Tracking World (Pvt) Ltd and Data Solutions (Pvt) Ltd have announced Pakistan’s first full-featured personal and in-car navigation system. Based on Tracking World’s experience of more than five years in Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL), and Data Solutions’ 11 years of expertise in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), the two companies have joined hands to introduce a product that many did not think was possible in Pakistan for several years. Indeed, it will take most Pakistanis by surprise.
Appropriately called the Pakistan Navigator, the product employs Garmin’s world renowned and trend-setting array of Global Positioning System (GPS) devices as its hardware platform. Based on live data from up to 11 satellites in orbit around the earth, a GPS device calculates its position – latitude, longitude, altitude – on earth and displays it on a screen. The Pakistan Navigator then plots that location on a detailed map of Pakistan, which includes streets and small towns. It thus shows a user his or her exact location on the map.
But this is just the tip of the iceberg, as Pakistan Navigator can do infinitely more. It guides the user from any point in Pakistan to any other point by drawing a highlighted route on the map. It shows the user all the mosques, schools, parks, restaurants, petrol stations, banks, ATMs and many other points-of-interest (PoI) near the users current location or any other chosen location. Restaurants are also categorised according to the type of cuisine they serve. Once the user selects a PoI, Pakistan Navigator then guides the user in real-time via screen and voice prompts through every road and every turn. An icon of a vehicle constantly moves on the screen, showing the user his or her exact location on the road and a voice prompt says, for example, “In 200 meters, turn right on Mall Road.” The GPS device can be installed in any vehicle, including motorcycles and bicycles, or carried around in hand while walking.
The joint venture chose Garmin as its hardware platform because it is the world’s largest and most prestigious manufacturer of GPS devices. “We made no compromise on quality,” said Khurram Qaiser, CEO of Tracking World, at the inaugural press briefing in Lahore. “We’re offering the best thing out there. Garmin is the Mercedes of GPS.” It wasn’t easy to get Garmin interested in a new country for which maps were previously not available. It was only because of Tracking World’s prior AVL reputation and relationships with GPS manufacturers that Garmin took notice. Based on this success, the joint venture has now engaged big names in car entertainment to integrate Pakistan Navigator with their in-dash CD or DVD units.
The software, maps, routing and searching algorithms that drive Pakistan Navigator are a result of more than two years’ of intense GIS and programming efforts at Data Solutions. The company’s website, www.naqsha.net, is the first and only one available to the general public free of charge for fully searchable and routable maps of Pakistan. Shortly, the website will also allow its users to directly upload their personal POIs and routes to their Garmin GPS units. Naqsha.net has generated tremendous interest and will always remain free for all users. “We got into this business because we love making maps, using maps, or just looking at maps and we wanted to do our bit to pave the way for development in this country,” said Riaz Raheem, MD of Data Solutions. “We want all Pakistanis to freely share the joy and benefits of using maps.
In-car GPS navigation is not available in Pakistan. Data Solutions (Pvt) Ltd in partnership with Tracking World (Pvt) Ltd have launched Garmin GPS units loaded with Pakistan map data. Currently only Garmin GPS units are available for purchase. The units range from in-car dash mounted devices to devices for motorbikes. There is also a unit which can be integrated with the vehicle’s DVD/entertainment unit and displays the navigational information on it. Existing Garmin users also have the option to buy the map for their specific unit. You may view the maps and GPS devices at naqsha.net.
The map has street level detail of major Pakistani cities and all major national highways. Streets are labeled and searchable for Islamabad, Lahore and some parts of Karachi. In addition there are close to 40,000 POIs such as fuel/CNG stations, banks, atms, hospitals, restaurants (categorised), hotels, shops, etc. Most POIs have address and phone number information available as well. Units equipped with FM transmitters and Bluetooth allow hands free dialing from the unit and are able to integrate with the vehicles’s audio system as well.
Data Solutions (Pvt) Ltd and Tracking World (Pvt) Ltd have released an update to their Pakistan Navigator map for Garmin GPS devices. The highlight of this update has been the inclusion of house number information. Users will now be able to navigate directly to a house number for the following areas:
Sector F-8, Islamabad
Sector F-7, Islamabad
New Garden Town, Lahore
Muslim Town, Lahore
Faisal Town (excluding Block D), Lahore
DHA Phase I, Lahore
Model Town (Blocks A, B, C, D, E, F, G & H), Lahore
There have also been improvements in the searching process. For example to search house 148, Block E, Model Town Lahore the following inputs are required:
Select Country – Pakistan
Select State/County – Punjab
Select City – Lahore Model Town or Block E Model Town
Select Number – 148
Select Street – E
There have also been fixes to routing and duplicate POIs. Over a 1000 new POIs have also been added as well. Fuel station and restaurant POIs have been added along the N5 all the way from Peshawar to Karachi. Although street level detail is limited to Islamabad, Rawalpidi, Lahore and their adjoining areas the detail of other cities has been upgraded. Detailed maps of Faisalabad and Karachi will follow soon as will house number information. The maps used to create Pakistan Navigator can be viewed at www.naqsha.net. The website also offers searching and navigation.
Naqsha.net will be serving maps of Pakistan using Google Maps API along with its current SVG implementation. Currently Pakistan level maps showing topography, rivers, highways, cities and towns will be available online at http://naqsha.net. Also street level detail of the twin cities Islamabad/Rawalpindi will also be available. Other major cities, namely Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad will follow shortly.
Add the Pakistan Maps Facebook Application to your Facebook profile and easily make routes from your point of choice to your destination. Also use the radius search feature to find places near your selected point. You can add the application at http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=6510564146. For a fully featured experience visit naqsha.net.
The GIS/GPS Lahore Map has been updated with hundreds of new place marks, street numbers and polygons. You are encouraged to visit the website to view the maps. You may also contribute by adding place marks of your own.
Get driving directions for major Pakistani cities at http://naqsha.net. Select your route points and choose from fastest to shortest routes. Also make routes to avoid large busy roads.
The GIS city map of Faislabad has been added to the list of city maps covered by naqsha.net, Pakistan’s first online maps website. Now users from Faisalabad can search roads, places, etc. and make routes with in their home town in addition to the maps available for Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore and Karachi. naqsha.net will be adding more city maps so keep visiting naqsha.net and register to get the latest updates.
View detailed interactive road maps of major Pakistani cities at naqsha.net. The website has street level detail in all its maps. There is search, routing and radius search functionality. Registered users can also add their own point on the map for later use. The website also generates driving directions and travel distances. There is also an optimized route option if the user has three or more waypoints.
