Navigation Data Standard

The vision of NDS is to provide a leading worldwide map standard for automotive-grade use. A "leading standard" means that the map format shall:

• be widely used in the navigation industry and be adopted by leading suppliers of navigation maps
• be interoperable between navigation platforms
• enable up-to-date maps
• be globally applicable
• fulfil specific needs of all regions of the world

"Automotive grade" implies that:

• the standard is developed and maintained as a cooperative effort by leading OEMs and suppliers in the automotive industry.
• the standard consistently supports all automotive-specific use cases for map-related data.
• the standard supports advanced navigation technologies like eHorizon, autonomous driving, and cloud solutions
• the design is validated through large-scale adoption, implementation, and deployment.

To realize this vision, NDS pursues the following goals:

• fast implementation of extensions and changes to the NDS standard
• promotion of the NDS standard to increase its adoption in the worldwide automotive market through ease of use and efficient implementation
• securing the freedom to operate the NDS standard
• certification of compliance with the NDS standard

To support the adoption of the navigation standard and reach its goals, NDS supports NDS projects (e.g. by providing tools and support), constantly develops the standard technically, and aims at enlarging the association.

NDS uses the SQLite Database File Format. An NDS database can consist of several product databases, and each product database may be divided further into update regions. This concept supports a flexible and consistent versioning concept for NDS databases and makes it possible to integrate databases from different database suppliers into one NDS database. The inner structure of databases complying with NDS is further characterized by building blocks, levels and the content itself.

Each product database is delivered by one database supplier, has its own version control and can therefore be updated independently from other product databases. Product databases can contain one or more building blocks. Product databases cover a geographic area, which can be further divided into several update regions. Example of a product database: Europe basic navigation supplied by TomTom.

An update region represents a geographic area in a database that can be subject to an update. Update regions thus enable incremental and partial updating of defined geographic regions within an NDS database. Example: Each European country within the product "Europe basic navigation" may be presented by a separate update region.

File:Overview buildingblocks-nds-with-HAD.jpg

All navigation data in an NDS database belongs to a specific building block. Each building block addresses specific functional aspects of navigation, such as names for location input, routing, or map display. To cover specific use cases, navigation systems and applications may be required to filter and aggregate data from different building blocks, e.g. from both Routing and Map Display in order to calculate a route and show it to the user.

Each update region may contain data from multiple building blocks. Within a product database, which has several update regions, there may thus be several instances of the same building block. Example: In a Europe product database, there may be a Basic Map Display building block in the update region "France" and a Basic Map Display building block in the update region "Germany".

The NDS standard is documented regarding database structures, interoperability requirements, and update processes. The NDS association provides various tools{{Cite web|date=2019-10-01|title=Tools, tools, tools: All our members need|url=https://nds-association.org/nds-tools/|access-date=2020-10-01|website=NDS Association|language=en-US|archive-date=2020-09-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920001430/https://nds-association.org/nds-tools/|url-status=live}} that can be used by the NDS members to develop and validate maps:

• NDS SQLite reference engine
• Relational DataScript (RDS tool): Code generator for database access classes in Java and C++
• Certification Bench: Validates NDS databases for compatibility based on detailed test cases and issues certificates
• Investigation Modules: Execution framework for testing NDS databases on target hardware
• Database Inspector: Desktop tool for visualizing NDS databases

The NDS association was founded in September 2008 as a German registered association (German: "Eingetragener Verein").{{cite web|url=http://www.nds-association.org/wp-content/uploads/02_NDS-20120919-Short_History_of_NDS.pdf|title=Short History of NDS|accessdate=2015-02-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304084643/http://www.nds-association.org/wp-content/uploads/02_NDS-20120919-Short_History_of_NDS.pdf|archive-date=2016-03-04|url-status=dead}} The NDS articles and the associated bylaws form the legal basis of the NDS association.

