Abstract: An apparatus, or corresponding method, for building or updating a map database is described. In one example, the apparatus includes an image correlation module, a training device, and a learned model or neural network. The image correlation module is configured to correlate a first aerial image and terrestrial sensor data collected at a terrestrial vehicle based on at least one control point from the terrestrial data. The learned model training device is configured to define a learned model based using at least one control point from the terrestrial sensor data as ground truth for analysis of the first aerial image. The learned model inference module is configured to receive a second aerial image and apply the learned model on the second aerial image for identification of mapping information for the map data.

Abstract: An approach is provided for maintaining map accuracy considering tectonic plate movements. The approach, for example, involves processing data to determine a tectonic plate on which a map feature of a geographic database is located. A stored position of the map feature is associated with a time epoch assigned to the stored position. The approach also involves determining a velocity of a movement of the tectonic plate. The approach further involves monitoring an estimated position of the map feature over time based on the stored position and the velocity of the movement of the tectonic plate. The approach further involves automatically flagging or updating the stored position of the map feature based on determining that the estimated position differs from the stored position by more than a distance threshold.

Abstract: An approach is provided for increased accuracy for a positioning receiver in a multipath signal environment. The approach, for example, involves receiving real-time imagery data collected using one or more sensors. The real-time imagery data, for instance, depicts a geographic environment in which the positioning receiver is operating. The approach also involves processing the real-time imagery data to dynamically generate a mask angle. The approach further involves blocking one or more signals from one or more navigation satellites received at the positioning receiver using the mask angle. The approach further involves determining positioning data using the positioning receiver based on the blocking of the one or more signals.

Abstract: An approach is provided for digital elevation modeling from pose points. The approach, for example, involves retrieving a digital elevation model (DEM) representing a geographic area. The approach also involves retrieving pose point data associated with the geographic area. The pose point data, for instance, are collected using at least one sensor of at least one probe device traveling in the geographic area. The approach further involves editing the DEM based on the pose point data and providing the edited DEM as an output.

Abstract: An apparatus onboard a vehicle and in communication with sensors onboard the vehicle is configured to receive a maplet request identifying a request region; determine that the apparatus has entered the request region; process and fuse sensor data captured by two or more sensors of the sensors to generate a multi-sensor data stream comprising a plurality of observations corresponding to a portion of a road network; generate a maplet based on the multi-sensor data stream and the maplet request, wherein generating the maplet comprises using a predetermined data model to encode road data, from the multi-sensor data stream, corresponding to at least one environment element of the road network; and provide the maplet such that a network apparatus receives the maplet. The network apparatus is configured to (a) validate or (b) update map data of a digital map representing the road network based at least in part on the maplet.

Abstract: An apparatus is onboard a vehicle and in communication with sensors onboard the vehicle. The apparatus receives a maplet request identifying a request region; and, responsive to determining that the vehicle is within the request region, processes sensor data captured by sensors to generate a multi-sensor data stream corresponding to a road network segment. The apparatus identifies an observation corresponding to a construction marker within the multi-sensor data stream; and generates a maplet based on the observation and the maplet request. Generating the maplet comprises using a predetermined data model and a predetermined data format corresponding to a construction marker observation class to encode road data corresponding to the observation corresponding to the construction marker. The apparatus provides the maplet such that a network apparatus receives the maplet. The network apparatus is configured to validate/update map data of a digital map representing the road network based on the maplet.

Abstract: An apparatus is onboard a vehicle and in communication with sensors onboard the vehicle. The apparatus receives a maplet request identifying a request region; and, responsive to determining that the vehicle is within the request region, processes sensor data captured by sensors to generate a multi-sensor data stream corresponding to a road network segment. The apparatus identifies an observation corresponding to a pole-like object within the multi-sensor data stream; and generates a maplet based on the observation and the maplet request. Generating the maplet comprises using a predetermined data model and a predetermined data format corresponding to a pole-like object observation class to encode road data corresponding to the observation corresponding to the pole-like object. The apparatus provides the maplet such that a network apparatus receives the maplet. The network apparatus is configured to validate/update map data of a digital map representing the road network based on the maplet.

