Digital mapping company NavTeq, whose products underpin many commercial sat-nav systems, is to launch its LGV mapping this autumn. The vehicle-sensitive base map could solve the problems many LGV users face when using products designed for cars.
One early adopter will be Trafficmaster, which is promising its customers
a new version of its SmartNav system within one month of the NavTeq release.
"SmartNav treats roads unsuitable for CVs as though they have roadblocks on them," says Trafficmaster chief executive Tony Eales. "But our system is already the only one that will route you differently in the morning to the evening because it takes account of real road speeds and traffic conditions. If there are roadworks, SmartNav won't work out a diversion - it will send you a better way from the start."
SmartNav is currently available only to manufacturers and is not installed on anything heavier than 3.5 tonnes, but Trafficmaster believes the NavTeq data may open up new markets for it.
Trafficmaster last week won a contract with the Department for Transport to supply journey time and congestion
data from the 100,000 black boxes it has in cars and from its link to congestion charge cameras.
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