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2008 Consumer Electronics Show: Tele Atlas Mobile Mapping Van

Tele Atlas is a major provider of digital map information, it’s the digital data that powers many navigation systems like Tom Tom. To accomplish this task, Tele Atlas uses a fleet of Mobile Mapping Vans like this customized Toyota Sienna.

This van is outfitted with eight cameras including a 360 degree camera and a laser that measures things like the height of a  given bridge. The Cameras take still pictures, not video and they all fire at the same time every eight meters...

Much of the information is used to build 3D maps like those available with HP’s latest iPaq.

Inside, the van is largely stock although the cargo area is packed with computers. The mounted laptop is used to monitor and control the camera as well as check mapping progress – i.e. which streets have or have not been covered. Drivers can sometimes work up to 14 hours at a time. Just think, all this effort so we can have the convenience of finding the nearest Burger King - thanks Tele Atlas - Brian Moody, Road Test Editor

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1 Comment

ateixeira says:

09:10 AM, 01/ 9/08

They're using the stripped CE model Sienna, too.
 
What, no factory GPS? LOL

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