Komoot's route planning issues are due to bad map data, not algorithms
Disclaimer: I'm just an avid user of Komoot for years with no experience in software engineering or licensing agreements.
Hello everybody,
I think most of us have been komooted before and it's been a meme for years now, but the issue aren't their algorithms, but wrong data in OSM.
You're probably aware that Komoot and a lot of other outdoor navigation apps use Open Street Maps as their mapping data and then add routing algorithms and other features. I don't want to open up another discussion on the morality of companies using open source data for their profit, we've had plenty of those before.
For my current bikepacking trip through the Balkans I've tinkered around with different riding styles and preferences. In the end I've settled with the road bike profile and the "calm" (is it called like that in English? In German it's "ruhig") preference. On paper this the perfect algorithm for my preferred style of riding. It keeps you away from main roads if possible and prioritieses low traffic rural roads instead.
But the best algorithm won't work if a road is marked as a paved, single file road but in reality it turns out as a bumpy gravel path.
I've been using Komoot long enough to double and triple check the suggested route with other data like TrailView, Komoot Highlights, StreetView and sattelite images. But when I'm planning a 2000km+ route I only focus on the most noralgic points like climbs, border crossings etc.
The solution(s)?
Komoot needs to find a way to verify the data provided by OSM. In regions with a large user base of open source contributers I've rarely been komooted.
One of my ideas is the following: after a user uploads a activity and the app notices you've been riding/hiking way slower than expected on a certain segment (based on the road type and previous performances by you) it'll automatically ask if you want to correct any data.
Also there needs to be some kind of incentive system. E.g. for each verifiable correction (photo evidence?) you gain a certain amount of tokens that can be exchanged for rewards like free premium.
Using AI to verify mapping data with sattelite images, user reports and more could also be an idea. But with the current state of most AI models this will probably lead to even more bad data at the moment.
I hope the Komoot team is already aware of this and is actively working on it. They'll have to invest money in one way or the other. We can and should hold them accountable if they really want to improve the user experience.