Yandex Launches Russia-Wide Route Planner

Internet, September 30, 2011. Yandex.Maps can now build driving routes between various locations in Russia. For major cities, including those with populations of more than one million, the service provides directions for driving within the city. This means that driving around Saint Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Ufa, or even across the country, for example, from Volgograd to Nizhny Novgorod has become much easier. The route planner is currently available as a beta.

Along with the route planner, Yandex.Traffic service has also become available for federal and local roads. This enables Yandex.Maps to calculate an optimal driving route taking into account traffic jams. By analyzing current traffic data on all Russia’s roads, including international roads, the service suggests the fastest detour route. Users can plan trips both online and via the Yandex.Maps for Mobile app. The application is free and supports all mobile platforms.

“Roads change every day, and we have to integrate every single change in our road grid – the so called ‘road graph’. We’re able to do it because we have a team of cartographers who keep the road graph updated. We also call on drivers to report any inaccuracies in our maps so that we can correct them as soon as possible. The first update of the route planner for Russia will appear just in a month”, says Project Manager Evgeny Grebennikov.

Drivers can now find on Yandex.Maps almost everything they need to know, including not only information on traffic jams, accidents and road conditions but also panoramic street views. In some major cities, Yandex has traffic webcams that provide real-time data on the most congested streets and crossroads. With the route planning function, the service allows users to plan road trips across the entire country. Last year, the route planner became available in Ukraine, so now users can even get driving directions from Moscow to Kiev.

Contact:
Media Relations
Vladimir Isaev, Ochir Mandzhikov
Phone: +7 495 739-7000
E-mail: pr@yandex-team.com