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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. For example, API consumers can make separate driving and walking route requests (drive to parking area 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

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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