AsiaLIFE

The endless search for an address sounds overly familiar to most. GPS Navigation devices are aiming to offer solutions for those spending too much time and petrol on finding their way through the maze. Words by Dorine Schreiner.

Everyone residing in the Kingdom of Wonder knows the frustrating feeling of looking for an address without immediate success. Although the streets are numbered and the city is small, one can spend valuable time driving around in circles, searching for their destination.

The good news is – things have changed. Accurate and detailed digital mapping systems of Cambodia have become available. Even though Google Maps covers Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville and Battambang, house numbers, landmarks, businesses and the position of some sights and landmarks have remained a challenge to locate.

In 2006, the first version of a Navigable map of Cambodia was released by Aruna Technology, and the government, the private and development sector have been using this navigation technology for years.

“Maps are updated annually by field checking and access to the latest satellite imagery” says Paul Gager, Technical Director at Aruna Technology Ltd. As Cambodian cities continue to expand, the navigation systems will continue updating information and maps. Continual improvement is necessary and ongoing to keep the information accurate.

“Phnom Penh property numbers are complicated, as addresses are often non-sequential and sometimes even duplicated”, says Dean Khieu, Operations Manager at Smarter Solutions. Last January, his company launched a new Global Positioning System (GPS) for Cambodia. He continues: “Through many months of field surveys and data processing, we have collected property numbers of each house in Phnom Penh to be incorporated in the system”.

Databases consist of up to 35,000 points of interest throughout Cambodia, including ATM’s, historic temples, hospitals, petrol stations, museums, hotels and more. The new system can show how to get to your destination from your current position, by simply entering the name into the GPS device.

The new technology provides professional opportunities, by bringing a mix of local knowledge and international best practice to the geospatial market. Smarter Solutions has a team consisting of local technical designers, expert developers, surveyors and support staff. The company provides practical experience to Khmer nationals by offering the opportunity to work with new technologies. Coinciding with the growth of Cambodia, the company strives to increase the human resources available in the IT sector. “Our team consists of local Cambodians who have studied abroad and have returned with international work experience to help develop the IT sectors in Cambodia. We have the capacity to provide a wide range of services with emphasis on digital mapping,” Dean Khieu proudly says. “We believe that Cambodia will continue to have a growing workforce to participate and develop the GPS Navigation Industry.”

Graduates are equipped with adequate knowledge to work with new technologies, such as Information Technology (IT) and Geographical Information Systems (GIS). A new generation of IT-graduates and experts are provided with employment opportunities, thanks to new technology developments, such as digital mapping or IT system delivery.

As mobile technology continues to grow in popularity, many telephones allow navigation by offering built-in GPS receivers. Some mapping technologies can be applied to these phones to provide a more accurate and fully routable map. Others are exclusively available with Garmin products, Palm™, Symbian™ or Microsoft Windows platforms due to their design and reliability.

Like any purchase, make sure the product that you chose complies with your wishes, as there is an increasing offer in the world of navigation technology. Happy address hunting!

Aruna Technology, 417 Sisowath Boulevard, Tel. 023 215 231, www.arunatechnology.com

Smarter Solutions, 6 Street 466, Tel. 016 575 928, www.smartersolutions.biz