Navigation Data Standard
The Navigation Data Standard (NDS) is a standardized format for automotive-grade navigation databases, jointly developed by automobile manufacturers and suppliers. NDS is an association registered in Germany. Members are automotive OEMs, map data providers, and navigation device/application providers. NDS aims to develop a standardized binary database format that allows the exchange of navigation data between different systems. NDS separates navigation software from navigation data, thus enhancing flexibility for creating various navigation products for end users. In addition to this interoperability, NDS databases support incremental updates, protection against illegal use, and compactness. NDS products have been available in the market since 2012, among others in BMW, Daimler, and Volkswagen cars.
 NDS Logo | |
| Type | Not for Profit Consortium |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | c/o EECF/2, Navigation Volkswagen AG Berliner Ring 2 D-38440 Wolfsburg Germany[1] |
| Location |
|
| Website | www.nds-association.org |
The Navigation Data Standard (NDS) is a standardized format for automotive-grade navigation databases, jointly developed by automobile manufacturers and suppliers. NDS is an association registered in Germany. Members are automotive OEMs, map data providers, and navigation device/application providers.[2][3]
NDS aims to develop a standardized binary database format that allows the exchange of navigation data between different systems. NDS separates navigation software from navigation data, thus enhancing flexibility for creating various navigation products for end users. In addition to this interoperability, NDS databases support incremental updates, protection against illegal use, and compactness.[4]
NDS products have been available in the market since 2012, among others in BMW,[5] Daimler, and Volkswagen cars.
Objective
[edit]The vision of NDS is to provide a leading worldwide map standard for automotive-grade use. A "leading standard" means that the map format shall:
- be widely used in the navigation industry and be adopted by leading suppliers of navigation maps
- be interoperable between navigation platforms
- enable up-to-date maps
- be globally applicable
- fulfil specific needs of all regions of the world
"Automotive grade" implies that:
- the standard is developed and maintained as a cooperative effort by leading OEMs and suppliers in the automotive industry.
- the standard consistently supports all automotive-specific use cases for map-related data.
- the standard supports advanced navigation technologies like eHorizon, autonomous driving, and cloud solutions
- the design is validated through large-scale adoption, implementation, and deployment.
To realize this vision, NDS pursues the following goals:
- fast implementation of extensions and changes to the NDS standard
- promotion of the NDS standard to increase its adoption in the worldwide automotive market through ease of use and efficient implementation
- securing the freedom to operate the NDS standard
- certification of compliance with the NDS standard
To support the adoption of the navigation standard and reach its goals, NDS supports NDS projects (e.g. by providing tools and support), constantly develops the standard technically, and aims at enlarging the association.
Design model
[edit]NDS uses the SQLite Database File Format. An NDS database can consist of several product databases, and each product database may be divided further into update regions. This concept supports a flexible and consistent versioning concept for NDS databases and makes it possible to integrate databases from different database suppliers into one NDS database. The inner structure of databases complying with NDS is further characterized by building blocks, levels and the content itself.
Product database
[edit]Each product database is delivered by one database supplier, has its own version control and can therefore be updated independently from other product databases. Product databases can contain one or more building blocks. Product databases cover a geographic area, which can be further divided into several update regions. Example of a product database: Europe basic navigation supplied by TomTom.
Update region
[edit]An update region represents a geographic area in a database that can be subject to an update. Update regions thus enable incremental and partial updating of defined geographic regions within an NDS database. Example: Each European country within the product "Europe basic navigation" may be presented by a separate update region.
Building block
[edit]
All navigation data in an NDS database belongs to a specific building block. Each building block addresses specific functional aspects of navigation, such as names for location input, routing, or map display. To cover specific use cases, navigation systems and applications may be required to filter and aggregate data from different building blocks, e.g. from both Routing and Map Display in order to calculate a route and show it to the user. Each update region may contain data from multiple building blocks. Within a product database, which has several update regions, there may thus be several instances of the same building block. Example: In a Europe product database, there may be a Basic Map Display building block in the update region "France" and a Basic Map Display building block in the update region "Germany".
