Navigating the world can be quite complicated when faced with a vision impairment. Fortunately, there are many smartphone applications that provide audio directions to get around almost any town or city. These rely on GPS to provide this information. Unfortunately, GPS only provides directions when outdoors. An indoor navigation platform can help with that issue.
What is Indoor Navigation?
Most maps outdoors utilize GPS to create accurate renderings of roads, buildings, landmarks, and other features to allow users to easily navigate the area. GPS, however, does not map indoors. This makes it difficult to create a functional map of various venues, such as malls, stores, or other facilities that are generally open to the public.
By using the navigation platform for indoor venues, business owners can easily incorporate a map of the venue into various applications to be used by their guests. Venues who choose to take advantage of the process can expect an employee of the mapping company to walk through the space with a LiDAR backpack. This takes images, video footage, and laser measurements of the entire facility.
Once the images are processed, business owners develop their map into 2D floorplans, 3D models, and LiDAR point cloud. These maps can then be viewed and edited to provide names and points of interest for various parts of the map. Business owners can also determine what types of users can have access to which areas of the map. The map is then shared on the good maps platform.
Are These Maps Secure?
Many business owners may be concerned about who has access to certain information about their business or venue. However, their maps are customized to allow permission only to those the venue allows. Owners have complete control in creating and changing role-based permissions to every area of their property.
For example, venue owners may grant permission to the public for the open areas of the venue. However, access to the maps of maintenance areas or emergency areas can be limited to first responders or repair personnel.
How does the Application Help the Visually Impaired?
The application provides accessibility for the visually impaired to many businesses and venues that they may have felt was limited when visiting. With the application, visually impaired individuals simply access the map application on their smartphone for the particular venue. The map then helps them navigate the area using audio prompts.
These types of applications are very beneficial in helping improve accessibility and allow more people to maintain their independence. The more businesses and venues that provide their maps to the application the more access everyone can have to these places.
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