HD Maps for Autonomous Vehicles: Implications for Cartographic Theory and Practice

High-Definition (HD) Maps have become a cornerstone of autonomous vehicle (AV) technology, enabling precise localization, perception, and decision-making. Despite their increasing prominence in the automotive and geospatial industries, HD Maps remain underexplored in the field of cartography. There are many studies and publications on HD Maps, but only a few of them directly address their links with cartography. Therefore, the research presented in this article focuses on this issue, filling an existing research gap. This paper examines the origins, technical characteristics, and conceptual frameworks of HD Maps, drawing on both the established literature and conceptual reflections. The results highlight that an extension of traditional cartographic definitions needs to be considered in order to encompass the concept of HD Maps as dynamic, machine-oriented infrastructures. By placing HD Maps as an important element in the development of cartography, the authors note both the prospect of a broader application of cartographic theory and the potential contribution of cartographers to the further development of HD Maps, as well as a potential paradigm shift toward the era of “maps for machines”.