METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR THE USE OF PROBE DATA FROM MULTIPLE VEHICLES TO DETECT REAL WORLD CHANGES FOR USE IN UPDATING A MAP

摘要

A method is described comprising the following steps: (1) collecting probe sensor data in an area containing roads and other drivable features; (2) processing said probe sensor data in a first manner so as to create a geospatial map database comprising road segments, and in a second manner to derive a subset of data related to at least one segment within the geospatial map database and being indicative of an attribute thereof, (3) statistically processing said subset data per road segment to determine one or more inferred attributes thereof, (4) comparing said created geospatial map database, in particular the road segments identified therein and said inferred attributes thereof with a pre-existing geospatial map database containing road segments and attributes thereof, and where an inconsistency in the presence or absence of a road segment, or in its geometry or topology, or in any of its attributes, is identified, (5) effecting a further action, being one of: (a) Generating a change notification, (b) Generating an alert, (c) Generating a change request, the ultimate operation of such further action being the eventual update of the pre-existing geospatial map database such that the former attribute is replaced with the inferred attribute, and/or the insertion, deletion or correction, as far as geometry and topology is concerned, of the road segment. Alternative methods are also described.