Abstract: An apparatus is onboard a vehicle and in communication with sensors onboard the vehicle. The apparatus receives a maplet request identifying a request region; and, responsive to determining that the vehicle is within the request region, processes sensor data captured by sensors to generate a multi-sensor data stream corresponding to a road network segment. The apparatus identifies an observation corresponding to a traffic signal within the multi-sensor data stream; and generates a maplet based on the observation and the maplet request. Generating the maplet comprises using a predetermined data model and a predetermined data format corresponding to a traffic signal observation class to encode road data corresponding to the observation corresponding to the traffic signal. The apparatus provides the maplet such that a network apparatus receives the maplet. The network apparatus is configured to validate/update map data of a digital map representing the road network based on the maplet.

Abstract: An apparatus is onboard a vehicle and in communication with sensors onboard the vehicle. The apparatus receives a maplet request identifying a request region; and, responsive to determining that the vehicle is within the request region, processes sensor data captured by sensors to generate a multi-sensor data stream corresponding to a road network segment. The apparatus identifies an observation corresponding to a road marking within the multi-sensor data stream; and generates a maplet based on the observation and the maplet request. Generating the maplet comprises using a predetermined data model and a predetermined data format corresponding to a road marking observation class to encode road data corresponding to the observation corresponding to the road marking. The apparatus provides the maplet such that a network apparatus receives the maplet. The network apparatus is configured to validate/update map data of a digital map representing the road network based on the maplet.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and computer program product are provided to train a feature detector to identify a respective feature from images captured by a camera. With respect to an apparatus, the apparatus causes at least one feature from one or more images that have been labelled to be projected onto a map. The apparatus is also caused to refine a representation of a path of a vehicle that carries a camera that captured the one or more images based upon registration of the at least one feature that has been projected with the map. Based upon the path of the vehicle following refinement, the apparatus projects one or more other features that have not been labelled from the map into the one or more images and then utilizes the images to train a feature detector.

Abstract: An apparatus, or corresponding method, for building or updating a map database is described. In one example, the apparatus includes an image correlation module, a training device, and a learned model or neural network. The image correlation module is configured to correlate a first aerial image and terrestrial sensor data collected at a terrestrial vehicle based on at least one control point from the terrestrial data. The learned model training device is configured to define a learned model based using at least one control point from the terrestrial sensor data as ground truth for analysis of the first aerial image. The learned model inference module is configured to receive a second aerial image and apply the learned model on the second aerial image for identification of mapping information for the map data.

Abstract: An apparatus is onboard a vehicle and in communication with sensors onboard the vehicle. The apparatus receives a maplet request identifying a request region; and, responsive to determining that the vehicle is within the request region, processes sensor data captured by sensors to generate a multi-sensor data stream corresponding to a road network segment. The apparatus identifies an observation corresponding to a road marking within the multi-sensor data stream; and generates a maplet based on the observation and the maplet request. Generating the maplet comprises using a predetermined data model and a predetermined data format corresponding to a road marking observation class to encode road data corresponding to the observation corresponding to the road marking. The apparatus provides the maplet such that a network apparatus receives the maplet. The network apparatus is configured to validate/update map data of a digital map representing the road network based on the maplet.

Abstract: An apparatus is onboard a vehicle and in communication with sensors onboard the vehicle. The apparatus receives a maplet request identifying a request region; and, responsive to determining that the vehicle is within the request region, processes sensor data captured by sensors to generate a multi-sensor data stream corresponding to a segment of a road network. The apparatus identifies an observation corresponding to a roadside barrier within the multi-sensor data stream; generates a maplet based on the observation and the maplet request; and provides the maplet such that a network apparatus receives the maplet. Generating the maplet comprises using a predetermined data model and a predetermined data format corresponding to a roadside barrier observation class to encode road data corresponding to an observation corresponding to a roadside barrier. The network apparatus is configured to validate/update map data of a digital map of the road network based on the maplet.

Abstract: An apparatus onboard a vehicle and in communication with sensors onboard the vehicle is configured to receive a maplet request identifying a request region; determine that the apparatus has entered the request region; process and fuse sensor data captured by two or more sensors of the sensors to generate a multi-sensor data stream comprising a plurality of observations corresponding to a portion of a road network; generate a maplet based on the multi-sensor data stream and the maplet request, wherein generating the maplet comprises using a predetermined data model to encode road data, from the multi-sensor data stream, corresponding to at least one environment element of the road network; and provide the maplet such that a network apparatus receives the maplet. The network apparatus is configured to (a) validate or (b) update map data of a digital map representing the road network based at least in part on the maplet.