As of October 2020, the NDS association has the following members:{{cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=NDS Association|url=http://www.nds-association.org/|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818223404/https://nds-association.org/|accessdate=2020-10-01|website=|publisher=NDS e.V.|archive-date=2020-08-18}}

• Aisin AW Co., Ltd{{cite web | url=http://www.aisin-aw.co.jp/en/ | title=AISIN AW CO., LTD.：The world's No.1 manufacturer of transmissions and car navigation systems | access-date=2015-02-13 | archive-date=2021-03-08 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308112337/http://www.aisin-aw.co.jp/en/ | url-status=live }}
• Alps Alpine Electronics Inc.{{Cite web |title=Alpine Electronics, Inc. – Company Information |url=http://www.alpine.com/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241008090309/https://www.alpine.com/ |archive-date=2024-10-08 |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=Alpine |language=en}}
• Autonavi Software Co, Ltd.{{Cite web|url=http://www.autonavi.com/#/|title=高德地图官方网站|access-date=2025-03-14|website=AutoNavi|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509060211/http://www.autonavi.com/#/|archive-date=2021-05-09}}
• Baidu Online Network Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baidu.com/|title=百度一下，你就知道|website=www.baidu.com|access-date=2025-01-14|archive-date=2025-01-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114034123/https://www.baidu.com/|url-status=live}}
• Bertrandt AG{{Cite web |title=Bertrandt |url=http://www.bertrandt.com/de/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20171211041234/http://www.bertrandt.com:80/de |archive-date=2017-12-11 |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=www.bertrandt.com |language=de}} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211041234/http://www.bertrandt.com/de |date=2017-12-11 }}
• BMW AG{{Cite web |title=BMW History |url=https://www.bmw.com/en/index.html/ |website=Sheer Driving Pleasure}}
• Robert Bosch Car Multimedia GmbH{{cite web | url=http://www.bosch.de/en/de/our_company_1/business_sectors_and_divisions_1/car_multimedia_1/car-multimedia.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150302153124/http://www.bosch.de/en/de/our_company_1/business_sectors_and_divisions_1/car_multimedia_1/car-multimedia.html | archive-date=2 March 2015 | title=Car Multimedia | Bosch Germany }}
• Clarion{{Cite web|url=https://www.clarion.com/global/en/index.html|title=Javascript discrimination|website=www.clarion.com|access-date=2025-01-14|archive-date=2023-06-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601032927/https://www.clarion.com/global/en/index.html|url-status=live}}
• Daimler AG{{cite web | url=https://www.daimler.com/en/ | title=Information on Daimler AG | access-date=2025-01-14 | archive-date=2022-01-28 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128173006/https://www.daimler.com/en/ | url-status=live }}
• DENSO Corporation{{cite web | url=https://www.denso.com/global/en/ | title=DENSO Global Website | access-date=2025-01-14 | archive-date=2017-12-31 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231160005/http://www.globaldenso.com/en/aboutdenso/company/index.html | url-status=live }}
• Elektrobit Automotive GmbH{{Cite web|url=http://www.elektrobit.com/|title=Elektrobit Automotive Software Developer – Elektrobit|website=Elektrobit|access-date=2015-02-13|archive-date=2015-02-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150207012705/http://www.elektrobit.com/|url-status=live}}
• EnGIS Technologies, Inc.{{Cite web|url=https://www.engistech.com/|title=EnGIS|website=Engistech|access-date=2025-01-14|archive-date=2024-12-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241227005315/https://www.engistech.com/|url-status=live}}
• Fiat Chrysler Automobiles{{Cite web|url=https://www.stellantis.com/en|title=Official Global Website|website=Stellantis.com|access-date=2025-01-14|archive-date=2021-01-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124053358/https://www.stellantis.com/en|url-status=live}}
• Garmin Würzburg GmbH{{cite web | url=http://www.garmin.com/en-US | title=Garmin Official Site | access-date=2015-02-13 | archive-date=2021-03-13 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210313053522/http://www.garmin.com/en-US | url-status=live }}
• Harman{{Cite web|url=https://www.harman.com/|title=HARMAN International|website=www.harman.com|access-date=2025-01-14|archive-date=2025-01-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250102154136/https://www.harman.com/|url-status=live}}
• Heading Data Intelligence
• HERE Technologies{{Cite web|url=https://www.here.com/|title=HERE Technologies | The world's #1 location platform|website=www.here.com|access-date=2025-01-14|archive-date=2025-01-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250105155012/https://www.here.com/|url-status=live}}
• Hitachi{{Cite web|url=https://www.hitachi.com/|title=Hitachi Global|website=www.hitachi.com|access-date=2025-01-14|archive-date=2025-01-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250106034117/https://www.hitachi.com/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=2020-08-24|title=New NDS Member: Hitachi, Ltd.|url=https://nds-association.org/hitachi/|access-date=2020-10-01|website=NDS Association|language=en-US|archive-date=2020-09-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919081024/https://nds-association.org/hitachi/|url-status=live}}
• Huawei{{Cite web|url=http://www.huawei.com/|title=Huawei - a world-leading telecom solutions provider|website=www.huawei.com|access-date=2022-03-28|archive-date=2011-05-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110503011537/http://www.huawei.com/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=2020-02-13|title=We welcome Huawei as new member|url=https://nds-association.org/huawei/|access-date=2020-10-01|website=NDS Association|language=en-US|archive-date=2020-09-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919082809/https://nds-association.org/huawei/|url-status=live}}
• Hyundai Motor Company{{cite web | url=http://worldwide.hyundai.com/WW/Main/index.html | title=Main | access-date=2015-02-13 | archive-date=2014-04-16 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416161702/http://worldwide.hyundai.com/WW/Main/index.html | url-status=dead }}
• INAVI{{Cite web|url=http://www.inavi.com/|title=Home|website=아이나비|access-date=2025-01-14|archive-date=2024-10-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241002171124/https://inavi.com/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=2020-03-31|title=New Member: INAVI Systems|url=https://nds-association.org/inavi-systems/|access-date=2020-10-01|website=NDS Association|language=en-US|archive-date=2020-10-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026061948/https://nds-association.org/inavi-systems/|url-status=live}}
