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Why routing alogrithms from different maps don't always give the same route

tomtom.com

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Re: Why routing alogrithms from different maps don't always give the same route

#11

Post by taubek »

dottedmag wrote: post #7

I'd love to have knobs "how experienced driver I am" and "how familiar am I with the area" (this one can even be automatic, given the amount of data map app makers collect!) for the map apps. If I'm in an unfamiliar area, I really don't want to theoretically save a few seconds by taking a shortcut via little maze of twisty passages, all different. Just give me a straightforward route using a highway, please. (edit: t…

This would be such cool feature. :) Google Maps often suggest me routes where I wonder if I'll end up in someone's backyard.

Re: Why routing alogrithms from different maps don't always give the same route

#12

Post by gadders »

0xTJ wrote: post #2

I used to wonder how companies like TomTom stay in business, given how big products like Google Maps have become. More recently I've seen some media that showed off one of those stand-alone GPS devices (I don't remember which brand, but likely TomTom or Garmin), and I was blown away at how far they've come in capabilities and user interface. (I'm sure it's not just that, looks like they've got a lot of other products…

I use TomTom GPS on my phone and the user interface/map view is so much better than google maps. Waze could be a possibility, but requires a constant mobile data signal.

Re: Why routing alogrithms from different maps don't always give the same route

#13

Post by errcorrectcode »

Ignoring optimization goals such as time, cost, distance, road type, and safety:

It's not economical to solve the TSP perfectly for real-world problems, so heuristic algorithms are used to deliver good-but-not-perfect solutions(s).[0]

0. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travelling_salesman_problem

Re: Why routing alogrithms from different maps don't always give the same route

#14

Post by errcorrectcode »

dottedmag wrote: post #7

I'd love to have knobs "how experienced driver I am" and "how familiar am I with the area" (this one can even be automatic, given the amount of data map app makers collect!) for the map apps. If I'm in an unfamiliar area, I really don't want to theoretically save a few seconds by taking a shortcut via little maze of twisty passages, all different. Just give me a straightforward route using a highway, please. (edit: t…

I've seen a "minimize turns" option in some navigation app.

Also, during heavy traffic, I'd be fine with making 30 turns and continuously recalculated rerouting if it saved significant time.

Re: Why routing alogrithms from different maps don't always give the same route

#15

Post by errcorrectcode »

CorrectHorseBat wrote: post #5

I'm surprised how bad Google Maps still is at things like this. No I don't want to take the theoretically slightly shorter road through several small neighborhood roads, let me simply follow the main road. Taking intersections into account it's often not even really faster in practice.

I stopped using Google Maps a while ago because it gave impossible directions too often. Use Waze mostly now.

Re: Why routing alogrithms from different maps don't always give the same route

#16

Post by szszrk »

0xTJ wrote: post #2

I used to wonder how companies like TomTom stay in business, given how big products like Google Maps have become. More recently I've seen some media that showed off one of those stand-alone GPS devices (I don't remember which brand, but likely TomTom or Garmin), and I was blown away at how far they've come in capabilities and user interface. (I'm sure it's not just that, looks like they've got a lot of other products…

What google did with maps is amazing, but for me a lot of my friends it's becoming a second choice. Coverage with data in my area is impressive, traffic jams info is amazing, but in general algorithms became way "too smart".

With google maps I am being dragged through streets that barely have any asphalt because someone with a tractor went through there. I have a tiny road nearby that is more of a sidewalk for locals, goes tightly between buildings. Google proposes it as a route for a few years now, but only Uber drivers try that - most cars have to fold mirrors to get through. But if someone tries, google treats it as a success and proposes it for everyone. It's painful because all the data about that road and surroundings is there, and when in offline mode it would never let me drive through there.

A lot of friends went for smaller map suppliers, I'm using Osmand~ on longer trips, or that new TomTom app "amigo", as these work like maps used to work 10 years ago - prioritize for typical routes, not the crazy ones. If Osmand had a database with speed cams as big and dynamic as the competition I would never look back. But now I just use two maps - one for route, one for speedcams and warnings.

Re: Why routing alogrithms from different maps don't always give the same route

#17

Post by dcustodio »

I tend to follow Google Maps' advice only when there are no signals or directions as it most of the times sends me through the twisty local/secondary roads. It also considers that all roads are to be done at maximum allowed speed.

It really makes me wonder if with all the navigation data from real users they couldn't already done something better than this.

Re: Why routing alogrithms from different maps don't always give the same route

#18

Post by kortilla »

0xTJ wrote: post #2

I used to wonder how companies like TomTom stay in business, given how big products like Google Maps have become. More recently I've seen some media that showed off one of those stand-alone GPS devices (I don't remember which brand, but likely TomTom or Garmin), and I was blown away at how far they've come in capabilities and user interface. (I'm sure it's not just that, looks like they've got a lot of other products…

Google maps is exceptionally limited to the point where it’s very easy to beat on mapping features so there is a lot of room for competitors to survive in various niches.

- The offline experience is garbage. Default behavior should cache large routes offline immediately when I’m on WiFi.

- partial connectivity experience is garbage. Stalled map loads, freezes, etc while driving through a 1x cell service area, even if map was pre-downloaded.

- ads for places I don’t care about.

- unable to automatically show places I do care about.

- searching for exits sucks

- searching for rest areas sucks

- measuring distances requires interrupting the navigation

- no way to view current speed, elevation

- filtering for restaurants with drive throughs very frequently ignores the “with drive through” part of the query.

- gas prices come and go on gas station display. No way to filter on price.

- why in the world can’t we filter based on restroom cleanliness?

- trailer towing friendly parking lots?

- enter max range between drives, give me fuel stops optimizing for gas cost or cadence of stops. Mapquest did this in the early 2000s FFS and you printed out the result.

- overlay recent breadcrumb history on map without it getting blown away any time navigation is interrupted.

- search map without interrupting navigation in a way that doesn’t assume something should be added as a waypoint. (Sometimes people use phones for more than one thing at once on a 12 hour road trip.)

The list goes on and on. There are like 4 use-cases that work with google maps and they are all for basic users and nothing else.

Re: Why routing alogrithms from different maps don't always give the same route

#20

Post by Ekaros »

0xTJ wrote: post #2

I used to wonder how companies like TomTom stay in business, given how big products like Google Maps have become. More recently I've seen some media that showed off one of those stand-alone GPS devices (I don't remember which brand, but likely TomTom or Garmin), and I was blown away at how far they've come in capabilities and user interface. (I'm sure it's not just that, looks like they've got a lot of other products…

I personally prefer having the navigator stuck in my cars CD player permanently. No need to pull phone out and try to connect it or mount it each time. Just turn on the car and navigator starts.
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