At Whereis® maps, we’re keeping it real
Donna Gallagher | 11 August 2010
When I think about the authenticity of maps, I remember being a kid and creating my own treasure maps, pouring coffee over them and then getting Mum to burn the edges so they had that “real” buried-for-hundreds-of-years look.
While the team at Whereis® don’t rely on coffee (well not in that sense anyway) and we certainly don’t get mum to burn the edges of our maps, we are committed to making sure their authentic and we drive thousands of kilometres across the country each year to keep them that way.
On our travels we record everything a driver might see in the city, regional centre or country town, such as the numbers of lanes, speed limits, turn restrictions, driveway entrances to service stations and road gradient.
As Australia is made up of more than 1,000,000kms of roads and highways with an ever increasing population, new roads, developments and suburbs popping up at a rapid rate, the process of capturing, interpreting, cross-checking and integrating data for Whereis® maps never stops.
It’s a pretty common misconception that Australian roads don’t change that much and when people ask us about this, they are often surprised to learn that each new release of Whereis® mapping software actually captures between 10,000km and 15,000km of new roads and re-verifies 235,000km per year through continuous research.
In addition to this, our latest Whereis® map, Version 16, also comes with more than 610,000 points-of-interest, customised alerts like speed and school zones, more than 237,000km of roads with addresses, thousands of up to date information from sign posts, extended lane guidance, rail crossing alerts and loads more.
The other common myth is that in-car GPS systems update themselves automatically. As convenient as that might be, today’s in-car GPS systems, just like our childhood treasure maps, don’t update themselves and the map software has to be manually updated. Thankfully, it’s very easy to do.
All you need to do is keep the engine running while you pop the data DVD in your GPS device and let the new map data update the system.
So next time you getting your car serviced, either ask that your mapping data be updated or simply order your new software online and do it yourself at www.whereismaps.com
Who knows perhaps with accurate and authentic map data from Whereis® maybe you’ll find that elusive hidden treasure after all…
Great to know you have released version 16, but I
gavin | 9 November 2010Great to know you have released version 16, but I cannot seem to get it for my Audi 2008 TT Quattro. Audi want about $1000 so I look to you, but I cannot find a way where whereis can provide???? Also Audi only offer Version 15 as the latest>???? Can you help??
Thanks
Gavin
0402 023 721
Hi Gavin, thanks for your email. Version 16 updates for
Donna | 26 November 2010Hi Gavin,
thanks for your email.
Version 16 updates for Audi TT vehicles are now available. Updates can be purchased from your local Audi dealer or service centre.
I hope this helps,
Donna
I have a 2008 Subaru Liberty GT that is factory
Barry | 11 May 2011I have a 2008 Subaru Liberty GT that is factory fitted with a GPS using the Whereis system and I have always found it to be crap. The car was supposedly fitted with the latest version when I bought it but it was still 3 years out of date. I paid $395.00 for the next version as soon as it was released and it also was at least 3 years out of date. When you try to input an address for a city such as Toowoomba unless yo know the exact location (i.e suburb of Toowoomba) the system cannot find it. Try finding James Stret Toowoomba. This is the main trafic thoroughfare through Toowoomba and it cannot find it (although it is part of the Warrego Highway it has been called James Street for over 150 years but Whereis don’t seem to know this) What use is that to anyone from out of town that could be looking for an address in James Street. There are several other streets in Towoomba that are over 150 years old that Whereis cannot find. It cannot accept waypoints so if you want to go from say Crows Nest, Qld to Brisbane it wants to go via the most awkward routes possible. We name the dumb blonde in it MissGuided because she could not find her way across the street without going the wrong way.
I think it is criminal for Whereis to charge the exhorbatent prices for the updates when they are so far out of date. Version 17, just released, is not available for the Subaru, but still does not have the Clem 7 tunnell that has been completed and open for at least 2 years nor does it have the Ipswich motorway upgrades that have been detailed in various street directories for several years.
It is about time Whereis got their act together and produced a quality up to date product.
The Whereis Maps team works closely with all the relevant
Jess | 17 May 2011The Whereis Maps team works closely with all the relevant road authorities to ensure new roads are incorporated into our mapping data. We aim for these updates to be released into our mapping data as close to the time when the new roads are open for public use. With regard to the Clem Jones Tunnel, the Go Between Bridge and the Ipswich Motorway, these upgrades were completed and opened eight months ahead of schedule. Due to this unexpected change, and the production schedule of our latest version, the roads could not be added to the map in time. These roads will added in time for the next release – Version 18 – in approximately March 2012.
