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Apple Hiring 'Maps Ground Truth Data Specialist' in Australia

Friday February 22, 2013 3:11 pm PST by Jordan Golson
Apple has posted a new job listing for a 'Maps Ground Truth Data Specialist' in Australia. The job listing, which was posted two days ago, comes several months after Apple came under fire for incorrect mapping data in central Australia.

The position will check "changes to map data, provide feedback on unique local map requirements, collect ground truth information, and evaluate competing products."

'Ground Truth' refers to information collected on location versus data collected remotely, such as satellite imagery. Wikipedia notes that the "collection of ground-truth data enables calibration of remote-sensing data, and aids in the interpretation and analysis of what is being sensed."
Job Summary

Imagine what you could do here. At Apple, great ideas have a way of becoming great products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish.

Key Qualifications

• Excellent attention to detail
• QA experience
• Familiarity with evaluating map quality
• Detailed knowledge of the unique features of your local area, including preferred driving routes, landmarks, and road names
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent
• Strong written and spoken English skills

Description

The Maps team is looking for people with knowledge of mapping, great testing skills, and local expertise to help us build better and better maps. In this position, you will be responsible for the quality of map data for your region. You will test changes to map data, provide feedback on unique local map requirements, collect ground truth information, and evaluate competing products.
Apple did eventually fix the issue in central Australia, but the company has been slow to fix many mapping issues even through the app's official "Report a Problem" button.

Thanks Marc!

[ 99 comments ]

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jav6454
87 months ago
Apple do us all a favor and switch back to Google Maps.
Rating: 24 Votes
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TheWatchfulOne
87 months ago

Apple do us all a favor and switch back to Google Maps.


Apple, please do us all a favor and do not listen to this suggestion.
Rating: 20 Votes
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camnchar
87 months ago
First applicant:

Rating: 14 Votes
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Small White Car
87 months ago

Apple do us all a favor and switch back to Google Maps.


Oh, sure, I loved the idea of picking either 'no-turn-by-turn' or 'ads in my maps.'
Rating: 10 Votes
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jav6454
87 months ago

Apple, please do us all a favor and do not listen to this suggestion.


Oh look! Someone who refuses to acknowledge a hard known fact...
Rating: 9 Votes
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Bubba Satori
87 months ago
Apple should just buy Australia and fix the streets to match Maps.
Rating: 6 Votes
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Small White Car
87 months ago

Google had no incentive, yet they still did.


What do you mean they still did? They intentionally held back turn-by-turn directions from the iPhone. That's the exact opposite of making it nicer.
Rating: 6 Votes
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Small White Car
87 months ago

I have yet to see ads in Gmaps. I only get Sponsored links. Which are minimal at best. Also, I meant the current full blown GMaps app instead of Apple's maps.


That choice was Google's terms for continuing to allow Apple to use their maps past this year. It has nothing to do with what's in their own app...Google had no incentive to make the iPhone maps nicer than the Android maps.

If Apple were to come crawling back to Google with their tail between their legs I daresay they'd quickly realize they have even more leverage than they did before.
Rating: 6 Votes
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tevion5
87 months ago

Thanks Marc!


Oh hai Marc!
Rating: 6 Votes
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kwerle
87 months ago

Oh, sure, I loved the idea of picking either 'no-turn-by-turn' or 'ads in my maps.'


That's funny. My iPhone 4 map solutions are:
* no turn by turn (from apple)
* turn by turn (from google)
Rating: 5 Votes

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