Yandex Maps introduces "Green" walking routes to help pedestrians stay in the shade

Yandex Maps has introduced Green routes, a new type of walking route setting that suggests cooler, tree-lined alternatives during hot weather. When a user builds a walking route in Tashkent, the app can now offer an option with more trees and potential shade, even when it is not the shortest route available. Uzbekistan is the first country where Yandex Maps has rolled out this functionality.

How the feature works

To find shaded routes, the Yandex Maps team created a digital tree map of Tashkent. Using a neural network, cartographers analyzed satellite imagery of the city and identified where tree canopies are located and how much area they cover. Over time, the model learned to take more visual tree features into account — canopy shape, color, brightness, and the texture of vegetation.

The model learned to process a color satellite image covering 100 square kilometers in one to two minutes and mark the areas with trees within it. Tashkent, which covers 434.7 square kilometers, can be processed in several minutes. On a test set of images the model had not seen during training, recognition accuracy was around 90%. The results were then matched to pedestrian streets, paths, and crossings.

Once tree-covered areas are identified, that data is connected to the pedestrian routing network. Yandex Maps divides the digital map into small segments representing streets, sidewalks, paths, and crossings, then calculates how much of each segment passes through tree cover. A segment is marked as shaded if tree cover extends over at least 60% of its length.

To compare different route options, the algorithm considers more than the share of a route that runs under tree canopies. It also analyzes the route's length, the extent of its exposed stretches, and the air temperature typical for that day and time in Tashkent. Historical weather data is used for that estimate.

Distribution along the route is also a factor. If trees are concentrated near the start of a route while the remainder runs through exposed streets, Yandex Maps will not label that option Green.

Everyday use

A Green route can be useful in a range of everyday situations: on the way to the metro or a bus stop, during a stroll through the city, or heading to a nearby shop or coffee place. To use the new feature, select a starting point and destination in Yandex Maps and build a walking route. If a Green route is among the suggested options, the service will show it on the map. Users can compare the routes by time and distance and choose the one that suits them best.

About Yandex Maps

Yandex Maps is a navigation app that helps users discover places and build routes by car, public transport, bicycle, or on foot. The service offers live public transport tracking and up-to-date schedules for buses, trams, and trolleybuses. Beyond navigation, users can book appointments and complete other everyday tasks directly within the app. The Yandex Maps mobile app and web platform serve 95 million users monthly.