The reason why in-car navigation units don’t always contain the most current map updates is due to the car production timelines. We provide the maps to our partners once a year and they fit the vehicles with the mapping features of their choice from the data we provide. Once that’s been completed, it can take anywhere from 6 – 9 months for the vehicle production to be completed. This explains why sometimes there will be map anomalies that you’ll notice by the time the car is in market. As the vehicle manufacturers control the production time lines and prices, this issue is unfortunately not something the team at Whereis Maps is able to assist with. We have contacted Subaru and have asked them when they will be releasing Version 17 to market – we will update this blog when we have received that information.
You can find these roads using Whereis.com and our Whereis Navigator iPhone app, which can be downloaded from Apple’s app store. Brisbane residents who choose to buy Version 17 will also be entitled to Version 18 for free on its release. Brisbane residents must provide proof of purchase for this transaction to be fulfilled.
Thanks for taking the time to provide your feedback and we hope this information is of assistance. Please feel free to contact me directly if you’d like to discuss any of the above in more detail: Jessica.langmead@sensis.com.au.
I have a Mazda CX7 which I had to wait
Isi | 2 July 2011I have a Mazda CX7 which I had to wait for 3 months and finally arrived NEW from Japan and I took delivery in June 2010 and was told that I had the latest Sensis Whereis satnav. Oh boy if this is the latest then, I would have been in numerous accidents by now. Within the fist week, it did not even know the roads on the Eastlink from Chadstone to Ringwood. It kept telling me to turn off and thankfully I knew where I was going. Last December 2010 and again April 2011 it kept telling me to turn right and then left on the Hume Freeway to Sydney and similar situations happened coming back. We all know that t ahs been the Hume Hwy for many many years and has been a divided road. I have complained to Mazda, as I hav a SATNAV which I got in February 2008 and it still works better the your Whereis, plus it also informs me of school zones and 40 KPH driving. It also states on the screen the allowed speed travel at any given times. Not to mention Traffic Cameras etc, etc. That was given to me as a present AND NOT THAT I HAVE NEVER UPDATED IT. I used it around Tasmania even travelling around hilly and unlit roads and it guided me exremely well.
What is the purpose of buying an inbuilt car navigational system that does not even work correctly from dat one !!! I am extremely disappointed with this version and expect Mazda or Sensis to update this for me. I actually logged on to see if an updated version has been release, as Mazda has been telling that it is coming and I have waited over a year now !!!
I wonder if Sensis will be in touch with me. If by chance then they have my email address.
DEFINATELY DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS >>> UNLESS THEY PROVE ME OTHERWISE
Hi Isi, Thanks for your comments regarding your in-car navigation. The
Jessica Langmead | 5 July 2011Hi Isi,
Thanks for your comments regarding your in-car navigation. The reason why in-car navigation units don’t always contain the most current map updates is due to the car production timelines. Mazda uses the Denso Japan navigation system and the Whereis Maps team provide the new release of the map database to Denso in December each year and it reaches the consumer around August / September the following year. This gap between supplying the latest map update and consumers having access to it is due to the vehicle production timelines. As the vehicle manufacturers control the production timelines and prices, the issue is unfortunately not something we have control over.
We’ve looked into the particular sections of map you’ve outlined challenges with and we can see no reason for there to be any issues with the Eastlink (Scoresby Fwy) directions, however we are continuing to investigate this and appreciate you bringing it to our attention. If you can email me with some further information around the start / end point and system settings, that will help us to look into the issue more efficiently.
With regard to the Hume Highway, this is a system specific issue that we are aware of. While the route displayed is correct, the instructions given are not as you have experienced. We are working with Denso to provide a solution to prevent these instructions being generated. This may come in the form of a change in map attribution or the system software.
We’re pleased to hear you have had a good experience with your portable navigation device. Whereis Maps supplies the mapping data to a range of leading portable GPS devices including TomTom, Garmin, Uniden, VMS, VDO Dayton and more. Some people prefer the convenience of the in-car navigation systems while others like to be able to take their sat nav systems with them wherever they go – it’s really up to the individual.
I hope this information has shed some light on the process and as mentioned, it would be great if you could email through more information about the experience you had with the Eastlink directions so we can look into this straight away and report back.
Thanks Isi.
Kind regards,
Jessica