autonews/Here, automakers team up to share data on traffic conditions

Here, automakers team up to share data on traffic conditions

LONDON -- Digital map maker Here will introduce a new set of traffic services this week that allows drivers to see for themselves what live road conditions are like miles ahead using data from competing automakers, an industry first.The company, owned by BMW Group, Mercedes-Benz and Audi, will provide four services in which drivers share detailed video views of traffic jams or accidents, potential road hazards like fog or slippery streets, traffic signs including temporary speed limits and on-street parking.The three premium automakers will all contribute data to the service, making their first big collaboration since they bought Here for 2.8 billion euros ($3.1 billion) late last year from mobile equipment maker Nokia of Finland.

HERE's new traffic services will bring together live data from millions of cars

Crowdsourcing live traffic data has been one of Waze's key competitive advantages in navigation software for a while, but Germany's HERE might give it a run for its money with new services that pull traffic info from cars on the road.The data gathered by Here's upcoming traffic services, which it's set to debut during the first half of 2017, will take info from company co-owners BMW, Daimler and Volkswagen (who acquired HERE from Nokia last year), with plans to bring more carmakers into the network later on.Data gathered will include "detailed video views" of things like traffic tie-ups, accidents, fog or other inclement weather and construction slow-downs, according to Reuters.

Here launches sensor-based real-time traffic data service

Here intends to provide access to this Open Location Platform data pool also for other car vendors as well as from service providers.These third parties will also be enabled to contribute their own data and thus increase data quality.The data will be anonymized before they are processed.