Apple Maps to Map Parks and Pedestrian Zones in Prague: Special People Carrying Unique Backpacks

• From June 19, you will be able to meet special human data “collectors” for Apple Maps in Prague
• You can recognize them by the unique “backpack” on the back with a number of sensors and cameras
• Their goal will be to map parks and pedestrian zones, the collection will take place until August 11

Starting next week, specifically from June 19, we will meet people in Prague with portable photography backpacks from Apple. Their task will be to improve the map background in the Apple Maps service. They are currently being reworked from the ground up. As part of this, Apple has driven millions of kilometers over the past few years with vehicles equipped with a sophisticated imaging solution complete with a LiDAR scanner.

„Apple conducts vehicle ground imaging around the world and collects data to improve Apple Maps and Look Around services. Vehicle surveys can include devices mounted on the outside of vehicles, as well as iPhones, iPads or other devices located inside,” says Apple.

Improved Apple Maps has already been introduced in Germany, France, Great Britain and other countries. The apple giant adds and updates more new countries every year. The capturing of image and LiDAR data by mobile systems in backpacks, which will begin in Prague on June 19, follows on from the previous collection of data by vehicles.

„We may visit and photograph some locations repeatedly to keep the maps always high quality and up to date. Apple also collects data using portable systems in selected pedestrian areas (for example, no-entry streets). This is, for example, photography on foot using a system in a backpack. This data can be used directly in Apple Maps, for example in Look Around,Apple said in a press release.

Data collection using these backpacks can include places such as pedestrian zones, parks, squares and other similar locations. Alternatively, transfer stations where this data can be used to create 2D maps. Of course, Apple will take care of users’ privacy and will, for example, blur people’s faces or car license plates on the pictures taken before publication.