Navigating the Future:
Empowering Wayfinding in Transit Hubs with Dynamic Mapping

Due to continual technological advances, traditional methods of wayfinding – GPS, Bluetooth beacons, signage, and physical markers – are becoming inefficient at supporting today’s increasingly complex transit hubs. While these methods were once deemed necessary, in a world where public spaces can overwhelm even a seasoned traveler, the necessity for accessible and effective options has never been greater. Mapping technologies not only need to get us from point A to point B, but they also need to adapt to our needs, offering personalized experiences that enhance a journey.

Where Traditional Solutions Falter

Currently, existing solutions for indoor wayfinding cannot provide the experience expected by users. GPS signals become weak or unreliable indoors, making them wholly ineffective for large transit hubs. Additionally, it struggles with vertical positioning, which is crucial in multi-level environments such as airports. Beacons – which use Bluetooth technology – while potentially useful, can be costly to install and maintain, making widespread implementation a challenge. Signage, though still essential in lots of cases, can often be confusing or inadequate, particularly for individuals from the blind and low-vision community or those navigating in a foreign language. Physical markers, such as tactile paving, usually only cater to specific requirements and are often static and lack adaptability, and so offer minimal assistance to a broad range of users, which can often lead to a feeling of exclusion and frustration.

Where Dynamic Mapping Can Assist

Dynamic mapping – sometimes called interactive or real-time mapping – represents a shift in wayfinding, offering a personalized navigation experience tailored to a user’s specific requirements, preferences, or surroundings. Unlike traditional methods, dynamic mapping integrates various positioning technologies, real-time data, artificial intelligence, and user interactions to provide accurate indoor navigation and enhanced user engagement. By using new technologies, dynamic mapping platforms can deliver seamless navigation experiences, moving beyond the limitations of traditional methods. Whereas physical maps and signage can quickly become outdated due to redevelopment or schedule changes, dynamic maps are continuously updated to ensure accuracy and relevance – which means users will always have access to the most up-to-date information, reducing the risk of getting lost or encountering unexpected obstacles.

Variations on a Dynamic Map

• Geomagnetic Fields: Geomagnetic field-based mapping uses the Earth’s magnetic field to determine positioning, offering a cost-effective solution with minimal requirements. As it can use existing geomagnetic field tools – such as the magnetic sensors in your smartphone – the technology can provide indoor guidance without additional hardware installations. However, geomagnetic fields are susceptible to interference from environmental factors like metal structures and electronic equipment, which can impact accuracy. Additionally, the range of geomagnetic signals can be limited, leading to challenges in maintaining precise positioning across longer distances. Regarding sustainability, though, it’s an excellent option to minimize environmental impact and resource consumption.
• WiFi Triangulation: WiFi triangulation relies on the signals from WiFi access points to accurately determine your position, which means it’s widely accessible and has existing (and robust) coverage in most indoor environments. Utilizing the already prevalent WiFi infrastructure, thus minimizing the need for additional hardware, can also help reduce its environmental impact. However, WiFi signals are susceptible to interference, multipath propagation, and other forms of obstruction, which can often lead to a reduction in the accuracy and continuity of positioning.
• RFID/NFC (Radio Frequency Identification/Near Field Communication): RFID/NFC mapping solutions utilize tags to determine your position, offering a low-cost solution. However, depending on tag density and reader placement – and its limited detection range (often requiring line of sight) – it is most likely only suitable for proximity-based interactions, offering limited navigational guidance in larger indoor spaces. Due to its passive operation and the low cost of tags, RFID/NFC technology is not a significant investment and – in part due to its minimal power consumption – can reduce environmental impact and resource consumption.
• UWB (Ultra-Wideband): UWB-based mapping uses ultra-wideband technology to achieve high-precision positioning in indoor environments, making it suitable where precise navigation is essential. With its high accuracy and low power consumption, UWB technology offers an excellent user experience by providing highly accurate positioning and guidance. However, its infrastructure, including anchors and tags, requires significant upfront costs and installation effort.
• LiDAR Scanning and Camera-based Positioning: LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) scanning and camera-based positioning are two technologies that, when used in conjunction, can provide dynamic mapping solutions. These technologies work hand in hand to provide accurate real-time data for mapping and navigation within complex environments. One of the primary benefits of using these technologies is their ability to generate precise measurements. However, LiDAR has a limited field of view, meaning multi-pass scans are necessary in larger, more complex environments. Though – due to not requiring any infrastructure, it’s an easy-to-maintain and highly sustainable solution.

How They Compare

Where GoodMaps Steps In

GoodMaps harnesses the power of LiDAR and camera-based positioning to bring inclusive navigation to the indoors. By creating detailed 3D maps and employing advanced algorithms, GoodMaps offers a highly accurate, real-time navigation experience tailored to the users’ needs.

• Benefits for a Diverse User Group: GoodMaps’ dynamic mapping technology offers significant benefits, particularly for those with disabilities, who are neurodivergent, or who are elderly. According to statistics, approximately 15% of the world’s population lives with some form of disability, which only magnifies the importance of accessible navigation. By providing a user-friendly interface with customizable features – voice guidance, visual cues, and routing preferences – GoodMaps can enable anyone to get where they’re going. And so, with precise indoor navigation, users can confidently navigate complex environments, promoting independence and inclusion.
• Sustainability and Accessibility: Unlike wayfinding methods that rely on physical infrastructure, GoodMaps’ software-based solution minimizes its environmental impact and helps to promote sustainability. By taking advantage of a smartphone’s capabilities, GoodMaps eliminates the need for costly hardware installations, making indoor navigation accessible to an even wider audience.
• High Accuracy and User Experience: GoodMaps prioritizes accuracy in the user experience, providing reliable guidance in even the most challenging environments. With customizable route preferences, users can navigate with increased confidence. According to a survey conducted by GoodMaps, at least 90% of users reported an increase in confidence, satisfaction, and engagement when navigating indoors, highlighting the importance of improving user experience.

The limitations of traditional wayfinding necessitate the shift to dynamic mapping solutions like GoodMaps. By embracing modern technologies, dynamic mapping offers unparalleled accuracy and a new level of personalized navigation experiences, transforming indoor navigation for all users. As technology evolves, dynamic mapping can revolutionize wayfinding, fostering inclusivity and sustainability and promoting seamless navigation experiences within complex transit hubs. Through harnessing the power of real-time data, artificial intelligence, and user interaction, dynamic mapping platforms offer personalized, immersive navigation experiences that move beyond traditional maps, crucial in creating accessible, efficient, and user-centric navigation solutions for all.