• Increment P Corporation{{cite web | url=http://www.incrementp.co.jp/english/ | title=Increment P Corporation | access-date=2025-01-12 | archive-date=2020-03-10 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200310191142/https://www.incrementp.co.jp/english/ | url-status=dead }}
• Intellias{{Cite web|url=https://intellias.com/|title=Intellias|website=Intellias|access-date=2025-01-14|archive-date=2024-12-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241220050342/https://intellias.com/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |date=2023-03-21 |title=Intellias joins the NDS Association |url=https://nds-association.org/intellias-joins-nds/ |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=NDS Association |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-06-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629161000/https://nds-association.org/intellias-joins-nds/ |url-status=live }}
• Joynext{{Cite web|url=https://www.joynext.com/en/|title=JOYNEXT Technology Co., Ltd.|website=www.joynext.com}}{{Cite web|date=2020-06-10|title=NDS member Preh Car Connect becomes JOYNEXT|url=https://nds-association.org/joynext/|access-date=2020-10-01|website=NDS Association|language=en-US|archive-date=2020-09-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919101032/https://nds-association.org/joynext/|url-status=live}}
• Kuandeng{{Cite web |title=宽凳•数字化公路基础设施平台 未来,汽车将同时行驶在"现实公路"和"数字化公路"上 |url=http://www.kuandeng.com/ |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=www.kuandeng.com}}
• Mapmaster (Toyota Mapmaster Inc.){{cite web | url=https://www.mapmaster.co.jp/en/company/ | title=Company | TOYOTA MAPMASTER INCORPORATED（TMI） | access-date=2025-01-14 | archive-date=2024-09-16 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240916062945/https://www.mapmaster.co.jp/en/company/ | url-status=live }}
• Mappers Co. Ltd.{{cite web | url=http://www.mappers.kr/en-US/who-we-are.do | title=Mappers | access-date=2025-01-14 | archive-date=2024-09-13 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913150647/https://www.mappers.kr/en-US/who-we-are.do | url-status=live }}
• Mitsubishi Electric Automotive Europe B.V.{{cite web | url=http://de.mitsubishielectric.com/en/index.page | title=Mitsubishi Electric Germany | access-date=2025-01-14 | archive-date=2018-11-09 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181109103351/http://de.mitsubishielectric.com/en/index.page | url-status=live }}
• Mxnavi (Shenyang MXNavi Co. Ltd.){{cite web | url=http://www.mxnavi.com/english_index.html | title=美行科技 }}
• NavInfo Co., Ltd{{cite web | url=http://www.navinfo.com/en/index.aspx | title=NavInfo, Empowering Smart Mobility for a Better Life | access-date=2015-02-13 | archive-date=2020-08-01 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801115841/http://www.navinfo.com/en/index.aspx | url-status=live }}
• NAVIS Automotive Systems, Inc.{{Cite web|url=https://www.navis-ams.com/|title=Navis Automotive Systems|website=www.navis-ams.com|access-date=2025-01-14|archive-date=2024-09-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240926120328/https://www.navis-ams.com/|url-status=live}}
• Neusoft Technology Solutions GmbH{{cite web | url=http://www1.neusoft.com/de/nts/en/nts.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221194512/http://www1.neusoft.com/de/nts/en/nts.html | archive-date=21 February 2015 | title=Neusoft - Neusoft Technology Solutions GMBH }}
• Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.{{cite web | url=http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/index.html | title=Nissan Motor Corporation Global Website | access-date=2025-01-12 | archive-date=2010-12-07 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101207144044/http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/index.html | url-status=dead }}
• NNG Software Developing and Commercial LLC{{Cite web|url=https://nng.com/|title=NNG | next-generation location-based solutions|website=nng.com}}
• Pioneer{{Cite web|url=https://pioneer-car.eu/|title=Homepage|website=Pioneer|access-date=2025-01-14|archive-date=2025-01-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250103052742/https://pioneer-car.eu/|url-status=live}}
• Renault
• SK Telecom
• Telenav, Inc.{{Cite web|url=https://www.telenav.com/|title=Telenav Connected Car Solutions for Navigation, Entertainment and Commerce|website=www.telenav.com|access-date=2025-01-14|archive-date=2024-12-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241224061032/https://www.telenav.com/|url-status=live}}
• Tencent{{Cite web|date=2019-07-22|title=Tencent is welcomed as the newest member of the NDS association!|url=https://nds-association.org/tencent-is-welcomed-as-the-newest-member-of-the-nds-association/|access-date=2020-10-01|website=NDS Association|language=en-US|archive-date=2020-09-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919084354/https://nds-association.org/tencent-is-welcomed-as-the-newest-member-of-the-nds-association/|url-status=live}}
• TomTom Navigation B.V{{cite web | url=http://www.tomtom.com/en_gb/ | title=TomTom — Maps and Location Technology | access-date=2015-02-13 | archive-date=2021-03-13 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210313101059/http://www.tomtom.com/en_gb/ | url-status=live }}
• TRI-AD{{Cite web |title=Toyota Research Institute - Advanced Development, Inc. |url=https://www.tri-ad.global/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20211114114044/https://www.tri-ad.global/ |archive-date=2021-11-14 |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=TRI-AD｜Toyota Research Institute - Advanced Development, Inc. |language=en-US}} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929225432/https://www.tri-ad.global/ |date=2020-09-29 }}{{Cite web|date=2020-02-17|title=New Member: TRI-AD, Inc.|url=https://nds-association.org/toyota-research-institute-advanced-development-tri-ad/|access-date=2020-10-01|website=NDS Association|language=en-US|archive-date=2020-09-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919082616/https://nds-association.org/toyota-research-institute-advanced-development-tri-ad/|url-status=live}}
• Volkswagen AG{{cite web | url=http://en.volkswagen.com/en.html | title=Startseite | Volkswagen Deutschland | access-date=2015-02-13 | archive-date=2020-07-11 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200711092705/http://en.volkswagen.com/en.html | url-status=live }}
• Zenrin Co., Ltd{{cite web | url=http://www.zenrin.co.jp/english/ | title=ZENRIN | access-date=2015-02-13 | archive-date=2021-01-25 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125143119/http://www.zenrin.co.jp/english/ | url-status=live }}

