Intermap Technologies announced that Clemson University is entering the second phase of research efforts sponsored by Intermap. The project is focused on developing a control scheme for hybrid powered passenger vehicles that capitalizes on Intermap’s NEXTMap 3D road data to more efficiently manage the use of the gas engine and the electric drive.

During phase one of the project, the Company provided Clemson with Intermap-generated road profiles of Contra Costa County, California. The profiles were used in a simulation designed by Clemson to investigate the benefits of predictive road grade information in HEV energy management. A key objective for phase two, scheduled for completion August 2009, is to further quantify and validate promising phase one results.

The HEV power management strategy is based on the algorithm that determines the split of power generated by the combustion engine and the electric drive. A truly optimal power management strategy depends on extending the driving trajectory beyond the upcoming horizon through the implementation of the Intermap 3D road vectors to enable the judicious use of electric power. For example, advance knowledge of an upcoming hill through GPS and Intermap 3D road maps can enable the power management scheme to charge the battery pack in anticipation of larger power demand during an uphill ascent, insuring that the electric drive is fully utilized before traveling downhill in anticipation of the regenerative power available during descent. According to Chen Zhang, a member of Vahidiï’s research team, simulation results revealed a 3% average improvement in fuel economy based on knowledge of future terrain. Steeper grades showed more promising gains, which will be further investigated in the second phase.

Directional views on common maps are naturally two-dimensional, but 3D road vectors (also known as 3D road geometry) allow direction to be viewed in three dimensions. This functionality allows the vehicle to anticipate the road ahead. As the vehicle is proceeding down the road, 3D road vectors will provide information about upcoming grades and slopes, allowing the vehicle to predict, interpret, and determine an appropriate plan of action for managing the road.

3D road vectors can be built into the vehicle’s power train control system to evaluate road information. Once the information is internalized by the 3D road vector, the vehicle can then shift gears and use its transmission to accommodate for slopes and grades, maximizing the vehicle’s performance efficiency.

Increase Fuel Efficiency and Reduce Fuel Emissions
Because the dataset enables the vehicle to select the most efficient gear ratio, the vehicle is able to maintain its speed without wasting fuel. Studies of the 3D road vector’s dataset has shown that heavy trucks have improved fuel efficiency by up to 4 percent while travel time has remained the same or has even been reduced. If every commercial truck used 3D road vectors, significantly less fuel would be consumed, creating a monetary savings for the trucking industry and an increase in our worldwide fuel reserves. In addition to economic savings, the use of 3D road vectors would benefit our environment because of the reduced amount of fuel emissions released into the atmosphere.

3D Road Vectors in Use Today
Intermap Technologies^® has announced that 3D road vectors datasets are now available for Germany. The dataset includes information for all classes of roads with more than 1 million line kilometers of centerline position and elevation data for the entire country. Intermap is producing 3D road vectors for other European countries and has been conducting studies on hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) in the United States.