Tooling and documentation
[edit]The NDS standard is documented regarding database structures, interoperability requirements, and update processes. The NDS association provides various tools[6] that can be used by the NDS members to develop and validate maps:
- NDS SQLite reference engine
- Relational DataScript (RDS tool): Code generator for database access classes in Java and C++
- Certification Bench: Validates NDS databases for compatibility based on detailed test cases and issues certificates
- Investigation Modules: Execution framework for testing NDS databases on target hardware
- Database Inspector: Desktop tool for visualizing NDS databases
Members
[edit]The NDS association was founded in September 2008 as a German registered association (German: "Eingetragener Verein").[7] The NDS articles and the associated bylaws form the legal basis of the NDS association. As of October 2020, the NDS association has the following members:[8]
- Aisin AW Co., Ltd[9]
- Alps Alpine Electronics Inc.[10]
- Autonavi Software Co, Ltd.[11]
- Baidu Online Network Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd.[12]
- Bertrandt AG[13]
- BMW AG[14]
- Robert Bosch Car Multimedia GmbH[15]
- Clarion[16]
- Daimler AG[17]
- DENSO Corporation[18]
- Elektrobit Automotive GmbH[19]
- EnGIS Technologies, Inc.[20]
- Fiat Chrysler Automobiles[21]
- Garmin Würzburg GmbH[22]
- Harman[23]
- Heading Data Intelligence
- HERE Technologies[24]
- Hitachi[25][26]
- Huawei[27][28]
- Hyundai Motor Company[29]
- INAVI[30][31]
- Increment P Corporation[32]
- Intellias[33][34]
- Joynext[35][36]
- Kuandeng[37]
- Mapmaster (Toyota Mapmaster Inc.)[38]
- Mappers Co. Ltd.[39]
- Mitsubishi Electric Automotive Europe B.V.[40]
- Mxnavi (Shenyang MXNavi Co. Ltd.)[41]
- NavInfo Co., Ltd[42]
- NAVIS Automotive Systems, Inc.[43]
- Neusoft Technology Solutions GmbH[44]
- Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.[45]
- NNG Software Developing and Commercial LLC[46]
- Pioneer[47]
- Renault
- SK Telecom
- Telenav, Inc.[48]
- Tencent[49]
- TomTom Navigation B.V[50]
- TRI-AD[51][52]
- Volkswagen AG[53]
- Zenrin Co., Ltd[54]
Internal structure
[edit]The members of the NDS association are legally established companies or bodies. NDS members nominate persons who represent the members in the respective bodies. NDS has the following bodies:
- Board: legal representative of the NDS association to the outside
- General Assembly (GA): Forum in which all NDS members are represented. The GA is responsible for supervising the work of all NDS bodies and for approving budget plans and membership fees on a yearly basis.
- Steering Committee (SC): responsible for all management issues
- Technical Committee (TC): responsible for technical issues
- Product Definition Group (PDG): responsible for defining the NDS products and roadmap[55]
- NDS Working Groups (WG): deals with dedicated technical topics, such as map format development, autonomous driving, and cloud navigation[56]
- Validation and Certification Board: coordinates the development of the validation tools and handles certification issues[57]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "Navigation Data Standard". NDS e.V. Archived from the original on 2021-03-08. Retrieved 2016-03-30.
- ^ "Navigation Data Standard". NDS e.V. Archived from the original on 2021-03-08. Retrieved 2015-02-13.
- ^ "OpenStreetMap wiki". OpenStreetMap. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-02-13.
- ^ "The NDS Standard". NDS e.V. Archived from the original on 2015-02-13. Retrieved 2018-02-15.
- ^ "The world's first passenger car navigation map loading NDS standard format available". wmiue.blogspot.de. Archived from the original on 2015-02-13. Retrieved 2015-02-13.
- ^ "Tools, tools, tools: All our members need". NDS Association. 2019-10-01. Archived from the original on 2020-09-20. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
- ^ "Short History of NDS" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-02-13.
- ^ "NDS Association". NDS e.V. Archived from the original on 2020-08-18. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
- ^ "AISIN AW CO., LTD.：The world's No.1 manufacturer of transmissions and car navigation systems". Archived from the original on 2021-03-08. Retrieved 2015-02-13.
- ^ "Alpine Electronics, Inc. – Company Information". Alpine. Archived from the original on 2024-10-08. Retrieved 2025-02-07.
- ^ "高德地图官方网站". AutoNavi. Archived from the original on 2021-05-09. Retrieved 2025-03-14.
- ^ "百度一下，你就知道". www.baidu.com. Archived from the original on 2025-01-14. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
- ^ "Bertrandt". www.bertrandt.com (in German). Archived from the original on 2017-12-11. Retrieved 2025-02-07.
- ^ "BMW History". Sheer Driving Pleasure.
- ^ "Car Multimedia | Bosch Germany". Archived from the original on 2 March 2015.
