Apple Sending People to Walk Around West Malaysia for Apple Maps Rebuild

Source: soyacincau

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Starting from October 18, 2024, Apple is rolling out an initiative to enhance its Apple Maps service by sending people walking through the streets of Kuala Lumpur, Pulau Pinang, Johor, and Melaka, equipped with portable backpacks. This effort is aimed at rebuilding Apple Maps and introducing new features, including the Google Maps-like Look Around feature.

Portable Backpacks for Mapping in Hard-to-Reach Areas

While Apple previously deployed imaging vehicles between November 2023 and July 2024 across Malaysia’s states and Federal Territories (including a Subaru XV spotted in Subang Jaya), there are areas where vehicles can’t reach, such as pedestrian-only zones, parks, and plazas. To address this, Apple is using the portable backpack system, which is a more compact version of the vehicle-based system but still equipped with LiDAR and cloud imaging technology.

Apart from the backpacks, Apple will also be utilizing devices like iPads and iPhones to collect data. The data gathered will help create detailed 2D maps, including transit stations and hard-to-reach areas that cars can’t access.

Mapping Schedule

The ground survey with these portable systems will take place simultaneously across the four regions between October 18 and December 31, 2024. Apple has provided a schedule for these activities, which will cover a wide range of locations, focusing on areas that cannot be accessed by their imaging vehicles.

Privacy is a Priority

As part of their ongoing commitment to user privacy, Apple assures that faces and license plates in the images collected will be censored in the Look Around feature, ensuring that individuals’ identities are protected during the data collection process.

Apple Maps Rebuild

Apple’s effort to rebuild Apple Maps, announced back in 2018, comes after the disastrous 2012 launch, which prompted the company to focus on improving map accuracy and functionality to compete with Google Maps. So far, the updated Apple Maps has been launched in various countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. However, Malaysian maps are not expected to be updated immediately, given the scale of the rebuild.

Apple’s Full Quote

Apple states:

“Apple is conducting surveys with portable systems in select pedestrian areas (for example, certain streets in Kuala Lumpur that cannot be driven). Some pedestrian surveys use a backpack system to collect data that may be used directly in Apple Maps, such as in the Look Around feature. Other pedestrian surveys use iPads, iPhones, or other devices to collect data for map improvement purposes. These pedestrian surveys allow us to improve and update Apple Maps in areas where vehicles simply can’t go while using the same privacy protections as the Apple Maps vehicles. We are committed to protecting your privacy while conducting these surveys. For example, we will censor faces and license plates on images that are published in Look Around.”

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This initiative is a significant step for Apple in refining its mapping service, promising more accurate and immersive mapping experiences for users in Malaysia, though it may take time before the updated maps are available.