Why Maps Matter for Autonomous Driving

When we think about autonomous vehicles, we often picture a driverless car going around with cameras, radar, and LiDAR. These sensors are powerful, but they only tell part of the story. To drive safely and predictably, vehicles need more than awareness, they need the foresight. That’s where high-definition, real-time maps come in.

In this blog post, we’ll look at why maps matter, how they complement sensors, and how HERE’s tools are already helping OEMs bring automated driving to the road.

Transition from human to automated driving

ADAS systems like lane keeping and adaptive cruise control are now mainstream, and we’ve seen steady progress toward higher levels of autonomy. The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) defines six levels, from Levels 0 (no automation) to Level 5 (full automation under all conditions).

Right now, most consumer vehicles operate somewhere between Level 2 (partial automation, driver supervision required) and Level 3 (conditional automation in defined conditions, with the driver ready to take over when requested). You may also hear the term “L2+”, it’s not an official SAE level, but it’s often used to describe systems that are technically capable of L3 behavior but aren’t certified yet for public roads in a particular country.

Sense–Plan–Act: The Decision Loop

Autonomous vehicles thinking process can be broken down into three simple steps: Sense, Plan, and Act.

1. Vehicles sense their environment through cameras, radar, LiDAR, and ultrasonic sensors. That means detecting both static and dynamic objects, determining their own position, and even predicting where other road users will be.

2. They then plan, creating the safest possible path forward. That includes understanding road rules, anticipating maneuvers beyond immediate sensor visibility, and adapting to changes in real time.

3. Finally, they act - steering, braking, and accelerating to execute that plan and interact safely with others on the road.

Sensors vs. Maps

Sensors are the vehicle’s eyes and ears: they detect obstacles, read traffic lights, and gauge the movement of nearby actors. But sensors have natural limits - glare, fog, rain, or simply a truck blocking the view can leave them “blind.”

Maps complement this by acting as the vehicle’s memory and intuition. They provide:

1. Precise localization: Knowing not just the road, but the exact lane.

2. Context beyond visibility: A curve starting ahead, or a bike lane hidden by traffic.

3. Rules of the road: Speed limits, lane restrictions, and local conventions embedded directly in the data.

4. Boundaries: Defining the Operational Design Domain (ODD), where autonomous features can safely be engaged.

In short: sensors provide awareness, maps provide foresight. To reach certified L3 autonomy - where the vehicle, not the driver, is legally in control - maps are essential.

HERE’s Toolkit for Autonomy

Maps are powerful on their own, but paired with dynamic services and positioning, they become the backbone of safe and scalable autonomy.

HERE provides a full stack of products designed to help OEMs and developers move up the autonomy ladder:

• HD Live Map: The only production map powering certified Level 3 systems. It combines lane models, ADAS data, and localization models to deliver precise lane-level awareness.

• HERE Road Alerts: Real-time hazard warnings built from sensor and probe data across millions of vehicles globally. These alerts not only keep drivers safer, but also support EuroNCAP and other safety protocols.

• HERE HD GNSS Positioning: Provides sub-meter accuracy, enabling lane-level guidance and reliable vehicle localization which is critical for both ADAS and automated driving functions.

• Automated Driving Zones: A cloud-hosted tool for defining Operational Design Domains (ODDs). OEMs can configure where and when automated features can engage, tailored to specific vehicle types or functions.

Each of these products plays a role in moving autonomy from research labs to production roads, providing foresight, redundancy, and trust.

In Closing

As autonomy progresses, it’s not just about smarter sensors, it’s about giving vehicles the context to make safe decisions consistently. High-definition, real-time maps are that context, and HERE’s tools make them accessible to developers today. Learn more about HERE's advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and highly automated driving (HAD) solutions.