Company type | Private |
---|---|
Industry | Location-based services, Geographic information system, GPS, Cartography |
Founded | New Zealand (1977) |
Headquarters | Auckland, Mairangi Bay , New Zealand |
Area served | Oceania |
Products | SmartMap, SmartFind, Invite2GO |
GeoSmart (NZ) Ltd is a provider of location-based services, digital mapping data and images for the Oceania area, notably New Zealand. [1] The company is one of only a handful of global companies producing digital maps for use in GPS applications. GeoSmart was acquired by TomTom in 2014. [2]
Companies such as TomTom and Navman, use mapping data from GeoSmart on their popular handheld GPS devices, [3] [4] as do motor manufacturers such as BMW. [5] The company also provides mapping data via web services, with applications such as a website that allows users to send custom invitations that include mapping directions for guests [6] as well as providing the mapping interface on New Zealand Automobile Association website. [7]
In 2008, GeoSmart launched the RAPIDcV mapping car, which is an ongoing program to redrive all of New Zealand. This is to enhance the car navigation database used by brands including Navman, TomTom, Nav N Go, Siemens VDO and Horizon.[ citation needed ] The RAPIDcV (Road attributes, points of interest, imagery data capture vehicle) uses technology to capture the road centreline of all of New Zealand's roads to an accuracy of 0.15 metres. [8] It does this with a number of technologies including inertial measurement unit (IMU) that uses gyroscopes and accelerometers. This technology compensates for situations where the traditional differential GPS accuracy is lost when the satellite signal is poor, such as behind volcanic hill shadows, dense forest canopies and high rise urban areas. It has a number of cameras on board capturing lane information, street signs, turn restrictions and points of interest to enhance and keep up to date GeoSmart's car navigation and web mapping products. It is also taking a 360 degree panoramic image every 50 metres. In order to support truck navigation as well as multi mode navigation it is collecting information on the incline and camber of each corner, a feature which is used for truck safety warnings in fleet management systems.[ citation needed ]
Traffic Message Channel (TMC) is a technology for delivering traffic and travel information to motor vehicle drivers. It is digitally coded using the ALERT C or TPEG protocol into Radio Data System (RDS) carried via conventional FM radio broadcasts. It can also be transmitted on Digital Audio Broadcasting or satellite radio. TMC allows silent delivery of dynamic information suitable for reproduction or display in the user's language without interrupting audio broadcast services. Both public and commercial services are operational in many countries. When data is integrated directly into a navigation system, traffic information can be used in the system's route calculation.
Garmin Ltd. is an American, Swiss-domiciled multinational technology company founded in 1989 by Gary Burrell and Min Kao in Lenexa, Kansas, United States, with operational headquarters in Olathe, Kansas. Since 2010, the company is legally incorporated in Schaffhausen, Switzerland.
Tele Atlas is a Netherlands-based company founded in 1984 which delivers digital maps and other dynamic content for navigation and location-based services, including personal and in-car navigation systems, and provides data used in a wide range of mobile and Internet map applications. Since 30 July 2008, the company has been a wholly owned subsidiary of automotive navigation system manufacturer TomTom.
An automotive navigation system is part of the automobile controls or a third party add-on used to find direction in an automobile. It typically uses a satellite navigation device to get its position data which is then correlated to a position on a road. When directions are needed routing can be calculated. On the fly traffic information can be used to adjust the route.
Established by Sir Peter Maire in 1986 as New Zealand-based Talon Technology, Navman is a GPS systems company providing stand-alone GPS units, OEM GPS modules, GPS software for Palm handhelds and Pocket PCs, automotive navigation systems and navigation systems for use at sea. At its height as a New Zealand-owned company, Navman employed 300 staff at its headquarters in Auckland.
Mio Technology Corporation, a subsidiary of MiTAC International Corporation, is a Taiwanese electronics maker that manufactures and markets pocket PCs, personal digital assistants (PDAs), smartphones and personal navigation devices (PNDs). It sells products under the "Navman" and "Mio" brands.
Navteq Corporation was an American Chicago-based provider of geographic information system (GIS) data and a major provider of base electronic navigable maps. The company was acquired by Nokia in 2007–2008, and fully merged into Nokia in 2011 to form part of the Here business unit. The unit was subsequently sold to a consortium of German auto makers in 2016.
TomTom N.V. is a Dutch multinational developer and creator of location technology and consumer electronics. Founded in 1991 and headquartered in Amsterdam, TomTom released its first generation of satellite navigation devices to market in 2004. As of 2019 the company has over 4,500 employees worldwide and operations in 29 countries throughout Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Americas.
Traffic reporting is the near real-time distribution of information about road conditions such as traffic congestion, detours, and traffic collisions. The reports help drivers anticipate and avoid traffic problems. Traffic reports, especially in cities, may also report on major delays to mass transit that does not necessarily involve roads. In addition to periodic broadcast reports, traffic information can be transmitted to GPS units, smartphones, and personal computers.
