Location Companies Declare Biggest Trends of 2023, Outlook for 2024
Industry executives cautiously optimistic going into 2024...
The location industry in 2023 had a mix of good and bad news, ranging from billion-dollar acquisitions and new products to global threats to satellite navigation signals. The editors of Location Business News talked to industry execs to assess what were the big news/trends of 2023—while looking ahead to 2024.
Tim Newberg, North America CEO, Digital Matter:
What do you think was your biggest success was in 2023? What markets surprised you?
“In 2023, we introduced three new device families, including the Global series based on 4G Cat 1bis and 2G connectivity, which enables asset visibility anywhere in the world with a cellular network,especially in markets where LTE-M/NB-IOT is not widely available, the Barra series, which is an expansion of a IoT asset tracking portfolio at lower cost, improved design with more functionality to address more applications from pallet tracking and cargo to packaging and more, and finally the expanded options around our 2023 IoT Evolution Product of the Year Award, the HAWK IoT Data Logger, which provides near limitless options for interfacing to sensors through modular plug-in I/O cards to facilitate even more use cases from AgTech and environmental monitoring to resource management and equipment management. This allows us to help solve more problems in more markets across more applications and use cases which means 2024 is going to be exciting and busy! And no real surprises (yet) as partners are requiring high-quality, proven, robust, reliable solutions that are cost-effective to help drive the business outcomes and find ways to accelerate the timeline for adoption, deployment and delivering a return.”
What do you envision will be a growing trend in 2024?
“Within IoT, we continue to see a push towards making solutions more configurable to dial into the needs of specific applications from adjusting the sensitivity of the movement-based tracking towards optimizing around network connectivity, especially in low coverage areas, as well as the criticality of being able to monitor device health, facilitate remote analysis, simplify troubleshooting and more importantly receive proactive alerts to optimize performance. Ultimately, how can we help our customers solve more problems around our ability to deliver solutions leveraging the latest connectivity and location technologies to simplifying the way to service the support needs. We continue to invest across these areas to connect more of the assets that matter.”
Kevin Andrews, director of land products for Applanix at Trimble:
What do you think was your biggest success was in 2023? What markets surprised you?
“Seeing the autonomous compactor working on the hydroelectric project in British Columbia was very satisfying and not just because I'm from BC myself. More than just an autonomous vehicle, which is in itself quite a feat, this is integrated into the connected worksite through WorksOS so it can be a productive member of a well-orchestrated team. Its work is being tracked and recorded so that its output contributes to the validation of the complete project. All while keeping workers safe by operating where it is deemed too risky for human operators. This is a good example of the intersection of autonomy and connectedness.”
“What surprised me in 2023 was the speed at which we found practical uses for AI. For many years, we've seen machine learning demonstrated in highly technical applications like identifying objects in a vehicle's path or teaching robotic dogs to walk, but now we're seeing breakthroughs in human/machine interfaces. Not only are systems now able to make sense of a complicated subject and explain it back to us in language we understand but, in the other direction, being able to give instructions in simple terms and have the system know what we meant. We're much closer to the talking ship's computer in Star Trek than we were a year ago.”
What do you envision will be a growing trend in 2024?
“In the latter half of 2023, we really saw the impact macroeconomic conditions can have on tech development. In 2024, we’ll see a very practical market refocus on to what is working today and actually saving/making money for people now. As more ambitious ventures like robotaxis/autonomous heavy trucks face economic and regulatory challenges, productivity-boosting tech like smart spraying and automated workflows across job sites are seen as protecting the bottom line. On that note, things that make working with tools and systems easier will also become the norm. Clunky, esoteric user interfaces simply won't be accepted as AI-powered interactions become smoother and more natural, reducing the learning curve for new technology adoption.”
Marc Prioleau, executive director of Overture Maps Foundation:
What do you think was your biggest success was in 2023? What markets surprised you?
“We launched Overture Maps in December 2022. 2023 was the year of building the project, adding members and laying the foundations for our open map data products. We went from four members to over 20, we developed a coherent data schema, we produced open base layers and established a consistent monthly release cadence and built the platform that can promote more open map data use starting in 2024. “
What do you envision will be a growing trend in 2024?
