No abstract

Web Mapping APIs (WMAs), such as Google Maps API, are widely used by researchers across different fields to develop geospatial Web applications. Among maps and map functionalities provided through WMAs, route and direction are prominent and commonly available. Given that each WMA uses a different map database and a different set of assumptions, the routes they generate, for the same pairs of origin and destination addresses, are different. Considering the current void in literature on WMAs and the routes they generate, in this paper, select common WMAs are compared and analyzed based on their routing techniques. The results of these comparisons will benefit researchers by helping them better understand the behavior of WMAs in producing routes, which in turn can be used for selecting suitable WMAs for research projects or developing applications (such as navigation and location-based services). The process in which routes are evaluated can also be used as a guideline to help researchers explore behavior of WMAs in generating routes.

Walking is the simplest and most common mode of transportation and is widely recommended for a healthy lifestyle. However, other modes of transportation such as driving and riding are usually dominant when distances are too long to walk. Existing routing and direction services are designed to mainly serve common transportation requirements such as shortest distance, shortest travel time, minimum bus transfer, nearest bus stop, or closest parking lot. Existing services do not consider however, user's preference for walking as the primary option, especially when multi-modal transportation is involved. This paper presents the concept of a new service called Route2Health where walking, due to its several benefits including health, is considered as the preferred mode of transportation. Route2Health, as a multi-modal transportation planning service, recommends either walking, if feasible, between pairs of origin and destination locations as the only mode of transportation or a combination of walking with other modes of transportation. Route2Health, if used frequently, is potential to help increase physical activity levels overtime. A prototype Route2Health is also discussed.

Although in-car navigation systems are becoming commonplace, cars travelling in urban canyon areas still suffer from poor positional accuracy and limited visibility of GPS satellites due to signal blockage. As a result, map matching accuracy and navigation performance may not reach the required level for many applications. Researchers have tried to address positional inaccuracy in navigation systems using various techniques, such as map matching, augmentation, and differential GPS. However, some void still exist as these techniques require intensive computation, static base stations, or installation of extra equipment. In this paper, we propose Collaborative Map Matching (CMM) which is a novel technique aiming to improve map matching accuracy in Nav2Nav. CMM is based on differential GPS, high quality road map, and collaborative computation. CMM does not require intensive computation, static base stations, or extra equipment installed in cars. The main requirement is for cars to work collaboratively, through Nav2Nav, to help one another. Simulation of CMM shows that improved GPS positional accuracy obtained by one car can be shared to improve the map matching accuracy of other nearby cars.

Abstract.A wayfinding service for empowering physical activity is presented. The service finds routes that involve multi-modal transportation where walking is always one mode. The service is based on the new concept of multi-modal transportation with multi-criteria walking. A prototype of the service is developed and a new empowerment approach for it is discussed.