Apple Maps receives additional terrain data for Arizona, New Mexico, and Nevada

As part of its continual effort to rebuild Apple Maps, Apple has added detailed terrain features to the U.S. states of Arizona and New Mexico as well as the southern portion of Nevada, including the city of Las Vegas. 

The additional data is derived from Apple’s street-level data gathering via LiDAR-equipped vehicles, which Apple has been doing for over three years. Related improvements first rolled out in Northern California in iOS 12 and have extended to Hawaii and Southern California over the past few months. 

As a result, zooming and panning reveals new details such as grass, trees, sports fields, and parking lots. Apple has also stated that search results will become more relevant.

Apple Maps vehicles have been collecting mapping data in the United States since 2015, with over 45 states at least partially surveyed to date. Apple will begin surveying Alaska, South Carolina, and Tennessee between March and July, according to an update to its recently revamped Apple Maps image collection website. 

In June 2018, Apple stated that its revamped mapping data would roll out section by section across the United States over 2019. Since then, Apple has apparently rolled out updated maps in adjacent continental states, as opposed to prioritized population-rich regions of the country.

It’s also been noted that Apple is working on an updated appearance for northeastern cities like New York, given that special detailed terrain features can be seen – perhaps unintentionally – when entering turn-by-turn navigation. 

Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

Via MacRumors