Fragmented Road Data Could Slow Advanced Driving Technology in India: Here Technologies

India’s push towards cars with more advanced driving assistance could face a basic hurdle: road information is still scattered across different government departments and agencies. 

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Here Technologies, a digital mapping and location intelligence company, has flagged fragmented data on speed limits, road restrictions, lane markings and road signs as an issue that could make it harder to expand advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and, eventually, autonomous driving technology across the country. 

Much of this information currently sits with state governments and other agencies rather than being available through a single source. Details such as speed limits or restrictions on truck movement in parts of a city are among the information that can be spread across different authorities. 

Bringing such information together in a central repository could make it easier for companies to develop location-based applications at a larger scale. 

The need for detailed road information becomes more important as vehicles move beyond today’s driver-assistance features. 

Level 1 systems can assist with either steering or braking, while Level 2 can handle both but still require the person behind the wheel to continuously monitor the road. At Level 3, a vehicle can take control under certain conditions, although the driver must be ready to step in when required. 

Moving towards Level 3 would require far more detailed information about local roads. Lane markings, road signs and other road-level details would become particularly important. 

Highways and expressways are likely to be the starting point for these more advanced systems before they move deeper into cities. Road information is already available at a wider scale on highways and expressways, while coverage across city roads remains uneven. 

India also presents its own set of challenges. Road infrastructure changes quickly in many areas, conditions are not always consistent and information on city roads can arrive with a delay. Driving behaviour such as vehicles travelling on the wrong side of the road adds another complication. 

Not every driver-assistance feature, however, needs extremely detailed mapping. Here Technologies sees what it calls “standard definition plus” mapping as adequate for navigation and autopilot applications. More advanced driving systems would require better lane-level information and road-sign data. 

Connected cars and EVs are adding to the need for better location data 

The importance of location information is also growing as connected and electric vehicles become more common. 

Drivers increasingly depend on real-time traffic information, safer routes and better journey planning. For electric vehicles, mapping can help answer more practical questions: whether the battery has enough range to complete a trip, whether a different route is required and where a charging point can be found along the way. 

The demand extends well beyond passenger vehicles. Logistics, e-commerce, quick-commerce, ride-hailing and food-delivery companies are also increasingly using location intelligence across the first, middle and last stages of a journey. 

Artificial intelligence could widen its use further. Instead of simply asking a navigation system for directions, users could make more specific requests, such as looking for parking near their destination, checking whether a shop will still be open when they arrive or finding a facility on the correct side of the road. 

As cars become more connected and driving systems take on more responsibilities, accurate maps alone may not be enough. The availability of timely and consistent information about what is actually happening on India’s roads will become increasingly important as these technologies move from basic assistance towards higher levels of automation.