How does Google maps know about traffic?

bobbyss · 18-06-2019 07:55AM #1

The road turns red when there's heavy traffic. How does Google maps know this?

Endaaaagh · 18-06-2019 07:56AM

I'm guessing from other users who may also be stopped in the traffic?

Day Lewin · 18-06-2019 07:58AM

Yes, exactly that: from the mobile phones locations.

These days every car contains at least one phone.

PirateShampoo · 18-06-2019 07:58AM

It's always watching and always listening.

McMurphy · 18-06-2019 08:01AM

PirateShampoo wrote: »

It's always watching and always listening.

Can confirm

My phone beeped and then said "lookin good Johnny" right after I trimmed the pubes this morning pre shower.

PirateShampoo · 18-06-2019 08:03AM

Johnny Dogs wrote: »

Can confirm

My phone beeped and then said "lookin good Johnny" right after I trimmed the pubes this morning pre shower.

You was Face Timing your Mum.

biko · 18-06-2019 08:55AM

Another thread that could have been a google search

www.google.com/search?q=How+does+Google+maps+know+about+traffic

xabi · 18-06-2019 08:59AM

biko wrote: »

Another thread that could have been a google search

www.google.com/search?q=How+does+Google+maps+know+about+traffic

Most threads fall into that category... This is a discussion forum, and I think this topic is a good discussion point.

Do Apple use info from Google for their traffic, or do they use their own devices for that I wonder?

Franz Von Peppercorn II · 18-06-2019 09:01AM

biko wrote: »

Another thread that could have been a google search

www.google.com/search?q=How+does+Google+maps+know+about+traffic

This can open it to discussion I suppose. Do they rely on user reports of automatic updates. If the latter is it always on? Don’t remember agreeing to that.

Hector Savage · 18-06-2019 09:01AM

Exactly everyones phones, it sorts out drivers phones by pedastrians by motion style/speed.

Some errors but with large data sets it doesn;t matter ..

Hector Savage · 18-06-2019 09:02AM

PirateShampoo wrote: »

It's always watching and always listening.

*agents nodding*

18-06-2019 09:07AM

I don't think it's from Google users. My Tom Tom sees where there is heavy traffic. Tom Tom offered live traffic long before Google started their live traffic.

I always assumed that they got the information from the likes of DCC who monitor traffic throughout the city. I could be wrong.

Someone mentioned Apple maps. They are actively doing the rounds in Dublin right now. I have seen the apple maps car southside Dublin most days over the last two weeks.

Neon_Lights · 18-06-2019 09:08AM

Pooled location data

mad muffin · 18-06-2019 09:10AM

We are part of the hive. The collective. We are one. We are borg. Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated.

EmmetSpiceland · 18-06-2019 09:12AM

Johnny Dogs wrote: »

Can confirm

My phone beeped and then said "lookin good Johnny" right after I trimmed the pubes this morning pre shower.

I’d say that was funnier in your own head, lad.

Sonics2k · 18-06-2019 09:12AM

Google uses your location data/GPS if enabled on your phone and the system adjusts to the approximate delay and assumes traffic build up based on this.

Considering the massive amounts of apps that require location information/GPS then it's very common for more people to have it enabled now by default as these days it barely impacts battery life.

Apple would use the same system.

Odyssey 2005 · 18-06-2019 09:13AM

Zuckerberg knows f'n everything !

Franz Von Peppercorn II · 18-06-2019 09:14AM

Sleeper12 wrote: »

Someone mentioned Apple maps. They are actively doing the rounds in Dublin right now. I have seen the apple maps car southside Dublin most days over the last two weeks.

Interesting. They have their own street view coming up.

Neon_Lights · 18-06-2019 09:15AM

Franz Von Peppercorn II wrote: »

Interesting. They have their own street view.

The big companies cog each other's map data anyway so they've started putting in fake places in maps to catch each other out

alchemist33 · 18-06-2019 09:17AM

Hector Savage wrote: »

Exactly everyones phones, it sorts out drivers phones by pedastrians by motion style/speed.

Some errors but with large data sets it doesn;t matter ..

My google fit app told me I'd had an afternoon cycle once. Turns out I was mowing the lawn

Neon_Lights · 18-06-2019 09:18AM

alchemist33 wrote: »

My google fit app told me I'd had an afternoon cycle once. Turns out I was mowing the lawn

Do you've a ride on mower?

Franz Von Peppercorn II · 18-06-2019 09:23AM

Neon_Lights wrote: »

The big companies cog each other's map data anyway so they've started putting in fake places in maps to catch each other out

Map companies have been doing that for centuries.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trap_street

Also talking about google and data scrapping.

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/genius-google-stole-lyrics-morse-code-848781/

18-06-2019 09:23AM

Franz Von Peppercorn II wrote:

Interesting. They have their own street view coming up.

Yes definitely. I think it is a fight back to try get apple users away from Google maps

Franz Von Peppercorn II · 18-06-2019 09:25AM

OSI wrote: »

You did the second you agreed to allow the app to have access to your location data.

Not all the time. Not in the background. I suppose enough people use google maps foregrounded when travelling to generate enough info. And others don’t read the terms of the location pop up.

Sonics2k · 18-06-2019 09:27AM

Franz Von Peppercorn II wrote: »

Not all the time. Not in the background. I suppose enough people use google maps foregrounds when travelling to generate enough info. And others don’t read the terms of the location pop up.

With Android, by default, there's literally a box that crops up saying "Allow Location Data" and you can choose to Accept or Decline it. After Accepting it, you can still turn it off from the drop-down menu.

You literally accepted it.

alchemist33 · 18-06-2019 09:32AM

Neon_Lights wrote: »

Do you've a ride on mower?

Yep. Its a big lawn

Lackadaisical · 18-06-2019 09:33AM

Sleeper12 wrote: »

I don't think it's from Google users. My Tom Tom sees where there is heavy traffic. Tom Tom offered live traffic long before Google started their live traffic.

I always assumed that they got the information from the likes of DCC who monitor traffic throughout the city. I could be wrong.

Someone mentioned Apple maps. They are actively doing the rounds in Dublin right now. I have seen the apple maps car southside Dublin most days over the last two weeks.

They were around Cork too recently.

_Brian · 18-06-2019 09:50AM

I think it’s depending on users who allow location tracking outside using the app.

That way it builds a picture of the overall road traffic movement. I don’t think relying on people with the app open would be sufficient to build such an accurate picture.

JohnnyFlash · 18-06-2019 09:54AM

_Brian wrote: »

I think it’s depending on users who allow location tracking outside using the app.

That way it builds a picture of the overall road traffic movement. I don’t think relying on people with the app open would be sufficient to build such an accurate picture.

That’s how it works. It’s pretty ridiculous the amount of personal information you give up to Google in return for using Android.

bobbyss · 18-06-2019 09:56AM

biko wrote:

Another thread that could have been a google search

Then what's the point of boards?

If everyone googled stuff there would be no need for boards.

Are you saying everybody should Google something before posting?

Shall we take a stroll down your posts and remind you of how many googles you could have done?

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts · 18-06-2019 10:12AM

I want to know how I’ll be discussing something obscure and will then see an ad for it on my phone. :eek:

How does Google maps know about traffic?

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