IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO NAVIGATION APPARATUS USED IN-VEHICLE

摘要

A navigation apparatus (200) comprises a processing resource (202) that is operably coupled to a data store (214) comprising digital map data. A location determination unit (288) is also provided and capable of determining a location. The navigation apparatus receives information from vehicle sensors selected from: a microphone; a vehicle speed sensor; a rain-fall sensor; a suspension-travel sensor; a dead-reckoning sensor; a steering sensor. Information relating to the sensed parameters is logged by the navigation apparatus while driving. Upon subsequent uploading of the information to a server (150), the information is analysed statistically, and combined with similar information obtained from other navigation devices. The statistical analysis enables supplementary road information to be derived, selected from: road lane width; pot-hole position; speed-bump position; road surface roughness; road surface porosity. Such supplementary road information is added to the digital map to facilitate greater safety awareness and route planning.