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DATE:
AUTHOR:
Engrain
New Feature
Partnership Product & API Unit Map

Driving mode for pathfinding (routing & distance calculations)

DATE:
AUTHOR: Engrain

What’s new

  • The navigation service now supports driving mode in the Directions API (available to users of the Routing SDK) and in the Distance Matrix API

  • Enables vehicle-based pathfinding within a property (e.g. drive-up self-storage units, parking maps, large multifamily garden-style properties)

  • Driving directions for Routing SDK beta testers: available to users on v0.10.0-beta.2+

  • Example of driving directions/distances on a self-storage property https://codesandbox.io/p/sandbox/directions-driving-mode-yjrdjp

Overview

As of March 27, our navigation service supports driving directions and distance calculations.

This expands Unit Map pathfinding capabilities to include vehicle-based navigation, which is important for use cases like self-storage and parking. Previously, Unit Map Beta SDK users could implement pedestrian routing. Now, they can also utilize vehicle-based directions and distance calculations using the same APIs.

Later this spring, we’ll release multi-modal directions, allowing routes that combine walking and driving in a single trip. In the meantime, API consumers can request separate driving and walking route requests (e.g. drive to parking route, then walk to unit route).

Scope & availability

  • Driving directions for Routing SDK beta testers: this feature is a navigation service capability exposed via the Unit Map Beta SDK (version 0.10.0-beta.2 or later)

  • All Unit Map Graphs with routing data will include support for driving mode in vehicle-accessible areas by default

  • This release does not affect SightMap 'directions' mode landing pages, which will continue to use pedestrian mode

  • Coming Spring 2026: Multi-modal routing/distance calculations support (combine driving + walking in a single route)

Usage & details

This release adds server-side support for a new routing mode/costing model: 'driving'.

  • No Unit Map SDK upgrade required for current users on version 0.10.0-beta.2 (released in July 2025) or later

  • The default mode is 'pedestrian'

    • For directions, Routing SDK beta testers can pass mode: 'driving'

    • For distance matrix, all consumers can pass costing: 'driving'

  • Example of driving directions/distances on a self-storage property https://codesandbox.io/p/sandbox/directions-driving-mode-yjrdjp

What mode: 'driving' does:
Uses automobile routing rules via the routing engine’s driving costing model.

Respects:

  • Vehicle access: routes only on driveable paths and parking aisles as designated in the map’s routing data

  • Directionality & road types: respects one-way aisles and prefers main drive lanes over smaller paths

  • Turn behavior: follows valid vehicle movement through the network (no cutting across non-drivable areas)

  • Driving-style instructions (e.g. “Drive east” “Turn right”)

Distance Matrix API support:

  • Request driving time/distance between waypoints

  • More accurate proximity logic for vehicle-based access

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