TomTom Puts Detroit on its High-Definition Map

TomTom International BV has added a section of metropolitan Detroit covering several highways between Farmington Hills and Ann Arbor to its high-definition map library.

The platform, called highly automated driving (HAD) mapping, allows for more precise vehicle position recognition. TomTom says the technology will be a key enabler for future autonomous vehicles. The area of southeastern Michigan it has mapped coincides with a regional test of connectivity being run by the state Dept. of Transportation and University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute.

In addition to geographic coordinates, street addresses and other basic roadway information, HAD maps can incorporate such things as lane positions and markings, traffic lights, speed limits and other traffic rules and warnings. They also can show up-to-date construction sites and traffic flow, as well as surrounding businesses and other roadside information.

TomTom says it already has completed HAD maps for parts of California and Germany. It plans to roll out new maps for all major automotive areas within the next few years.

TomTom also recently launched its "MyDrive" portal, which the company describes as the first in the world to use the industry's new navigation data standard delivery platform. The system enables more frequent updates to existing maps.