Intermap Technologies Makes 3D Road Geometry for All of Germany Available to Automotive Industry
DENVER--Intermap Technologies today announced that it has completed production of the first dataset of highly accurate 3D road vectors for Germany. Covering all classes of roads, the dataset features more than one million line kilometers of highly accurate road centerline position and elevation data for the entire country. Derived from the Company’s recently completed database of uniformly accurate digital elevation models (DEMs) for all of Western Europe, these geometries can be used by the automotive industry to support advanced driver assistance systems’ (ADAS) safety and energy management applications that rely on accurate road vector geometry. Additionally, Intermap is producing 3D road vectors for other European countries that will be integrated into a dataset covering all of Western Europe in the near future.
According to Brian Bullock, Intermap’s president and CEO, “Automobiles and commercial vehicles can literally ‘know the road ahead’ when they are location aware. This knowledge, gained by the use of reliable 3D road geometry, can significantly enhance a vehicle’s efficiency and utility. More specifically, our database can enable additional systems and functionality that automatically adjust engine and drive-line control units to reduce emissions, enhance fuel efficiency, and support safety applications. We’re pleased that our road vectors are available for all of Germany, a country with the well-deserved reputation for visionary and inspired automotive product development and enhancements.”
Academic research teams and automotive tier-one suppliers have already taken advantage of the Company’s highly accurate road geometries for studies and development efforts related to next-generation fuel enhancement and safety applications. A joint study with Clemson University demonstrated that Intermap’s 3D road vectors can significantly enhance energy efficiencies in hybrid electric vehicles through innovations like predictive road topology. Auburn University also used the Company’s road geometries as part of a GPS-based control study to reduce fuel consumption in the commercial trucking industry – early results indicate a potential savings of as much as a billion gallons of diesel fuel per year. Additionally, Intermap is working with OEMs and tier-one suppliers in Europe and the U.S. to develop working demos of proactive safety applications supported by the Company’s 3D road vectors. For example, predictive adaptive lighting (PAL) systems that automatically follow the road ahead have been successfully incorporated into several demonstration vehicles.
“The automotive industry is feeling considerable pressure on multiple fronts, both in Europe and the United States,” said Eric DesRoche, senior vice president, Intermap automotive. “Increased fuel efficiency, CO2 reduction, and improved passenger safety top the list as consumers, politicians, and regulators drive changes within the industry. Subsequently, there’s an expanding market for next-generation fuel efficiency applications, as well as safety initiatives that can reduce the number of serious traffic injuries and fatalities. In both cases, reliable geospatial data, such as accurate 3D road geometry from Intermap, can help the industry move toward meeting the demands of government agencies and consumers, alike.”
In addition to the Western Europe program, the Company is creating accurate 3D road vectors for the contiguous U.S. and Hawaii as part of its NEXTMap® USA nationwide mapping program. For more information regarding Intermap's 3D road geometry and other automotive initiatives, please contact automotive@intermap.com.
