The navigable digital street map is the critical success factor for vehicle navigation and transport information systems in Europe

The evolution of the concept of vehicle navigation and information systems has consequences for the quality and content of digital road maps. The paper focuses on the fact that navigable digital street maps are one of the critical success factors for vehicle navigation and information systems. Attention is given to the establishment of a framework and the development of geographic data file as a standard for digital road maps which made the production of a European navigable digital street map possible. The paper presents an overview of the availability of navigable street maps for the different European countries. It further points out to future market possibilities which are made possible through the availability of uniform European geographical information.