CoPilot Map Updates

As an offline GPS navigation solution, CoPilot uses truck-legal map data stored locally on the device. Keeping this map data up to date ensures your drivers are routed using the most current, accurate, and safe information available.

This guide provides the necessary steps to plan, manage, and minimize the data required for map updates.

Step 1: Minimize data requirements

Before deploying map updates, you can optimize your fleet’s mobile data consumption and device storage:

Take advantage of CoPilot 11 map differentials

If your devices are running CoPilot 11, map data updates are significantly smaller and faster. Instead of replacing the entire map data set, CoPilot 11 only downloads and installs the differences between the existing on-device maps and the latest data. This feature reduces the size of your map downloads by 75-90%.

Configure custom Map Sets

To save device disk space and further reduce the wireless data needed for updates, use Account Manager to create Custom Map Sets.

1. Map Sets allow you to assign subsets of map data to specific vehicle groups.
2. For example, if a fleet group only operates in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, you can create a custom map set for just those two states, bypassing a full North America download.
3. By default, you can include up to five subregions in a Map Set (expandable up to 10 by contacting support).

Step 2: Choose your update method

Map data can be deployed to your devices via Over-the-Air (OTA) downloads or manually sideloaded through your Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution.

Over-the-Air (OTA) updates

OTA map updates can be deployed via Wi-Fi or mobile network through API calls, Account Manager Map Sets, or the My Maps screen within the app, and are automatically downloaded in the background when available.

Limiting OTA to Wi-Fi Networks

To prevent map downloads from consuming mobile data, you can restrict downloads to Wi-Fi connections.

1. Update your device’s user.cfg file with the configuration setting:

[Download]
"WiFiOnly"=1

2. You can further manage connections by blocklisting or allowlisting specific Wi-Fi hotspots using WifiHotSpotToken or WifiAllowListToken.

When configuring custom integrations via the CPIK Map Download APIs, ensure you set the bOverwriteExistingMaps flag appropriately to tell the system whether to overwrite or add to existing regions.

Portal downloads and sideloading (MDM)

For fleets preferring to push updates via an MDM or manual installation, map data can be downloaded directly from the CoPilot Partner Portal and sideloaded onto the device’s internal storage.

NOTE: For the best CoPilot performance, we strongly recommend that you store data on the device’s internal storage, not on an SD card.

Downloading from the Portal:

1. Log in to the CoPilot Partner Portal.
2. Navigate to B2B > Maps and select view map data next to your CoPilot version.
3. Select Android and the required map region (e.g., North America), then choose the year and quarter of the data.
4. Download and extract the provided ZIP file on your computer.

Sideloading to the Device:

(Supported via MDM file distribution, or USB connection.)

1. Ensure the device has enough free space. (For new installations, CoPilot requires at least 1.5 times the free disk space of the downloaded map size to unpack files).
2. On the device, browse to Internal Storage > Android > Data.
3. Create a new folder with your CoPilot application’s package name (e.g., com.alk.copilot.mapviewer) and open it.
4. Inside, create a folder titled Files.
5. Copy your extracted map data folders from your computer into this Files folder.

Step 3: Keep maps current

Once map updates are deployed, you can verify that the devices have the latest maps installed.

In Account Manager

1. Select the Assets tab in the left navigation.
2. Review the Map Data Version column for each vehicle.
3. Ensure the map data listed is within one calendar quarter of the current date.

On a device

1. Open CoPilot on the device.
2. Navigate to Settings > About CoPilot.
3. Under Map Version, review the Year and Quarter.
4. Ensure the map data listed is within one calendar quarter of the current date. The device will also display a visual list of the individual states, provinces, or regions successfully installed.