“In the last 2 years, I have talked to over 250 companies and organizations that are involved in mapping, location services, and map data building. There is amazingly consistent consensus across the industry that we, as a group, need to move to open map data, especially for the base layers that must support the ever-growing metadata that drives richer map experiences. The demand for those richer experiences seems insatiable but that takes new, more accurate, more timely data. Trying to support all that data on multiple base layers is just unsustainable. In 2024, developers will increasingly opt for open map data to build the foundation for their applications.”
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As we take our annual Winter break, we wish you a happy holiday season. In the meantime, check our website, www.locationbusinessnews.com, for breaking news and an archive of past stories. We return in early January with full CES coverage. We will be onsite, so get your press releases, or requests for interviews, to me at kdennehy@driverlessreport.com.
Overture Buildings Theme Adds 2.3 Billion Buildings via Google
The Overture Maps Foundation has announced the availability of more than 2.3 billion buildings through the addition of Google Open Buildings data set.
Overture’s latest release, Overture 2023-12-14-alpha.0, includes the Google Open Buildings data, which consists of 2D building footprints derived from high-resolution satellite imagery providing coverage in Africa, South Asia, South East Asia, and Latin America. Overture conflated the Google data with its current building footprints from OpenStreetMap, Esri Community Maps, and Microsoft Open Building Footprints.
“Our initial goal for the Buildings theme has been to increase coverage. We have done that by combining several open datasets including OpenStreetMap, Esri Community Maps and Microsoft Building Footprints,” said Marc Prioleau, Overture Maps Foundation executive director. “Now, with the Google Open Buildings we have further grown the number of buildings overall, upgraded the quality of some buildings and dramatically expanded coverage in the southern hemisphere.”
Prioleau said that Overture also added a unique identifier, Global Entity Reference System ID, or GERS ID, to each of the 2.3 billion buildings. “That allows developers to unambiguously append many types of other data to the buildings. One of Overture’s main goals is to make it easier for developers to conflate and combine data from many sources in an easy, unambiguous way through this entity identifier,” he said.
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IoT Company Actility Raises $17 Million
French IoT company Actility has raised more than $17 million in new funding to continue to grow its Low-Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN) technology for tracking and monitoring applications in enterprise markets.
One of the company’s strengths is its ThingPark Enterprise platform which has a network of 100 worldwide resellers to offer fleet tracking and patient monitoring. The company also has made such strategic investments as Abeeway, an indoor-outdoor geolocation company that offers low-power tracking solutions.
“Due to its vast-reaching and industrial nature, the maturation of IoT technology took longer than anticipated. However, we have now entered a phase of steady growth, with enterprise adoption nearly doubling each year, propelled by widespread digitization,” said Oliver Hersent, Actility CEO and founder, in a statement. “AI cannot operate without data, and our technology anchors AI to the real world across numerous industries.”
This latest round of funding, led by Bpifrance, follows the company’s $76 million investment in 2017 from Orange, KPN, Inmarsat, Foxconn and Swisscom, among other investors. The company, founded in 2010, said it used those funds to develop and deploy industrial IoT solutions, launch new roaming products and make company acquisitions.
Actility said it has connected more than 4 million devices, with ThinkPark-operated LPWAN networks operating 40,000 base stations. The company has partnered with Bouygues, one of Europe’s largest construction firms, to work on a smart city project on the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia.
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Everfield’s Acquisition of Visioglobe Fits Company Strategy
Although announced in late October, Everfield’s purchase of French navigation provider Visioglobe fits well with the company’s acquisition strategy, which focuses on vertical market software solutions, a company executive said.
The company has a leading position in the highly specialized Indoor Positioning and Indoor Navigation, or IPIN market, with customers in the Americas, Europe, APAC and Middle East, said Thomas Savinel, Everfield’s acquisitions manager for France. “The solution could be beneficial to other companies in our portfolio, selling to vertical markets, such as higher education, hospitals, airports and enterprise-size companies looking for indoor mapping solutions for their offices,” he said.
