Have you ever faced problem when navigator gave wrong directions to you and you stuck somewhere? If yes, this presentation gives an idea how the navigator performance can be evaluated and made more efficient by the service providers.

1. Suggestive Improvements in Navigation System
By:
Dhawal Singhal

2. Intro
A frequent user of Google Maps or Navigation must have noticed the ratings given to famous public places like multiplexes, cinemas, shopping malls, etc., by the people after having some experience with the respective places.
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3. Main Idea
Using the same concept, we can develop a rating system for the routes depending on how frequently people take them. This will help the user choose a better of the many available routes presented by the navigator for a particular destination.
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4. Why ?
Many times, especially in countries with densely populated areas and asymmetric road network, like India, the routes suggested by the google maps may point to a entirely different location (or seems so, due to inaccuracy), or the path suggested is a high-traffic path.
So, the rating given to the routes(or particular roads) can help the users in planning their route.
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5. Example
Let us understand it with a practical example. During the travel from Chandpur (Dist. Bijnor) to Delhi via Gajraula, the traveler generally has to take a path as indicated in the next slide.
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6. A Typical Route
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7. In the map, we notice that the path highlighted in red would be the ideal suggestion in the Google Navigation application, given the source being “Chandpur-Gajraula Road” and Delhi being destination.
But, taking the real time situation of the place, the middle part (after first right turn) of the route is not operational for about an year due to construction of a flyover enroute. So, we must follow an alternate route as shown in the next slide.
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8. Revised Route
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9. We can notice that we need to take an alternate route that is in a very different direction specially for someone who is new to the route.
Furthermore, there are no proper sign boards on the road to assist the passersby to take that (revised) route.
As a result, the navigation user faces difficulties and becomes bound to ask local people for guidance, failing the main objective of google navigation.
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10. Implementation
The ratings can be given by the users in the same way as they rate other public places.
The rating can be based on the traffic conditions, road conditions (major aspect in cities of India), and on their personal experience and/or preference.
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11. Implementation
The ratings can also be generated by the application by tracking the routes people take most frequently, and a percentage figure can be used to show the general preference of taking a particular path.
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12. Stuck!!
A “Stuck!!” option can be implemented for the situations where the user find himself stuck or unable to reach their destination by the path suggested by the Navigation tool.
Considering the situation mentioned earlier, regarding the blockage of any road due to constructions or other reasons, the user can click on a “Stuck!!” button in navigation tool.
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13. Stuck!!
This “Stuck!!” generates a signal that there is something wrong with the proposed route, and the navigation tool can suggest an alternate path from that current location.
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14. Navigation tool can keep a track of these “stuck” messages and suggest the modified routes accordingly.
Further, if the previously blocked road is cleared or a new route is made available, then the users will automatically give a better rating to that route than they were using previously, hence, helping the future users to select the better path.
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15. About Me
Dhawal Singhal
B.Tech. (IT) 3rd Year
Manipal Institute of Technology,
Manipal.
dhawal.singhal@outlook.com
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