Watch: TomTom VP of Product on new 3D maps for ADAS and more

There’s a new map in town and it’s built for business, TomTom says. Over the past year we’ve heard how the company’s new map, TomTom Orbis Maps, is taking a fresh approach to digital mapping. One of its key principles is to build a map that’s designed for, and ready to be used in, a variety of use cases by other businesses — those innovating with location technologies and digital maps. TomTom’s new map is “Built for business,” what does that mean in practice?

Today, at its investor meeting, TomTom made one of the most significant announcements in its 30-year history. The geolocation tech specialist and mapmaking company is launching a new map, mapping platform and ecosystem, which the company is collectively calling the TomTom Orbis Maps. TomTom says it will set a new standard for mapmaking, one designed to support a future of innovative location-based tech and will lay the foundation for industry-wide open collaboration.

"The automotive industry is going through a digital transformation... Software is becoming central to deliver the user experience," TomTom's VP of Design, Gianluca Brugnoli, says.

TomTom Orbis Maps is a game-changer, and now it comes in 3D. With greater likeness to the real world Orbis Maps offers enhanced safety and navigation by providing detailed road geometry and lane-level information. But with an ever-changing world, how can we keep up? TomTom builds its maps using machine learning and AI to automate map creation and updates, ensuring high precision and frequent refreshes. Based on multiple, diverse sources of data, they support autonomous driving and beyond, and can be tailored to specific customer needs. We spoke to the experts and took a deep dive into the technology, which is opening new possibilities.