected and automated vehicles and systems before they are tried out in real traffic.

HERE is mapping test routes in and around public roads in Detroit, Michigan, including parts of the I-94, I-96, I-696 and US-23. At nearly 400 kilometers (249 miles), it is one of the largest of all the test routes HERE is mapping.

Germany
HERE has mapped Germany’s A9 highway from Munich to the Holledau intersection in both directions.

Route on here.com: Germany’s A9

Japan
HERE plans to map in HD part of the Tomei Expressway near Tokyo in both directions later this year.

France
HERE has mapped part of the Francilienne (N104) between the A6 and A10 motorways, South of Paris.

Route on here.com: Francilienne

For more information on this announcement and to download high resolution HD map images, see the HERE 360 blog.

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