NavPix is the proprietary name applied by Navman to its technology that combines an image with geographical data.
MiTAC Holdings Corporation, formerly MiTAC International Corp. is a Taiwanese electronics company established 8 December 1982. It is a subsidiary of MiTAC-Synnex Group. Through a 100% stock swap from MiTAC International Corp., MiTAC Holdings Corp (神達投資控股) was established on 12 September 2013, and listed and traded on Taiwan Stock Exchange under code 3706.
Etak, Inc. was an independent US-based vendor of automotive navigation system equipment, digital maps, and mapping software. It was founded in 1983. Competitor Navteq was founded in 1985.
A satellite navigation device or satnav device, also known as a satellite navigation receiver or satnav receiver or simply a GPS device, is a user equipment that uses satellites of the Global Positioning System (GPS) or similar global navigation satellite systems (GNSS). A satnav device can determine the user's geographic coordinates and may display the geographical position on a map and offer routing directions.
Here Technologies is a Dutch multinational group specialized in mapping technologies, location data, and related automotive services to individuals and companies. It is majority-owned by a consortium of German automotive companies and American semiconductor company Intel whilst other companies also own minority stakes. Its roots date back to U.S.-based Navteq in 1985, which was acquired by Finland-based Nokia in 2007. Here is currently based in The Netherlands.
Computer cartography is the art, science, and technology of making and using maps with a computer. This technology represents a paradigm shift in how maps are produced, but is still fundamentally a subset of traditional cartography. The primary function of this technology is to produce maps, including creation of accurate representations of a particular area such as, detailing major road arteries and other points of interest for navigation, and in the creation of thematic maps. Computer cartography is one of the main functions of geographic information systems (GIS), however, GIS is not necessary to facilitate computer cartography and has functions beyond just making maps. The first peer-reviewed publications on using computers to help in the cartographic process predate the introduction of full GIS by several years.
Tourism Radio is a travel technology company based in Cape Town, South Africa, which produces location-based technology used in customized GPS in-car devices and IOS and Android mobile applications. The technology allows the user to take a tour of a city or pre-defined area, with geo-located, pre-recorded audio travel information triggering automatically as the user approaches them. The Tourism Radio in-car device plugs into a standard vehicle cigarette lighter and broadcasts a selection of local and international music along with location-specific travel information about the area the vehicle is driving through. Currently, there are approximately 3,300 of these devices used in South Africa, Namibia, New Zealand and Angola. Distribution of the devices to tourists is done in partnership with local Destination Marketing Organisations (DMOs) and car/motorhome rental agencies. The iOS and Android applications do not broadcast a selection of music, but use the same geo-location principle to give the user relevant travel information about the area they are in. This includes information about a general area or suburb, as well as information about specific points of interest, such as museums, art galleries, historical attractions, restaurants, nature walks, beaches, etc.
TeleType Co., Inc. is a privately held company in the United States that develops software for GPS devices. It was founded in 1981, under the name TeleTypesetting Company and it is based in Boston, Massachusetts. The company's product line includes automotive and commercial GPS navigation systems and other products including GPS receivers and tracking units. It develops and sells the WorldNav software for PC and Windows CE, tools for converting third-party maps into WorldNav maps, an SDK, and an API that allows the customization of the WorldNav application. TeleType Co. also offers consultancy services for those interested in acquiring and adapting the source code of their software products.
Turn-by-turn navigation is a feature of some satellite navigation devices where directions for a selected route are continually presented to the user in the form of spoken or visual instructions. The system keeps the user up-to-date about the best route to the destination, and is often updated according to changing factors such as traffic and road conditions. Turn-by-turn systems typically use an electronic voice to inform the user whether to turn left or right, the street name, and the distance to the next turn.
sensewhere Ltd. is a privately held software company based in Edinburgh, Scotland, that develops patented indoor positioning technology for retailers, advertisers and app publishers. The company delivers location information indoors or in tight urban areas where there is no or inaccurate GPS signal using automatic crowdsourcing on mobile phones[2]. It was founded as a spun-out company of the University of Edinburgh in 2010.
MiTAC Holdings Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides GPS navigation devices, automotive solution, cloud services and cloud computing products worldwide. The company offers a range of electronics manufacturing services, such as research and development, design, manufacturing, assembly, marketing, and solutions. It also distributes portable car navigation products, outdoor handheld navigation devices, and mobile GPS solutions; and DashCam for vehicles, portable navigation devices for 4WD, and trucks under the Magellan, Mio, and Navman brand names. In addition, the company designs, manufactures, and markets x86 server/workstation platforms to OEMs, VARs, system integrators, and resellers under the TYAN brand name. Further, it offers storage products, cloud computing applications, all-in-one PC, thin client, and POS system, as well as smart wearable device and professional tablet series. MiTAC Holdings Corporation is based in Taipei, Taiwan.