Hema Map Patrol: Charting Remote Australia for Safer Travel
Hema Maps' "Map Patrol" teams are actively surveying remote Australian tracks, updating navigation data and documenting changes. This ongoing effort addresses concerns regarding the limitations of generic mobile phone navigation applications in regional and off-road areas, where their incomplete coverage and reliance on mobile reception can pose safety risks for travelers.
Hema Maps' "Map Patrol" teams are actively surveying remote Australian tracks, updating navigation data and documenting changes to improve safety for travelers in remote Australian regions.
The Hema Map Patrol in Action
The Hema Map Patrol teams survey approximately 100,000 kilometers of tracks annually across Australia, including areas like the Victorian High Country. This initiative aims to record changes in terrain and track conditions, often influenced by weather events such as heavy snow seasons. The data collected by the Map Patrol includes GPS locations, latitude, longitude, and elevation, recorded every five meters. This comprehensive information details track conditions, potential hazards, available camping facilities, and points of interest, which is then integrated into Hema's online products and guidebooks.
Hema mapmaker Brett Madsen emphasizes that physical surveying and driving the tracks are essential for accuracy in off-road mapping. He states that satellite imagery alone is insufficient for this purpose. This method continues a tradition seen in historical navigation, where Aboriginal people used songs and stories, and 19th-century surveyors meticulously charted the continent. Modern mapping technology allows for real-time data input, yet vast interior regions of Australia remain sparsely mapped.
The Peril of Generic Digital Navigation
There is an increased concern among experts and law enforcement regarding the reliance on generic mobile phone navigation apps, such as Google Maps, for travel in Australia's remote regions.
These global mapping systems often have incomplete coverage outside urban areas, which constitute approximately 5% of Australia's landmass. Additionally, their functionality is often dependent on mobile phone reception, which can be unavailable in remote locations.
Hema mapmaker Brett Madsen notes that this can lead to individuals becoming stranded or lost, with some incidents resulting in prolonged strandings or fatalities. Experts suggest that consistent reliance on electronic voice directions may reduce critical thinking and awareness of actual track conditions among drivers. Paul Warner from Four Wheel Drive Australia advises against following generic navigation apps without verification, particularly outside urban centers.
Expert Safety Advice
Jim Armstrong, who oversees search and rescue for WA Police, acknowledges that technology, including digital maps and Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs), can enhance safety.
Armstrong stresses the importance of situational awareness, noting that digital maps may not reflect real-time conditions such as floods or bushfires.
He advises travelers to download map data for offline use in advance and to monitor government emergency travel applications for current conditions.
Hema Maps: Legacy, Evolution, and Future Outlook
Hema Maps was founded in Brisbane in 1983 by Henry and Margaret Boegheim. In 2025, the company was acquired by Sam Hayward. While Hema's digital products now account for 50% of its sales, the company continues to sell approximately half a million paper maps annually. Hayward has stated a commitment to keeping paper maps in print, citing their relevance for planning and collaboration.
Hema Maps primarily focuses on providing detailed mapping for the 95% of Australia outside major urban areas, filling gaps where generic maps often show blank regions.
The company is exploring expansion into the United States market and aims for its systems to become a factory standard feature in 4WD vehicles. Hema Maps rebuilt its online platforms following a past challenge involving a joint venture, which led to a temporary shutdown of its online map service and ongoing civil litigation.