Savinel said that Everfield wants to build on Visioglobe’s position in the mapping market and is not going to cut the acquired company’s management team. Financial details were not disclosed.
Visioglobe has integrated its indoor mapping technology at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) as a navigation tool to allow travelers to reach their gates, amenities and other points of interests (POIs). The deal’s financial details were not disclosed. KLIA, which one of Asia’s largest airports and Malaysia Airlines’ hub, uses the mapping technology in their app. Some of the features include gate information, restrooms, check-in counters, restaurants and shops.
Other Location News
News tip? Send them to kdennehy@driverlessreport.com. Go to www.locationbusinessnews.com for more news and an archive of stories.
Top News:
🛰 GPS Celebrates 30th Anniversary at Schriever SFB. “The GPS constellation first reached initial operating capability (IOC) on Dec. 8, 1993.”
☹ Experts Raise Concerns About U.S. Commitment to GPS Modernization. “Formerly the chief architect of GPS, [Bradford] Parkinson also questioned why there are still not enough satellites broadcasting the civilian L5 GPS signal.”
🚘 The AV industry Sends an SOS to Pete Buttigieg. “A coalition of lobbying groups sent Buttigieg a letter last week imploring him to support AV development or risk being outpaced by China.”
😦 Activist Investor Jana Argues Trimble Should Focus on Organic Growth. “Jana is also calling on the company to improve margins and returns on capital, as well as to streamline its business.”
🤔 Blackberry Names New CEO as Company Ditches Connected-Car IPO - But Still Plans To Split in Two.
📌 McDonald's Doubles Down on Geofencing. “The burger chain will expand its Ready on Arrival mobile pickup technology, which can yield a roughly 60-second improvement to wait times to its top six markets by 2025.”
🚛 Gurtam Hits Landmark of 3.8 Million Vehicles Connected on Wialon Platform. “The landmark comes just six months after Wialon reached the 3.6 million milestone and gives it a significant 4 perent global market share.”
🚗 Siro and Geotab Join Forces To Drive the Transition to Electric Vehicles. “Siro, an Irish broadband company, has partnered with Geotab, a telematics company, to facilitate the switch to electric vehicles (EVs) in their fleet.
💲 Viasat Group Completes Its Acquisition of TrackiT. “Viasat Group, a subsidiary of Targa Telematics, has announced the completion of the acquisition of TRACKiT, with the purchase of the remaining 40 percent of its share capital.”
🤞 SiriusPoint and Nirvana Insurance Announce New Partnership. “By collecting billions of data points from sensors and internet-of-things (IoT) devices within trucks, Nirvana tailors its rates to individual fleets.”
Maps:
😉 Google Maps Introduces New Controls For User Privacy. “According to Google GOOG 0.00%↑, the ability to delete place-related activity and the new blue dot controls will be gradually rolled out on Android and iOS platforms in the coming weeks.”
😒 This Google Maps Alternative Really Shows the Big Guys How It's Done. “If you've never heard of Magic Earth, it's time to check it out.”
✔ Profilence and TomTom Work Together. “Profilence is extending its capabilities to support TomTom [TOM2] Digital Cockpit, with the goal of streamlining the integration process for OEMs seeking to incorporate TomTom's Digital Cockpit.”
🤦♂️ Is Switching From Google Maps to Petal Maps a Good Idea? We Are Checking.
🚗 A New Google Maps Alternative Launches on Android Auto (With 3 Big Catches). “Navitime is one of the companies whose products are among the top choices in Japan, offering top-notch navigation features that can easily replace Google Maps.”
🗺 Textomap Creates Interactive Maps From Location-Based Text. “Textomap helps businesses, organizations and individuals who need to visualize and display location-based content to better engage their audience with more context and data.”
🏎 Waze Clocked Me at 219 MPH in a Parking Lot, and I'm Fed Up. “Waze sometimes loses GPS tracking and can no longer follow you on the map, certain reports come and go with new updates, and the suggested routes are sometimes so ridiculous that they add hours to your journey.”
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Autonomous and Connected Vehicles:
😠 GM's Cruise Robotaxi Unit Dismisses Nine 'Key Leaders' Amid Safety Investigation.
