Methods and systems for detecting a closure and/or opening of a navigable element

A system configured to detect the closure of a navigable element forming part of a network of navigable elements within a geographic area, the navigable elements being represented by segments of an electronic map, wherein at least some of the segments of the electronic map are each associated with data indicative of a passability parameter for the segment, the passability parameter being indicative of the likelihood of the navigable element represented by the segment being closed, said system comprising:

• a processing resource configured to:
• vary a value of the passability parameter with respect to time according to a predefined function so that the likelihood of the navigable element being closed increases with respect to time;
• obtain positional data relating to the movement of a plurality of devices along the navigable elements of the navigable network with respect to time;
• modify, for each of one or more segments, the value of the passability parameter associated with a segment so that the likelihood of the navigable element represented by the segment being closed is decreased, when the positional data indicates that a device has been detected traversing the navigable element;
• modify, for each of one or more segments, the value of the passability parameter associated with a segment so that the likelihood of the navigable element represented by the segment being closed is increased, when a report is received from an external source indicative of the navigable element being closed;
• and
• identify a navigable element as being potentially closed when the value of the passability parameter associated with the segment representing the navigable element passes a predetermined threshold value.

A computer program product on a non-transitory computer readable medium, the computer program product comprising computer readable instructions executable to perform a method of detecting the closure of a navigable element forming part of a network of navigable elements within a geographic area, the navigable elements being represented by segments of an electronic map, wherein at least some of the segments of the electronic map are each associated with data indicative of a passability parameter for the segment, the passability parameter being indicative of the likelihood of the navigable element represented by the segment being closed, said method comprising:

• varying a value of the passability parameter with respect to time according to a predefined function so that the likelihood of the navigable element being closed increases with respect to time;
• obtaining positional data relating to the movement of a plurality of devices along the navigable elements of the navigable network with respect to time;
• modifying, for each of one or more segments, the value of the passability parameter associated with a segment so that the likelihood of the navigable element represented by the segment being closed is decreased, when the positional data indicates that a device has been detected traversing the navigable element;
• modifying, for each of one or more segments, the value of the passability parameter associated with a segment so that the likelihood of the navigable element represented by the segment being closed is increased, when a report is received from an external source indicative of the navigable element being closed;
• and
• identifying a navigable element as being potentially closed when the value of the passability parameter associated with the segment representing the navigable element passes a predetermined threshold value.