How does work google traffic

I couldn't help but feel a little bit of glee and satisfaction, that I had some sort of insider information others didn't have that allowed me to cut in line. Google Maps is able to do this thanks to all of us. Hundreds of millions of people around the world give Google real-time data that it uses to analyze traffic and road conditions.

Here's how it works: All iPhones that have Google Maps open and Android phones that have location services turned on send anonymous bits of data back to Google. This allows the company to analyze the total number of cars, and how fast they're going, on a road at any given time.

Google has built up a history over the last few years of what traffic is usually like on specific roads at specific times. That means it can predict how traffic will change over your drive — just because there's traffic around 60 miles ahead of you right now doesn't mean there will be traffic there when you arrive in an hour.

Waze gets its information from users who report things like accidents on the road or traffic jams. Google also gets information from local departments of transportation. Moore said that Google's database of historical traffic data allows the app to alert you if traffic is better or worse than it typically is, and how accidents and slowdowns will affect traffic on different roads in different parts of the world. Last weekend, Google told me that the fastest way home was through New Jersey, even though there was an accident and traffic causing delays.

Or 10 minutes to your trip? Or 40 minutes to your trip? Google Maps can even tell when there's a marathon happening in a city because a large group of people is moving faster than people usually move, but there are no cars on the roads. Moore said that one of the priorities at Google Maps right now is to give people confidence that Google Maps is taking them the best way.

Following the introduction of Google Maps and Google Earth in , Google soon became interested in providing real-time traffic information to its customers.

However, with 3. Still, Google has managed to pull it off Governmental transportation departments at local, state and federal levels -- hoping to gather planning statistics, improve accident response times and increase traffic flow -- had begun the widespread installation of solar-powered traffic sensors on major roadways throughout the country. Google executives then inked a multimillion dollar deal with Inrix, a traffic-related software company that independently gathers commuter data using sensors in 22 countries.

There are several different types of traffic sensors available, but three above-ground types have become more common in recent years: radar, active infrared and laser radar. Is the road paved or unpaved, or covered in gravel, dirt or mud?

We also look at the size and directness of a road—driving down a highway is often more efficient than taking a smaller road with multiple stops. Two other sources of information are important to making sure we recommend the best routes: authoritative data from local governments and real-time feedback from users.

Authoritative data lets Google Maps know about speed limits, tolls, or if certain roads are restricted due to things like construction or COVID Both sources are also used to help us understand when road conditions change unexpectedly due to mudslides, snowstorms, or other forces of nature.

So how exactly does this all work in real life? When you leave the house, traffic is flowing freely, with zero indication of any disruptions along the way. As a result, Google Maps automatically reroutes you using its knowledge about nearby road conditions and incidents—helping you avoid the jam altogether and get to your appointment on time.

Predicting traffic and determining routes is incredibly complex—and we'll keep working on tools and technology to keep you out of gridlock, and on a route that's as safe and efficient as possible. Get the latest news from Google in your inbox.

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