☹ GM's Cruise Robotaxi Unit Lays off 900 Workers With Investigation Into San Francisco Crash Ongoing.
🤷♂️ Tesla Defends 'Autopilot' and 'FSD' Names in False Advertising Case. “After Tesla responded to the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) last year saying that it would defend itself against the claims of false advertising, the automaker this week made a filing arguing that the agency had already approved the use of the terminology.”
🙂 People With Disabilities Hope Autonomous Vehicles Deliver Independence. “A 2022 report from the National Disability Institute predicted that autonomous vehicles could help many people with disabilities get out of their homes and obtain jobs.”
🛺 China's WeRide Tests Autonomous Buses in Singapore, Accelerates Global Ambition. “WeRide announced it has obtained two licenses from Singapore that will allow its robobuses to test on public roads on a “larger” scale.”
Drones:
🛩 Red Cat CEO Jeff Thompson Unveils Company's Vision For The Future Of Drone Technology.
👍 Virgin Media Develops 5G Drone for Search and Rescue Missions. “Virgin Media O2 has developed a 5G-connected drone that’s designed to bolster communication for search and rescue teams.”
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Location Industry Briefs
Send your news releases to kdennehy@driverlessreport.com. Go to www.locationbusinessnews.com for more news and an archive of stories.
HERE Integrates HD Live Map in BMW’s 7 Series’ Personal Pilot, Partners With Techjockey.com
HERE Technologies has announced that its HERE HD Live Map, based on UniMap, is now onboard BMW’s new 7 Series with BMW Personal Pilot Level 3 automated driving function. Personal Pilot allows drivers to take their hands off the wheel and eyes off the road under certain conditions, the company said. BMW will introduce the function starting in Germany in March 2024.
The HERE HD Live Map provides safety data to the vehicle system for tasks such as localization, prediction and path planning, working in combination with various vehicle sensors, the company said. BMW also utilizes HERE HD map data to define the operational design domain (ODD), the company said.
In other HERE news, Techjockey.com will give its business users access to HERE map data and location services. Techjockey.com is an online marketplace for IT solutions that allows buyers to choose, compare, and buy technology for their business, the company said.
Contact: Jordan Stark, (312) 316-4537, Jordan.stark@here.com, www.here.com.
U.S. DoT Announces $25 Million Rural Autonomous Vehicle Research Program
The U.S. Department of Transportation has announced a $25 million funding opportunity for its Rural Autonomous Vehicle research program. Accredited universities are eligible to apply for this competitive, six-year cooperative agreement program. Recipients will use RAV program funding to conduct research regarding the benefits and responsible application of automated vehicles and associated mobility technologies in rural and Tribal communities, the agency said. One $15 million award will focus on passenger transportation, and a separate $10 million award will focus on movement of freight to support and enable automated freight and delivery vehicles serving rural areas.
Contact: U. S. DOT Rural Autonomous Vehicle Program, www.transportation.gov/policy/ost-r/rdtrav.
Trimble Integrates GNSS Receivers Into Sabanto Autonomy Solutions
Trimble TRMB 0.00%↑ and Sabanto have announced the integration of Trimble’s BX992 Dual Antenna GNSS receivers and CenterPoint RTX into Sabanto's autonomy solutions. Trimble will act as Sabanto's key autonomous technology provider, delivering positioning to its fleet, the company said.
Leveraging Trimble's BX992 GNSS receiver and CenterPoint RTX corrections service, Sabanto's autonomy solutions can now receive centimeter-level L-Band corrections nearly anywhere in the world, the company said. In addition to RTX corrections, Trimble will offer correction stream-switching to enable farmers to switch from IP to satellite seamlessly, the company said.
Contact: Trimble, www.trimble.com.
Redwire Grabs DARPA Lunar Contract
Redwire RDW 0.00%↑ has been selected by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to conduct research and develop technologies as part of its 10-Year Lunar Architecture (LunA-10) study. Redwire’s contribution for the LunA-10 study will be focused on approaches for providing services to lunar assets from cislunar space, including high-speed communications and Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT). For the LunA-10 study, Redwire will leverage its experience in space mission design, RF systems, and space structures, the company said.