Abstract: An apparatus is onboard a vehicle and in communication with sensors onboard the vehicle. The apparatus receives a maplet request identifying a request region; and, responsive to determining that the vehicle is within the request region, processes sensor data captured by sensors to generate a multi-sensor data stream corresponding to a road network segment. The apparatus identifies an observation corresponding to a sign face within the multi-sensor data stream; and generates a maplet based on the observation and the maplet request. Generating the maplet comprises using a predetermined data model and a predetermined data format corresponding to a sign face observation class to encode road data corresponding to the observation corresponding to the sign face. The apparatus provides the maplet such that a network apparatus receives the maplet. The network apparatus is configured to validate/update map data of a digital map representing the road network based on the maplet.

Abstract: An apparatus is onboard a vehicle and in communication with sensors onboard the vehicle. The apparatus receives a maplet request identifying a request region; and, responsive to determining that the vehicle is within the request region, processes sensor data captured by sensors to generate a multi-sensor data stream corresponding to a road network segment. The apparatus identifies an observation corresponding to a construction marker within the multi-sensor data stream; and generates a maplet based on the observation and the maplet request. Generating the maplet comprises using a predetermined data model and a predetermined data format corresponding to a construction marker observation class to encode road data corresponding to the observation corresponding to the construction marker. The apparatus provides the maplet such that a network apparatus receives the maplet. The network apparatus is configured to validate/update map data of a digital map representing the road network based on the maplet.

Abstract: An apparatus is onboard a vehicle and in communication with sensors onboard the vehicle. The apparatus receives a maplet request identifying a request region; and, responsive to determining that the vehicle is within the request region, processes sensor data captured by sensors to generate a multi-sensor data stream corresponding to a road network segment. The apparatus identifies an observation corresponding to a traffic signal within the multi-sensor data stream; and generates a maplet based on the observation and the maplet request. Generating the maplet comprises using a predetermined data model and a predetermined data format corresponding to a traffic signal observation class to encode road data corresponding to the observation corresponding to the traffic signal. The apparatus provides the maplet such that a network apparatus receives the maplet. The network apparatus is configured to validate/update map data of a digital map representing the road network based on the maplet.

Abstract: An apparatus is onboard a vehicle and in communication with sensors onboard the vehicle. The apparatus receives a maplet request identifying a request region; and, responsive to determining that the vehicle is within the request region, processes sensor data captured by sensors to generate a multi-sensor data stream corresponding to a road network segment. The apparatus identifies an observation corresponding to a driving surface edge within the multi-sensor data stream; and generates a maplet based on the observation and the maplet request. Generating the maplet comprises using a predetermined data model and a predetermined data format corresponding to a driving surface edge observation class to encode road data corresponding to the observation corresponding to the driving surface edge. The apparatus provides the maplet such that a network apparatus receives the maplet. The network apparatus is configured to validate/update map data of a digital map representing the road network based on the maplet.

Abstract: An apparatus is onboard a vehicle and in communication with sensors onboard the vehicle. The apparatus receives a maplet request identifying a request region; and, responsive to determining that the vehicle is within the request region, processes sensor data captured by sensors to generate a multi-sensor data stream corresponding to a road network segment. The apparatus identifies an observation corresponding to a lane marking within the multi-sensor data stream; and generates a maplet based on the observation and the maplet request. Generating the maplet comprises using a predetermined data model and a predetermined data format corresponding to a lane marking observation class to encode road data corresponding to the observation corresponding to the lane marking. The apparatus provides the maplet such that a network apparatus receives the maplet. The network apparatus is configured to validate/update map data of a digital map representing the road network based on the maplet.

Abstract: An apparatus is onboard a vehicle and in communication with sensors onboard the vehicle. The apparatus receives a maplet request identifying a request region; and, responsive to determining that the vehicle is within the request region, processes sensor data captured by sensors to generate a multi-sensor data stream corresponding to a road network segment. The apparatus identifies an observation corresponding to a pole-like object within the multi-sensor data stream; and generates a maplet based on the observation and the maplet request. Generating the maplet comprises using a predetermined data model and a predetermined data format corresponding to a pole-like object observation class to encode road data corresponding to the observation corresponding to the pole-like object. The apparatus provides the maplet such that a network apparatus receives the maplet. The network apparatus is configured to validate/update map data of a digital map representing the road network based on the maplet.