Uber partners with DigitalGlobe to use satellite imagery for mapping

Uber is revolutionizing transportation by making the experience dead simple. And in this revolution, the company will be joined by DigitalGlobe – the high-resolution satellite imagery company. Last year, DigitalGlobe announced a multi-year global partnership with Uber to supply high-resolution satellite imagery.

Using DigitalGlobe’s satellite imagery, Uber can improve its ability of using satellite images for its mapping ambitions. In a blog post announcing the deal, DigitalGlobe said its imagery would help Uber improve the experience for riders and drivers, and that Uber would be using DigitalGlobe’s technology to identify and improve pick-up and drop-off locations, rather than displaying maps to users of the Uber app.

Uber has been building up its mapping division for a while, as high-definition maps are key to its self-driving car project. A number of engineers poached from both Google and Carnegie Mellon University are working on Uber’s mapping efforts, including Brian McClendon, the former head of Google Maps who is now in charge of Uber maps.

Uber joins DigitalGlobe with the view of improving its services and helping drivers to locate the exact areas. As far as DigitalGlobe is concerned, the high-resolution satellite imagery company is also providing high-resolution satellite images to Apple TerraServer, Google Maps and Google Earth.

“At DigitalGlobe, we’ve spent the last decade developing advanced technology that scans the Earth with the highest accuracy and resolution in both visible and non-visible wavelengths,” revealed Kevin Bullock, Director of business development, in his blog post.

Uber has been working on its mapping section for some time. Now, Uber’s self-driving car project will have access to the high-definition maps.