Contact: Emily Devine, Redwire, (305) 632-9137, emily.devine@redwirespace.com.
Sheeva.AI Partners With Visa Acceptance Solutions
Sheeva.AI has partnered with Visa Acceptance Solutions for a new tokenization platform for in-vehicle commerce. Sheeva.AI will leverage Cybersource Token Management Service, a part of Visa Acceptance Solutions, to power the first multi-use tokenization platform for in-vehicle payments by using vehicle location to authorize payments at the point of service, the company said.
Sheeva.AI’s integration with Cybersource Token Management Service allows digital and secure one-touch payment experience to the vehicle’s infotainment screen for fueling, EV charging, parking, tolling or retail, the company said.
Contact: Trevor Curwin, Sheeva.AI 415.646.6063 tcurwin@sheeva.ai, www.sheeva.ai.
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Trimble Precise Positioning Engine Receives ASIL-C Certification
Trimble TRMB 0.00%↑ has announced the ISO 26262:2018 Automotive Safety Integrity Level-C (ASIL-C) certification of its automotive and heavy trucking precise positioning engine, ProPoint Go. The company says ProPoint Go is the first precise positioning engine to be ASIL-C certified.
ProPoint Go provides centimeter-level position, velocity and time information based on multi-frequency GNSS signals and ASIL-B certified Trimble RTX correction data, the company said. Automotive manufacturers and suppliers can use positioning technology that has been validated for use in advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous vehicle operation.
Contact: Trimble, www.trimble.com.
Navenio Partners With Pavion
Navenio has partnered with Pavion to integrate its hands-free RTLS system into a nurse call system for hospitals. Pavion is the distributor of the Rauland Responder intelligent nurse call system used by more than 4,000 hospitals in 40 countries. The first installation for the partnership will take place at a 700-bed federal hospital and research organization in Washington, D.C.
Contact: Navenio, https://navenio.com.
Quectel Module Receives Certifications
Quectel Wireless Solutions’ CC200A-LB has secured global certifications from CE, FCC, IC, and RCM. This confirms CC200A-LB's compliance with satellite network standards across Europe, North America, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, the company said.
Some applications for the module include maritime, transportation, heavy equipment, agriculture, mining, oil and gas monitoring. CC200A-LB, with GNSS positioning, incorporates satellite IoT connectivity offered by ORBCOMM, using the L-band of the Inmarsat GEO constellation.
Contact: Quectel, media@quectel.com, www.quectel.com.
Energous and Identiv Partner to Enable Real-Time Asset Tracking
Energous WATT 0.00%↑ has partnered with Identiv INVE 0.00%↑ to bring real-time asset tracking to supply chain and logistics applications. This collaboration will integrate Identiv’s ID-Pixels tags with Energous’ PowerBridge technology. The combined technologies will enable cold chain logistics companies to track and report the temperature inside cooling trucks.
Contact: Identiy, identiv.com.
Fleet Management Systems in Europe Will Reach 26.5 Million by 2027
The number of active fleet management systems deployed in commercial vehicle fleets in Europe was 14.8 million at the end of 2022, according to a new research report analyst firm Berg Insight. Growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.4 percent, this number is expected to reach 26.5 million by 2027, the firm said. Berg Insight ranks Targa Telematics as the largest player in terms of active installed base with around 710,000 units at year-end 2022.
Contact: Johan Fagerberg, Berg Insight, 46 31 711 30 91CEO, johan.fagerberg@berginsight.com.
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People
Cambridge Mobile Telematics has named Ricardo Martinez to its Road Safety Board.
Ed Mortimer of NextNav NN 0.00%↑ has been named a top lobbyist by The Hill.
The NDS Association has named Martin Pfeifle as chairman of its steering committee.
Comtech has hired former iDirect Government executive John Ratigan as the company’s first chief corporate development officer (CCDO).
Canoo GOEV 0.00%↑ has named Michael Carter as chief people officer.
GeoComm has named Lara Crutcher as territory sales manager for the Southeast Region of Safety and Security.
Kizzy Davies has been named senior manager, global HR transformation and strategy at HARMAN International.
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