The members of the NDS association are legally established companies or bodies. NDS members nominate persons who represent the members in the respective bodies. NDS has the following bodies:

• Board: legal representative of the NDS association to the outside
• General Assembly (GA): Forum in which all NDS members are represented. The GA is responsible for supervising the work of all NDS bodies and for approving budget plans and membership fees on a yearly basis.
• Steering Committee (SC): responsible for all management issues
• Technical Committee (TC): responsible for technical issues
• Product Definition Group (PDG): responsible for defining the NDS products and roadmap{{Cite web|date=2019-08-22|title=How the Product Definition Group shapes NDS' future|url=https://nds-association.org/product-definition-group/|access-date=2020-10-01|website=NDS Association|language=en-US|archive-date=2020-09-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919080801/https://nds-association.org/product-definition-group/|url-status=live}}
• NDS Working Groups (WG): deals with dedicated technical topics, such as map format development, autonomous driving, and cloud navigation{{Cite web|date=2020-05-18|title=How NDS fine-tunes its standard|url=https://nds-association.org/working-groups/|access-date=2020-10-01|website=NDS Association|language=en-US|archive-date=2020-10-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026062629/https://nds-association.org/working-groups/|url-status=live}}
• Validation and Certification Board: coordinates the development of the validation tools and handles certification issues{{Cite web|date=2019-09-27|title=Quality control: NDS Map Validation & Certification|url=https://nds-association.org/map-certification/|access-date=2020-10-01|website=NDS Association|language=en-US|archive-date=2020-09-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919081730/https://nds-association.org/map-certification/|url-status=live}}

• Automotive navigation system
• Map database management

Category:Global Positioning System

Category:Automotive navigation systems