GPS navigation on the ground is now common and accurate, but when vehicles travel in road tunnels, this signal is no longer reliable. Recently, Google Maps on Android has added the ability to locate and navigate in tunnel spaces by using Bluetooth beacons.
Waze, another map app acquired by Google in 2013, has had similar navigation features for quite some time. Bluetooth beacons enhance navigation accuracy within the tunnel by using Bluetooth signals to scan and pinpoint locations, similar to the technology used in some shopping malls in cities across the United States.
Navigation inside the tunnel is inaccurate because GPS signals cannot penetrate the ground surface.
On Google Maps, the Bluetooth beacon navigation feature is turned off by default, but users can enable it in Driving Options under Settings > Navigation Settings . The system describes this feature as "scanning Bluetooth beacons to improve location accuracy in the tunnel environment." Users will need to grant Google Maps permission for the app to automatically find and connect with nearby devices for navigation.
Some users reported experiencing the new feature since October 2023, but it wasn't officially announced and released globally by Google until mid-January 2024. However, currently only Android users can use it, while iPhone owners will have to wait longer.
In addition to Bluetooth navigation, Google's map service has recently upgraded several new features, including suggesting charging points for electric vehicles.
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