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Google Makes Navigation App Work in More Tunnels

As many of us found out the hard way, navigation apps are pretty much useless when entering tunnels, simply because the GPS signal, either from the smartphone or from the car’s head unit, is temporarily lost.
Waze is based on a community-driven report system 1 photo
Photo: Waze
At that point, we’re pretty much on our own to figure out which way to go, so it’s not a surprise that so many drivers end up getting lost, especially when driving for the first time in a tunnel.

As the owner of two of the most used navigation apps, namely Google Maps and Waze, Google is investing hard in beacons, which are pretty much the easiest way to make navigation work in tunnels.

And more recently, Google has expanded the beacons coverage to two more locations in Australia, so users driving in Sydney and Brisbane should get uninterrupted navigation even when going underground.

Beacons enable uninterrupted underground location services ensuring drivers never miss an in-tunnel exit, providing seamless navigation to drivers underground where GPS signal is not possible,” Google says.

It goes without saying that such efforts are more than welcome, although at the same time, everybody knows that it’ll take a while until beacons are installed all over the world to provide this uninterrupted navigation experience that’s currently available for Australian drivers in Sydney.

The good thing, on the other hand, is that it’s happening, and with the help of the community, more locations should be added soon.

Waze is right now one of the top navigation apps because it helps drivers beat the traffic and avoid jams. It’s based on a community-driven system that is powered by reports sent by other users, including not only for traffic, but also for police, potholes, and accidents. The Waze team is continuously looking into adding more features to the app, including electric vehicle charging stations to help drivers find a more convenient location to recharge their cars while setting up their routes.
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About the author: Bogdan Popa
Bogdan Popa profile photo

Bogdan keeps an eye on how technology is taking over the car world. His long-term goals are buying an 18-wheeler because he needs more space for his kid’s toys, and convincing Google and Apple that Android Auto and CarPlay deserve at least as much attention as their phones.
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