Who Makes MapQuest's Maps?

carpoolio writes "TechTV has an interesting story about the company that builds the mapping technology behind popular map services like Mapquest. The company, Navigation Technologies, is decidedly low-tech in its approach to making its maps: two people in a car drive around endlessly, inputting street information and landmarks into databases. Navtech's map databases are used in everything from Garmin GPS units to Alpine in-dash auto navigation systems. So next time you turn the wrong way down a one-way street, know that there are real people behind the controls."

Comments

They hire

[prostoalex]

They currently have an opening for Associate Field Analyst in Las Vegas, NV. Good luck finding anyone willing to visit each and every strip club and bar in town, write down their addresses, and get paid while you're doing it.

Apparently they have been looking for someone to do that since June.

Re:They hire

[GoofyBoy]

>Good luck finding anyone willing to visit each and every strip club and bar in town,

I do this for free already.

Re:They hire

[cmallinson]

Good luck finding anyone willing to visit each and every strip club and bar in town, write down their addresses, and get paid while you're doing it.

If only there were some sort of database that listed businesses and their addresses. Maybe we could even get phone numbers in there and put everything in a book ... a yellow book.

hmm... i wonder...

[Valar]

yeah, but what do THEY use for their directions?

I can see/hear it now

[mblase]

With a GPS receiver in many cell phones we need to figure out how we all can collaborate on creating maps.

"Can you hear me now? I'm on Main and First...."
"Can you hear me now? I'm on Main and Second...."
"Can you hear me now? I'm on Main and Third...."

Re:Collaborative mapping

[Mindragon]

Oh great. I can see the phone calls from my ex now...

Answering machine: "Thank you for calling. Leave a message. (BEEP)"

Ex: "Hello? I know you're there! I just checked your tracking web blog and it says you're there! Pick up the damn phone! I want to talk to you now! Pick it up! Pick it up! God damn you pick up the damn phone now! Your tracking web blog says you're three feet from this answering machine so pick up the god damn phone now!"

State of the art equipment

[Emil Brink]

"I use the pen tool to write down names of roads or explain any significant changes to what we currently have in the database," she says.
Ghee, that really is some sophisticated technology they're using to solve these problems. Driving around in cars, using "pen tools" to "write down" information. It really smacks of the new millenium! ;^)

Re:I'd make a joke

[realdpk]

The best part is that this would be a hard job to send overseas! Built in job security!

Re:When it all goes wrong...

[TFloore]

But technology's most amusing when it all blows up. I wish I could find the link, but I distinctly remember reading about some lady who tried to plot an intracity voyage, and got routed through about 12 states -- even venturing into Canada for a while. (Does anyone else remember this?)

You're looking for this amusing Microsoft Expedia routing mis-adventure from 1999.

Scroll down about half way to "Subject: Maybe Microsoft owns stock in Canada?".

Google search for "mapquest ferry funny"... link #6 for me. You have to know what you're loking for in order to find it. Isn't it always that way?