A method of generating a route across an electronic map representative of an area, the method comprising using a processing circuitry 302 to generate a set of cost functions 607 associated with at least one route planning profiles 602 and comprising the steps of: ) collecting information relating to at least one example route associated with the at least one route planning profile 607; 2) processing, with a cost function generating process 716, the information relating to the at least one example route to generate one or more cost functions 607 to be used with the at least one route planning profile 607; and 3) using the or each cost function 607 to generate a route across the electronic map for that route planning profile 602.