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Kirkland company unveils 'breakthrough' traffic service 
07:08 AM PDT on Wednesday, May 24, 2006
KIRKLAND -- It's a sign of our frustrating traffic times that the Puget Sound traffic flow map has become something of a regional icon.
Powered by road sensor data from the Washington State Department of Transportation, the map is a great tool that's available in many forms. But now a Kirkland company has unveiled a new service that takes traffic tracking to the next level.
Inrix calls its new "Dust Network" nothing less than a "traffic technology breakthrough." Using technology licensed by Microsoft, Inrix is combining DOT sensor data with GPS tracking of participating delivery vehicles and taxi cabs.
"We are able to take GPS data from roughly about 500,000 commercial vehicles around the United State and turn that into traffic flow," said Alex Meyer, Inrix VP of operations. "[So] we'll be able to tell the consumer about arterials and other highways like 99 and 203 that don't have sensor data on them."
KING 5
Inrix demonstrates the Dust Network on a PC
The expanded real-time data is just part of the Inrix equation. Through a complicated statistical formula, "Dust Network" also promises to predict the traffic by analyzing traffic flow and accounting for sporting events, construction projects, school schedules and weather reports.
Inrix says the combination of GPS tracking and traffic forecasts results in a more accurate traffic report. In a series of tests, Inrix says the Dust Network yielded an 8-15% accuracy advantage over existing sensor data.
Inrix's service will be available soon on web portals like MSN Auto, Cingular cell phones and in-car GPS systems like TomTom.
Inrix was the first to participate in a Microsoft program to license cutting-edge technology to outside companies. Microsoft researchers have been developing the traffic technology for the last two years, and many of the software company's employees are using it to plan their daily commutes ( read the story.)
Also on Tuesday, Inrix announced a second round of venture funding of $10 million.
