How does Google maps have live traffic speed data?

[Cycle61]

Slightly paranoid assumption: They're tracking GPS receivers on everybody's phones and seeing how fast each one is moving, then compiling that data into an average speed for each section of road.

Any other theories? Whatever they're doing, it seems to be accurate most of the time.

 

[HIglesias]

you know those little boxes at intersections near the traffic signals?
There are gnomes in there.

 

[gnahc79]

link

Google Maps products that include location services will make use of this information for traffic. This includes the downloadable Google Maps for Mobile product for mobile phones as well as the Google Maps application for Android phones. One exception is the maps functionality that Google provides for the iPhone - the iPhone does not provide any location data that is used for traffic crowdsourcing at this time.

 

[Cycle61]

I wonder if we could make a flash mob imaginary traffic jam.

Couple hundred people with android phones standing near a major highway, would that register as stopped traffic?

 

[MrIncredible]

I wonder if we could make a flash mob imaginary traffic jam.

Couple hundred people with android phones standing near a major highway, would that register as stopped traffic?

You just need one person with a few hundred phones.

People will avoid that stopped section of road, taking an alternate route. Possibly one where a business that has paid you for said service is.

 

[Cycle61]

 

[Beauregard]

The GOOGLE knows when you're 'batin.

 

[CHUM]

magnets bro'

 

[Idontdotrix]

there's also the receivers on the highways that grab info from toll transponders imbedded for miles long the highway nowhere near the toll booths

and um, haven't you noticed all the cameras going up on highways lately? everywhere????

 

[Karbon]

Information is power. It has never been more true than now in the era we live in.

 

[planegray]

hippies been selling that info for years

 

[n10sive]

 

[planegray]

 

[sasquatch]

I check 511.org every morning that I drive.
Same data as google.

 

[Cycle61]

I have a flexible start time, and a relatively inflexible commute route.

Doesn't really matter to me.

However, I wish Gmaps wouldn't suggest I drive up through Oaklamd/Richmond to get north to Thunderhill during commute hours. If I click over to 680 it's 20 minutes quicker.

And why does the annoying lady navigation voice not know how to pronounce anything correctly?

It really seems like they could do that better.

 

[auntiebling]

from anywhere roughly in the south bay, it is NEVER faster to go up 880 when you destination involves 80 eastbound. NEVER

680-84-588 etc through stocktucky to sac is usually faster though if thunderhill is the destination it wouldn't be as 505 is a big bonus of going by the mothball fleet

 

[Shotline]

I have a flexible start time, and a relatively inflexible commute route.

Doesn't really matter to me.

However, I wish Gmaps wouldn't suggest I drive up through Oaklamd/Richmond to get north to Thunderhill during commute hours. If I click over to 680 it's 20 minutes quicker.

And why does the annoying lady navigation voice not know how to pronounce anything correctly?

It really seems like they could do that better.

Right, because it is not enough that you have a telephone in your pocket that will give you turn by turn instructions on how to get to your destination in audible speech, pronunciation is the big issue.

 

[Cycle61]

from anywhere roughly in the south bay, it is NEVER faster to go up 880 when you destination involves 80 eastbound. NEVER

I know this.

You know this.

EVERYBODY knows this.

Convinced that somebody in Walnut Creek/Danville/etc paid Google a shitload of money to try and route traffic up 880 and away from their little bourgeois suburbs.

Right, because it is not enough that you have a telephone in your pocket that will give you turn by turn instructions on how to get to your destination in audible speech, pronunciation is the big issue.

It's totally a big issue. Bitch can't even talk right.

 

[Marlowe]

State uses the toll tags to collect location data. They're pinged at places that aren't toll booths.

They claim it's run through a one way hash and they can't track individuals...

If hashed, I suspect it's a fairly weak hash since you're working with a 128 bit RFID tag.

 

[goodness-707]

Slightly paranoid assumption: They're tracking GPS receivers on everybody's phones and

Relax... surveillance, monitoring, and tracking technology is much more pervasive than you think.

Convinced that somebody in Walnut Creek/Danville/etc paid Google a shitload of money to try and route traffic up 880 and away from their little bourgeois suburbs.

Add that shit to my property taxes. I'll pay!