Making maps at scale with AI and machine learning

Artificial intelligence and machine learning are everywhere right now. In some cases, they’re just buzzwords, in other cases, AI is making a tangible difference to processes, workflows and productivity — making maps is one such area. In fact, the use of AI, computer vision and machine learning has been growing in TomTom steadily over the past decade. Here’s Laurens Feenstra, TomTom VP of Product, to tell us more.

Watch Laurens explain how AI is supercharging mapmaking

Maps as art and the changing times

In a more subtle way, it also stands to change how we interpret maps and their symbolic value, which may, in turn, impact how we use and innovate with maps.

Some say maps are like artwork because of their intricate beauty. Maps are also like artwork because of the human effort it has traditionally taken to make them. Like great paintings, many hours go into creating a map. But AI and machine learning is turning that traditional approach to making maps on its head and allowing us to make maps faster, more accurate and with less human hours of — as this happens, maps are being transformed into a new kind of modern art.

Where the traditional cartographer was a classical artisan working by hand, they are now a modern artist working with modern tools and concepts: a data scientist an engineer, working with data, technologies and digital tools.

Indeed, in the 1600s, maps were popular artifacts to own even if the owner had no intention of traveling anywhere or using them in a practical sense. Today, maps are core tools in the functioning of global business, navigation and our daily lives, further illustrating how they have moved from works of artistic symbolism to functional tools.

However maps continue to evolve in society in terms of symbolism or function, AI will certainly remain a part of their creation, and we will be creating them faster than ever.