Additionally, there is a need to more easily develop navigation system applications. The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) is contributing solutions to those issues with an International Standard for a navigation system application programming interface (API).

Vehicle navigation systems use map databases to give precise driving directions, or to determine the vehicle’s location and provide information about nearby points of interest, such as restaurants and hotels. Some newer systems can also receive and display information on traffic congestion and suggest alternate routes.

ISO 17267:2009, Intelligent transport systems – Navigation systems – Application programming interface (API), will help facilitate the interoperability between navigation systems and map databases by providing an interface that will make information accessible and retrievable as well as assist developers of navigation systems.