Imagination enables developers to use 3D navigation data in new SDK

The tutorial includes comprehensive sample code for utilising most forms of available street mapping data in applications and a complementary white paper that explains efficient navigation rendering techniques and tools for how to compile the data. Future versions of this tutorial will include support for the display of all forms of advanced 3D location and other map enhancement data as well as related geotagged objects.

Sample data and extensive engineering input has been provided during the development of this tutorial by NAVTEQ, the leading global provider of maps, traffic and location data enabling navigation, location-based services and mobile advertising around the world. NAVTEQ’s support makes this SDK tutorial relevant to the broad array of developers of location-based services (LBS) and navigation applications. POWERVR Insider members who download the SDK gain access to NAVTEQ sample data for development and testing purposes, and developers can also join the NAVTEQ Network for Developers™ (www.NN4D.com) to gain access to more extensive data sample sets, data for commercial use, mapping application programming interfaces (APIs), geospatial platforms and tools, and to receive technical support.

Says Tony King-Smith, VP marketing, Imagination: “There’s a considerable community of developers using our SDK who have extensive experience in 3D gaming or UI and would like to use that skill set to create navigation apps, too; equally there are developers in NAVTEQ’s community who are experienced with LBS but not 3D graphics. This update to our SDK will help enable each of these groups to cross over into new markets, as will high-quality, sample 2D and 3D map data from an industry leader like NAVTEQ.”

This tutorial is the latest product of the growing strategic business relationship between Imagination and NAVTEQ, through increased collaboration between the two companies’ developer ecosystem programmes. NAVTEQ has developed a broad array of advanced location data, including a rapidly growing portfolio of visual content such as 3D landmarks, to complement their core map data offering. Visual location content can now be incorporated by developers into a broad range of applications to build a realistic 2D/3D representation of complex motorway junctions or city landscapes, helping users more easily orient themselves in unfamiliar or complex situations through visual cues. Through the collaboration with Imagination, NAVTEQ is now helping the developer communities respond to the demands of tomorrow’s graphics-rich, high frame rate applications.

“We have been working closely with Imagination so that developers new to LBS have access to high-quality, realistic data sets and comprehensive tutorials to help support their application development needs,” said Marc Naddell, vice president, partner and developer programs, NAVTEQ. “With this new SDK, vehicle and pedestrian navigation experiences will be enhanced by the growing range of 2D and 3D visual content in the NAVTEQ® map.”

Imagination's POWERVR Insider SDK is the leading SDK and toolset for mobile 3D graphics development. The POWERVR Insider SDK supports all of the Khronos graphics APIs, including the industry standard OpenGL ES 2.0. An established favourite with more than 20,000 developers worldwide, the POWERVR Insider SDK includes tutorials, source code, extensive documentation, platform abstraction frameworks and a highly integrated suite of tools. Developers can join up, download the SDK for free and interact with the community through dynamic online forums at www.powervrinsider.com.