In a blog post announcing the deal, DigitalGlobe said its imagery would help “improve the Uber experience for riders and drivers,” and that Uber would be using DigitalGlobe’s technology to “identify and improve pick-up and drop-off locations,” rather than displaying maps to users of the Uber app. Uber has been building up its mapping division for a while, as high-definition maps are key to its self-driving car project. A number of engineers poached from both Google and Carnegie Mellon University are working on Uber’s mapping efforts, including Brian McClendon, the former head of Google Maps who is now in charge of Uber maps.