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How does Google maps know about traffic?

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  • 18-06-2019 7:55am
    #1
    bobbyss
    Registered Users Posts: 5,190 ✭✭✭


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


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    #2
    Endaaaagh
    Registered Users Posts: 637 ✭✭✭Endaaaagh


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


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    #3
    Day Lewin
    Registered Users Posts: 4,604 ✭✭✭Day Lewin


    Yes, exactly that: from the mobile phones locations.

    These days every car contains at least one phone.


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    #4
    PirateShampoo
    Registered Users Posts: 4,406 ✭✭✭PirateShampoo


    It's always watching and always listening.


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    #5
    McMurphy
    Registered Users Posts: 13,365 ✭✭✭✭McMurphy


    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.


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    #6
    PirateShampoo
    Registered Users Posts: 4,406 ✭✭✭PirateShampoo


    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.


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    #7
    biko
    Registered Users Posts: 81,223 ✭✭✭✭biko


    Another thread that could have been a google search

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


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    #8
    xabi
    Registered Users Posts: 2,994 ✭✭✭xabi


    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?


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    #9
    Franz Von Peppercorn II
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,398 ✭✭✭Franz Von Peppercorn II


    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.


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    #10
    Hector Savage
    Registered Users Posts: 8,810 ✭✭✭Hector Savage


    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 ..


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    #11
    Hector Savage
    Registered Users Posts: 8,810 ✭✭✭Hector Savage


    PirateShampoo wrote: »
    It's always watching and always listening.

    *agents nodding*


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    #12
    Sleeper12
    Registered Users Posts: 16,881 ✭✭✭✭Sleeper12


    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.


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    #13
    Neon_Lights
    Registered Users Posts: 1,426 ✭✭✭Neon_Lights


    Pooled location data


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    #14
    mad muffin
    Registered Users Posts: 8,034 ✭✭✭mad muffin


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


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    #15
    EmmetSpiceland
    Registered Users Posts: 10,527 ✭✭✭✭EmmetSpiceland


    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.

    The tide is turning…



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    #16
    Sonics2k
    Registered Users Posts: 8,237 ✭✭✭Sonics2k


    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.


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    #17
    Odyssey 2005
    Registered Users Posts: 21,065 ✭✭✭✭Odyssey 2005


    Zuckerberg knows f'n everything !


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    #18
    Franz Von Peppercorn II
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,398 ✭✭✭Franz Von Peppercorn II


    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.


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    #19
    Neon_Lights
    Registered Users Posts: 1,426 ✭✭✭Neon_Lights


    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


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    #20
    alchemist33
    Registered Users Posts: 10,969 ✭✭✭✭alchemist33


    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


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    #21
    Neon_Lights
    Registered Users Posts: 1,426 ✭✭✭Neon_Lights


    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?


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    #22
    Franz Von Peppercorn II
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,398 ✭✭✭Franz Von Peppercorn II


    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/


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    #23
    Sleeper12
    Registered Users Posts: 16,881 ✭✭✭✭Sleeper12


    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


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    #24
    Franz Von Peppercorn II
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,398 ✭✭✭Franz Von Peppercorn II


    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.


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    #25
    Sonics2k
    Registered Users Posts: 8,237 ✭✭✭Sonics2k


    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.


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    #26
    alchemist33
    Registered Users Posts: 10,969 ✭✭✭✭alchemist33


    Neon_Lights wrote: »
    Do you've a ride on mower?

    Yep. Its a big lawn


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    #27
    Lackadaisical
    Closed Accounts Posts: 518 ✭✭✭Lackadaisical


    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.


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    #28
    _Brian
    Registered Users Posts: 18,475 ✭✭✭✭_Brian


    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.


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    #29
    JohnnyFlash
    Registered Users Posts: 7,055 ✭✭✭JohnnyFlash


    _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.


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    #30
    bobbyss
    Registered Users Posts: 5,190 ✭✭✭bobbyss


    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?


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    #31
    Obvious Desperate Breakfasts
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,474 ✭✭✭Obvious Desperate Breakfasts


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


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