Entry point logic
Entry point logica
Routing without an entry point: The default logic
The Waze routing server follows a complex, multi-step filtering process for destinations without a defined entry point. This means the server doesn’t route directly to segments like ramps or tunnels. Instead, it routes drivers to a nearby standard road. This was designed primarily to prevent drivers being routed to potentially hazardous or inaccessible locations.
Here’s how the routing server works when a venue has no defined entry point:
Identify segments: The server looks for all road segments within a certain radius of the venue’s coordinates
Sort segments: It then sorts these segments by distance
Apply filters: The server then applies a series of filters to this list:
- Filter out undesirable road types, like freeways and ramps
- Filter out segments with undesirable road attributes, like tunnels
- Filter out segments separated from the venue by geographical barriers, like rivers
Choose destination:
- If the filtered list is not empty, the system chooses the closest segment as the destination for the final route
- If the filtered list is empty, the system ignores all filters and routes to the single closest drivable segment, regardless of its type.
While this approach is well-intentioned, it can sometimes lead to situations where drivers miss legitimate stops (such as a bus station located on a ramp) and are occasionally directed to a less optimal or incorrect location.
Routing with an entry point: The entry point logic
This logic gives you, as editors, more control by introducing the concept of a “high-confidence indication.” If a venue has a defined entry point, it provides a signal to the routing server to bypass the default filtering process. This means that Waze will now route directly to destinations on segments like ramps, tunnels, and other previously less preferred types when an entry point is set there. For example, if a bus station is located on a ramp, adding an entry point will ensure Waze routes a driver directly to that spot instead of the nearby road.
As a result, we can now reflect real-world mapping more precisely and help drivers reach their exact destinations. This change empowers you to use your judgment when setting a correct and safe entry point.
What if there’s no entry point?
If a venue has no defined entry point, the logic remains the same as before: Waze will revert to its previous filtering process to find the closest drivable segment.
Routing guidelines
Here’s a breakdown of the recommended action for each segment type.
| Segment type / attribute | Should I add an Entry point | |
