This paper reviews the key role of location information in regards to the functioning and quality of Location-based Services (LBS). An integral characteristic of LBS is the handling of information content of various kinds (e.g. traffic, Yellow Pages, timetables) within its spatial context. LBS enable access to information associated with the user's surroundings, beginning with someone's position and going as far as offerings for proximity queries, sites to go, travel directions, etc. Information access occurs in real-time and requires adequate solutions for location-dependent content processing and integration. As is shown, this requires a quality "geo-infrastructure"; LBS quality directly benefits from richness and accuracy of the underlying map as well as future-proof location referencing. To this end, Tele Atlas has worked with major automotive industry players to successfully demonstrate standardized, versatile on-the-fly referencing concepts to overcome limitations of "closed" coding systems such as TMC. In combination with a detailed, accurate LBS-enabled map, said on-the-fly location referencing empowers mobility services to offer spot-on "local knowledge" to users, a prime prerequisite for LBS appreciation and market growth.
Abstract