Skip to main content

3D lane geometry for TomTom Orbis Maps

New development uses AI, including fundamental vision models
By Adam Hill January 7, 2025 Read time: 1 min
ADAS requires lane-level maps for reliability and safety (image: TomTom)

Location information provider TomTom has expanded lane geometry data on its Orbis Maps.

The maps now offer "lane-level precision that is measured in centimetres, available on a global scale and continuously refreshed", it says.

Mike Schoofs, the company's chief revenue officer, says the move marks a "transformative step in mapping technology".

Using AI, including fundamental vision models, TomTom Orbis Maps can now produce 3D lane geometry for any road type, by merging crowdsourced observations from production vehicles and dashcams, aerial and satellite imagery and Lidar survey data.

Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) rely on lane-level maps for reliability and safety, TomTom says, and the new maps can offer accurate delineation of road surfaces and painted lines, and combine 3D traffic signs with insights into driver movements and behaviour.

This "enables navigation in complex urban environments through better anticipation of tricky situations, such as busy intersections, high-speed junctions, and interactions with vulnerable road users", the company suggests.

It can also help last-mile logistics by enabling transport companies to optimise pick-up and drop-off processes.

"Urban planners also benefit from greater granularity in map data, which helps them make informed decisions on lane-level traffic management, bike lane and public transport planning, and parking space optimisation," TomTom says.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Machine vision’s transport offerings move on apace
    June 30, 2016
    Colin Sowman considers some of the latest advances in camera technology and transport-related vision technology applications. Vision technology in the transportation sector is moving apace as technical developments on both the hardware and software sides combine to make cameras more multifunctional with a single digital camera now able to cover a multitude of tasks.
  • Weigh in Motion gets smarter
    January 4, 2023
    Weigh in Motion technology is at the forefront of protecting road surfaces and helping enforcement activity – but could it also play a key role in the development of Smart Cities?
  • Audi Urban Intelligent Assist research programme launched
    May 21, 2012
    A new research initiative launched by Audi, its electronics research laboratory in Silicon Valley and four top US universities aims to develop technologies focused on easing the congestion, dangers and inconveniences that often confront drivers in the world's biggest cities. The new three-year Audi Urban Intelligent Assist research initiative aims to take connected car, driver assistance and infrastructure electronics to the next level of providing detailed information so motorists have a better sense of th
  • Bespoke ITS is helping to reduced collisions on America’s rural roads
    October 22, 2014
    David Crawford cherrypicks conference and award highlights Almost 30% of all US citizens live in rural areas or very small communities, and 34 of the 50 states exceed this level in their own populations, with the proportions rising as high as 85%. And although rural routes carry only 35% of all traffic, the accidents that occur on them account for some 54% of all US road traffic accident deaths.