Scenic route-based navigation directions

A computing device for selecting a scenic route in response to a request for navigation directions, the computing device comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• a non-transitory computer-readable memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing instructions thereon that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing device to:
• train a machine learning model using (i) map feature data for each of a plurality of road segments, and (ii) a scenic metric for each of the plurality of road segments indicative of a quality of a view from the road segment, including classifying each of the plurality of road segments into a subset of a plurality of subsets of road segments each having a corresponding scenic metric or range of scenic metrics, and analyzing the map feature data for each subset of road segments to generate the machine learning model;
• receive a request for navigation directions from a starting location to a destination location;
• identify a set of candidate routes for navigating from the starting location to the destination location;
• for each road segment on each candidate route in the set of candidate routes:
• obtain map feature data for the road segment;
• and
• apply the machine learning model to the map feature data for the road segment to generate a scenic metric for the road segment;
• select a route from the set of candidate routes based at least in part on the scenic metrics for each candidate route;
• and
• provide a set of navigation directions for presentation on a client device for navigating from the starting location to the destination location via the selected route.

A method for providing navigation directions in response to a request for a tour of a geographic area, the method comprising:

• receiving, by the one or more processors, a request for a tour of a geographic area beginning and ending at a starting location;
• for each road segment in the geographic area, assigning, by the one or more processors, a scenic metric to the road segment indicative of a quality of a view from the road segment by applying characteristics of the road segment to a machine learning model trained to generate scenic metrics for road segments;
• selecting, by the one or more processors, a subset of the road segments in the geographic area based on the scenic metrics of the road segments;
• generating, by the one or more processors, a route beginning and ending at the starting location, the route including each of the selected subset of road segments;
• and
• providing, by the one or more processors, a set of navigation directions for presentation on a client device for navigating on the tour around the geographic area via the generated route.