{"id":203205,"date":"2023-12-07T18:34:01","date_gmt":"2023-12-07T10:34:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.grab.com\/sg\/?post_type=editorial&p=203205"},"modified":"2025-12-30T11:58:13","modified_gmt":"2025-12-30T03:58:13","slug":"grab-kartadongle-smart-car-device-improve-grabmaps","status":"publish","type":"editorial","link":"https:\/\/www.grab.com\/sg\/inside-grab\/stories\/grab-kartadongle-smart-car-device-improve-grabmaps\/","title":{"rendered":"How we make GrabMaps better with KartaDongle, our smart car device"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

An average GPS device offers a high degree of location accuracy, but it has its blind spots. In Southeast Asia\u2019s densely populated cities, urban canyons can disrupt GPS signals<\/a> and leave drivers struggling to navigate. Thick tree cover can also interfere with GPS<\/a>, resulting in mapping issues like missing roads on standard maps of the region.<\/p>

To fill the gaps in mapping data, Grab\u2019s Internet-of-Things (IoT) team designed and launched the KartaDongle in 2022.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
The KartaDongle collects data that helps us to map more efficient routes.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The smart device is connected to the vehicle and collects data using 4G, Bluetooth, and a GPS that is four times more accurate than a regular in-phone GPS.<\/p>

The device also serves as a vehicle\u2019s on-board diagnostics (OBD) equipment, tracking data like speed and wiper status.<\/p>

Tracking a vehicle\u2019s wiper status can give us an almost real-time view on where it\u2019s starting to rain. Weather accuracy helps Grab better estimate and prepare for demand for mobility services. We found that this is especially helpful in countries where weather updates are slower and less accurate, because it gives us an additional layer of data to work with. The KartaDongle can improve weather accuracy from about 25 to 75 per cent.\u00a0<\/p>

With KartaDongle on board GrabRentals<\/a> fleet\u2014complemented by indoor Bluetooth beacons<\/a>\u00a0and crowdsourced information\u2014Grab can gather localised, precise, and up-to-date data to improve GrabMaps. Better maps, in turn, enhance our drivers\u2019 and customers\u2019 experiences.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

(Read more: Mapping hidden roads and alleys with the help of our driver-partners<\/a>)<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Reducing delays in pickups and drop-offs<\/h5>\n

Pickups and drop-offs are a particularly important factor. <\/p>\n

We understand that when driver-partners can\u2019t locate the right pickup points, users get frustrated.  When pickup points have multiple entrances and exits\u2014think condos, shopping centres, car parks\u2014GrabMaps may not yet have updated information on all these points. <\/p>\n

(Read more: Malls are a maze, so we started mapping indoors to help driver-partners find their way<\/a>)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mapping  Meeting Points<\/a> manually is time-consuming, but KartaDongle can automate the process. Our team has run promising experiments to partially automate the creation of digitised map information from high-quality KartaDongle data\u2014leading to more complete maps in less time.<\/p>\n

Making rides safer and more efficient<\/h5>\n

KartaDongle\u2019s data contributions enhance the user experience during the ride itself as well. One application that we\u2019re experimenting with, thanks to KartaDongle, is adding missing U-turn links in GrabMaps. When dual carriageways are modelled on the map, in-phone GPS data often lacks the accuracy to pinpoint areas where drivers can perform a U-turn. This results in longer trip distances that potentially translate to higher costs for passengers.<\/p>\n

However, the KartaDongle has a higher level of positional accuracy than an in-phone GPS, and thus can better detect missing U-turn locations. Adding these missing links to GrabMaps will help driver-partners chart a more efficient route. This improved user experience also encompasses ride safety. The KartaDongle detects telematics safety data<\/a>, such as collisions, hard braking, and speeding. By evaluating this data, Grab can help reduce unsafe driving habits, reduce the likelihood of incidents and create safer rides for both drivers and passengers.<\/p>\n

At the same time, we ensure compliance with data privacy acts across the region. Data collected by the KartaDongle is anonymised and only used for its intended purposes. <\/p>\n

Bringing the KartaDongle to Southeast Asia<\/h5>\n

We\u2019ve since rolled out the KartaDongle to a selected set of driver-partners in Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines.<\/p>\n

In addition to improving GrabMaps\u2019 overall accuracy, having the KartaDongle in rental fleets also enables us to gather location data to improve fleet management and the process of deploying vehicles. Finding more efficiency contributes to fleet cost savings and boosts the earnings of our driver-partners.<\/p>\n

Looking beyond GrabRentals, we believe the regular GrabCars and GrabBikes experience can be enhanced by encouraging driver-partners to embed the KartaDongle in their vehicles.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"parent":180237,"menu_order":0,"template":"grab21-default","acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grab.com\/sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/editorial\/203205"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grab.com\/sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/editorial"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grab.com\/sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/editorial"}],"version-history":[{"count":28,"href":"https:\/\/www.grab.com\/sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/editorial\/203205\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":209033,"href":"https:\/\/www.grab.com\/sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/editorial\/203205\/revisions\/209033"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grab.com\/sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/editorial\/180237"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grab.com\/sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=203205"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}