May 2024 - TomTom Map Partnerships Newsletter

WELCOME 

As the vibrant colors of spring surround us and the warmth of the sun starts to linger a little longer each day, we are thrilled to bring you the latest edition of our TomTom Map Partnerships newsletter. May is a time of growth, renewal, and fresh beginnings, and we have curated an exciting array of content to inspire and engage you. In this issue, we'll be diving into the latest from Tool Tips to exploring Vertex. Additionally, we'll be taking a closer look at how TomTom is making an impact around the world. So, sit back, grab a cup of coffee or tea, and enjoy getting up to date with all things TomTom Map Partnerships. Let's dive in!

TomTom Map Partnerships Knowledge Center News

Rule ID Spotlight: 53316 - Incorrect or Missing Association between Anchor Point and Postal Point and Road Element

Violation: Incorrect or missing link between Anchor Point, Postal Point, and Road Element.

Description: An Anchor Point associated with a Postal Point through the 'Anchor Point Belonging To Postal Point' association must also be linked on the same side of the Addressable Element via the 'Entry Point Association', where the 'LinkedLocation.Entry Point Function' is set to 'Postal'. This Anchor Point must also be connected to the same Postal Point through either the 'Road Element Belonging to Postal Point' or the 'Address Area Boundary Element Belonging To Postal Point' associations.

Cause: This violation occurs when the geometry of a road linked to Anchor Points is altered or removed, causing the Anchor Points to lose their correct association with the related road element and Postal Point.

Solution: Be vigilant when altering or removing geometry. It is advisable to display the Address Points layer to spot any Anchor Points connected to the road and re-establish these links to the appropriate road if needed.

Vertex Updates

You now have the capability to create and relocate address points within Canada. For additional details, refer to the Vertex User Manual section on Address Points.

Vertex Release Notes

Remember to regularly visit the TomTom Map Partnerships Knowledge Center for the latest Vertex Release Notes. They provide updates on all the new enhancements made to Vertex.

Vertex Tool Tip of the Month

Highlighting Changes

Do you ever get distracted while you’re working? Perhaps right in the middle of an edit? Maybe it’s a Teams or Slack ping. An urgent email that requires a quick response. Your moody teenager. The FedEx delivery person. Whatever the interruption is, Vertex has a Highlight Changes button to help you remember where you’ve left off. *The Highlight Changes feature only works for unsaved edits.

Address Points 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, and 15 are all type: Parcel Centroid. Knowing Building type is more accurate than Parcel Centroid, and having such clear imagery in this area, relocating these Address Points on top of the buildings is the perfect opportunity for a Vertex edit. In the middle of relocating these Address Points, an important email came in that I needed to respond to immediately. After responding to the email, I went to resume my edit in Vertex, but I was unsure where I had left off…

Luckily, in the Map Data panel > below Style Options > is Highlight Changes. By selecting this option, we can see that we haven’t updated Address Point 11 yet. We can update Address Point 11 and then click Save and commit our edit.

You can learn more about the various features available to you in the Vertex User Manual.

Vertex Editing Best Practices 

Not a Dual Carriageway do all Medians make

Somewhat like "All thumbs are fingers, but not all fingers are thumbs"; every 40-meter median does not create a Dual Carriageway. (The following is for right side driving instances, left side driving instances would be reversed.)

First, let's talk about what is considered a median. A median can take several forms, including:

• concrete blocks

• crash barriers

• waterways

• railways

• a white shaded or painted area

• a white or yellow line that cannot be crossed legally

• a combination of double or single white or yellow lines along with barriers and a bus or tram foundation

• four yellow lines

• a pair of solid yellow lines bordering an area of diagonal lines parallel to the traffic flow

• a pair of solid white lines bordering an area of white diagonal stripes or white chevrons

• or any combination of the above

Now, let's discuss what creates a DCW (Dual Carriageway) A DCW is created when the carriageways of a multi carriageway are split over a distance of more than 40 meters. Additionally, a DCW can be created when the carriageways are split over a distance less than or equal to 40 meters, but where the physical barrier has a major influence on traffic flow.

However, there are exceptions to this rule. If a road appears to be a single carriageway, it is captured as such, even if a carriageway divider of more than forty meters is present over a short distance. This exception applies when following the 40-meter rule would result in too many single-to-multicarriageway transitions, and when the rest of the road is validly a single carriageway. Additionally, the median must exist only at an intersection to create space for a left-hand turn lane, and no streets or access roads can be present on either side of the median. This means the median is "nonrestrictive."

A vigilant Partner caught the below instance of a single carriageway misclassified as a dual carriageway. The road layout and markings are a classic case of medians being used to widen the road for a turn channel and hence should be mapped and defined as a single carriageway.

As you edit, remember the exceptions to the 40m rule so that you don't create superfluous Dual Carriageways. And keep your eyes open for short sections of DCW that shouldn't have been created. Sadly, they are out there. Let's work together to get them fixed.

TomTom in the World

When Team Building and Social Responsibility come together!

Named Wheels of Fortune, this exercise consisted of fun team-bonding games. One of these involved teams assembling new wheelchairs, which were presented to representatives from GiftAbled, a foundation committed to fostering a more inclusive global environment for people with disabilities. Through its initiatives in healthcare, education, and vocational training, GiftAbled has positively impacted the lives of over 10,000 people. Volunteers from this organization will deliver the three wheelchairs to economically disadvantaged individuals in Solapur, India, thus fulfilling the idea conceived by the Maps Sourcing & Operations leadership team meeting in Pune, India located 250 kilometers away.

This is an amazing initiative. Something so simple, like a team-building exercise, turned into an opportunity to give back to the community. Hopefully, you’re feeling inspired to do the same – take the lead and see how you can help the world be even more inclusive, even if it’s in the smallest way.

Do You Like What You See?

If you’ve found our newsletter enjoyable or informative, we’d love to hear from you! Feel free to give it a thumbs up below, and if you’d like, share your thoughts on what you found most valuable. Your feedback is highly appreciated and helps us tailor our content to suit your interests better. Thank you for being a part of our map editing community!