- ^ "Javascript discrimination". www.clarion.com. Archived from the original on 2023-06-01. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
- ^ "Information on Daimler AG". Archived from the original on 2022-01-28. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
- ^ "DENSO Global Website". Archived from the original on 2017-12-31. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
- ^ "Elektrobit Automotive Software Developer – Elektrobit". Elektrobit. Archived from the original on 2015-02-07. Retrieved 2015-02-13.
- ^ "EnGIS". Engistech. Archived from the original on 2024-12-27. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
- ^ "Official Global Website". Stellantis.com. Archived from the original on 2021-01-24. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
- ^ "Garmin Official Site". Archived from the original on 2021-03-13. Retrieved 2015-02-13.
- ^ "HARMAN International". www.harman.com. Archived from the original on 2025-01-02. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
- ^ "HERE Technologies | The world's #1 location platform". www.here.com. Archived from the original on 2025-01-05. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
- ^ "Hitachi Global". www.hitachi.com. Archived from the original on 2025-01-06. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
- ^ "New NDS Member: Hitachi, Ltd". NDS Association. 2020-08-24. Archived from the original on 2020-09-19. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
- ^ "Huawei - a world-leading telecom solutions provider". www.huawei.com. Archived from the original on 2011-05-03. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
- ^ "We welcome Huawei as new member". NDS Association. 2020-02-13. Archived from the original on 2020-09-19. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
- ^ "Main". Archived from the original on 2014-04-16. Retrieved 2015-02-13.
- ^ "Home". 아이나비. Archived from the original on 2024-10-02. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
- ^ "New Member: INAVI Systems". NDS Association. 2020-03-31. Archived from the original on 2020-10-26. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
- ^ "Increment P Corporation". Archived from the original on 2020-03-10. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
- ^ "Intellias". Intellias. Archived from the original on 2024-12-20. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
- ^ "Intellias joins the NDS Association". NDS Association. 2023-03-21. Archived from the original on 2023-06-29. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
- ^ "JOYNEXT Technology Co., Ltd". www.joynext.com.
- ^ "NDS member Preh Car Connect becomes JOYNEXT". NDS Association. 2020-06-10. Archived from the original on 2020-09-19. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
- ^ "宽凳•数字化公路基础设施平台 未来,汽车将同时行驶在"现实公路"和"数字化公路"上". www.kuandeng.com. Retrieved 2025-02-07.
- ^ "Company | TOYOTA MAPMASTER INCORPORATED（TMI）". Archived from the original on 2024-09-16. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
- ^ "Mappers". Archived from the original on 2024-09-13. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
- ^ "Mitsubishi Electric Germany". Archived from the original on 2018-11-09. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
- ^ "美行科技".
- ^ "NavInfo, Empowering Smart Mobility for a Better Life". Archived from the original on 2020-08-01. Retrieved 2015-02-13.
- ^ "Navis Automotive Systems". www.navis-ams.com. Archived from the original on 2024-09-26. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
- ^ "Neusoft - Neusoft Technology Solutions GMBH". Archived from the original on 21 February 2015.
- ^ "Nissan Motor Corporation Global Website". Archived from the original on 2010-12-07. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
- ^ "NNG | next-generation location-based solutions". nng.com.
- ^ "Homepage". Pioneer. Archived from the original on 2025-01-03. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
- ^ "Telenav Connected Car Solutions for Navigation, Entertainment and Commerce". www.telenav.com. Archived from the original on 2024-12-24. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
- ^ "Tencent is welcomed as the newest member of the NDS association!". NDS Association. 2019-07-22. Archived from the original on 2020-09-19. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
- ^ "TomTom — Maps and Location Technology". Archived from the original on 2021-03-13. Retrieved 2015-02-13.
- ^ "Toyota Research Institute - Advanced Development, Inc". TRI-AD｜Toyota Research Institute - Advanced Development, Inc. Archived from the original on 2021-11-14. Retrieved 2025-02-07.
- ^ "New Member: TRI-AD, Inc". NDS Association. 2020-02-17. Archived from the original on 2020-09-19. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
- ^ "Startseite | Volkswagen Deutschland". Archived from the original on 2020-07-11. Retrieved 2015-02-13.
- ^ "ZENRIN". Archived from the original on 2021-01-25. Retrieved 2015-02-13.
- ^ "How the Product Definition Group shapes NDS' future". NDS Association. 2019-08-22. Archived from the original on 2020-09-19. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
- ^ "How NDS fine-tunes its standard". NDS Association. 2020-05-18. Archived from the original on 2020-10-26. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
- ^ "Quality control: NDS Map Validation & Certification". NDS Association. 2019-09-27. Archived from the original on 2020-09-19. Retrieved 2020-10-01.