As far as I can tell, all GPS devices get whacky on Lower Wacker.
Waze and SpotHero pitched in to install BTLE beacons down there and help the novice Uber drivers find their way back to street level.
https://chicago.curbed.com/2018/9/7/17786634/waze-beacons-wa...
I understand it currently only works with Waze. Despite Google owning Waze, I'm not sure if it has been integrated into Google Maps. Here's a story about the challenges of installing beacons in Chicago [1] vs tunnels near Logan Airport in Boston.
My Google Maps still goes a little crazy on Lower Wacker.
Also we need beacons in the loop. All those tall buildings really mess up navigation downtown.
[1] https://www.wired.com/story/chicago-waze-beacons-spothero-gp...
I don't know what Uber did to make their implementation of GPS so terrible. Google maps can definitely have issues at times in Chicago but I rarely see an Uber driver use the built-in mapping. They use Google maps.
Side note on Uber express, if it says northeast corner, it will always be the southwest corner.
Lyft doesn't even have their own maps. Drivers get to pick between Waze or Google Maps [1].
Google Maps is so much better than anything else.
[1] https://help.lyft.com/hc/en-us/articles/115012926407-How-to-...
It doesn't work with Google Maps. Source: I was using Google maps to get to/from Northwestern Hospital on Lower Wagner today, and the GPS dropped the entire time I was down there.
Trick: as you enter Lower Wacker, take note of the proposed exit.
And then head in there. Ignore your GPS. Make a turn when you see your exit.
When you're above ground again, resume GPS.
Yeah, did that. Problem wasn't the initial exit, it was the rapid series of turns after exiting lower Michigan from lower Wacker that was the Problem. Took a few loops around the block before the GPS reacquired. I used to spend a bit of time in the area, but it was always on foot. First time really driving in that area (coming in from West suburbs, normally, I'd take Metra and walk/cab it), and first time to NW hospital (wife needed to see a specialist)
Yeah that can be a pain. The GPS will tend to swing around for a couple seconds before getting a lock again.
uck. Just noticed the spelling error. Wagner -> Wacker. Was on mobile at the time of the original post, and must have autocorrected.
Re:Raising of Chicago
by moron4hire on Friday October 26, 2018 @02:40PM
(#18311765)
That's literally true. The GPS system sacrifices precision in Altitude for precision in Latitude/Longitude.
Re:Raising of Chicago
by justinator on Friday October 26, 2018 @08:56PM
(#18313755)
How? I was just under the impression that figuring out a correct elevation via gps is a hard problem. Airplanes use barometric pressure for altitude.
It isn't hard, it's just that with a bit of road in between you and the sky the signal is lost. Airplane use barometric pressure for altitude is in part backwards compatibility. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_level
GPS is great in two dimensions, less great in three dimensions.