Published: 17th June 2010 | Author: SOURCE: NAVTEQ
NAVTEQ
Completes Navigable Map of Bulgaria
Drivers can now travel the entire
road network using navigation systems
NAVTEQ, the leading global provider of maps, traffic
and location data enabling navigation, location-based services and mobile
advertising around the world, now offers full, navigable map coverage of Bulgaria.
By using the latest map data in navigation systems,
drivers will now have access to routing along the country's entire road network
of nearly 100,000 kilometres. Over 33,000 Points of Interest will guide
people not only to the wealth of cultural heritage sites throughout the
country, but also to ski centres in the mountains to the west, holiday resorts
on the Black Sea coast - and much more in categories such as hotels, railway
stations, shops, restaurants and petrol stations.
A crossroads between the East and the West where,
throughout history, paths of world civilisations have met, Bulgaria borders no
less than five countries. The NAVTEQ® map links seamlessly to the road networks
in Romania, Serbia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Greece and Turkey
for easy cross border travel.
The map also features many attributes, which support
efficient navigation including speed limits, stop signs and traffic signals. NAVTEQ
TransportTM provides the transportation and logistics industries with accurate
truck-specific attributes for routing large vehicles on the main road network. The
data includes legal, height, width, weight, hazardous materials and time or
date restrictions.
Local team - global standards
Every country has individual traits and presents
different challenges. In Bulgaria a significant percentage of the terrain
is hilly or mountainous and much of the network of smaller roads is very rural
in nature. During winter, snow and ice on winding mountain roads proved
testing for the Bulgarian team of NAVTEQ specialists who are part of a global
group of around 1,100 geographic analysts based in 46 countries. As part
of the verification process, the geographic analysts drive millions of
kilometres each year refining the database using proprietary software and
tools.
"We have established a base in Sofia as local
presence is a key factor in understanding and incorporating country specific
nuances whilst maintaining the company's global specification and high
standards: we recognise the importance of local intelligence," commented Frank
Pauli, vice president EMEA map & content products. "For example,
as part of the map building process, we collected addresses and names on an
unprecedented scale for Bulgaria and the team's contacts proved invaluable in
helping us complete this part of the project."
Great strides forward in Eastern
Europe
NAVTEQ is committed to developing coverage of Eastern
Europe and the Balkans and, in addition to Bulgaria, already has full coverage
of Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland,
Slovakia and Slovenia. Expansion is continuing in Albania, Belarus, Bosnia
& Herzegovina, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Russia,
Serbia, Turkey, the Ukraine and Romania.
For example, NAVTEQ is continuing to develop its
coverage in Romania and now has over 167,000 kilometres of road network in its
database. Featuring 62 towns and cities, the map covers the main business
and industrial centres plus all the seaside resorts on the Black Sea coast. The
map also features many attributes which support efficient navigation including
speed limits and driver alerts, as well as NAVTEQ Transport.
