Map accuracy improved with Apple’s Surveyor app
Apple has unveiled a new app called ‘Surveyor’, aimed at enhancing the accuracy and detail of Apple Maps by collecting real-world mapping data. As reported by MacRumors, the app focuses on gathering essential information such as street signs, traffic signals, and roadside landmarks to ensure Apple Maps remains accurate and regularly updated.
Unlike Apple’s conventional consumer applications, Surveyor is not available for public download. Instead, it is designed specifically for partner organizations tasked with conducting mapping assignments. When users download the app, they are prompted with an option to “Open Partner App,” which redirects them to a third-party platform called Premise.
Premise is known for allowing users to earn incentives by completing tasks such as answering surveys, reporting local updates like construction activities, and photographing specific locations. Through this integration, it appears that mapping tasks assigned via Premise will require users to mount an iPhone, switch it to landscape orientation, and capture images along pre-defined routes while driving.
According to Apple, the Surveyor app gathers critical data on road infrastructure, transmitting this information back to Apple. This process helps the company accurately position objects and landmarks within Apple Maps, enhancing the overall mapping experience. By leveraging crowdsourced data collection, Apple aims to ensure that even the smallest but most important details on the map stay updated.
Although Premise is not officially listed as an Apple Maps partner, the app’s integration with Surveyor strongly suggests a collaborative approach for ongoing Apple Maps improvements. This strategic partnership highlights Apple’s growing emphasis on community-driven data collection, similar to techniques employed by Google Maps and Waze.
This move also points towards Apple’s broader commitment to AI-powered, real-time map refinements. By utilizing community-sourced and real-world data, Apple seeks to offer users more precise navigation and detailed mapping assistance. The Surveyor app could be a significant step in ensuring that Apple Maps remains a competitive and reliable navigation tool in an increasingly data-driven world.
