Creating indoor navigation maps can be a great way to help people navigate unfamiliar spaces. For example, with indoor Google Maps, visitors can spend less time searching for building directories and more time discovering new points of interest.
Companies use indoor navigation technology to map large buildings, better manage space, reduce energy consumption, improve safety, and so much more.
However, indoor mapping presents several challenges to business owners such as finding an accurate way to map the interior of a building, making sure that these maps are accurate, keeping track of these maps so they can be updated, etc.
In this article, we’ll walk you through the process of creating custom indoor maps so that they are just right for your business.
If you need to create an indoor map and implement custom indoor navigation, our team has got plenty of experience to get your project up and running quickly and ensure accuracy.
How do indoor maps work
What if you could create an indoor map that accurately reflects your space, and make it easy for your customers to find their way around?
Indoor mapping technology combines GPS with indoor positioning system (IPS) to provide accurate information about indoor spaces.
This allows for accurate tracking of objects and POIs inside buildings.
Visitors can download the indoor navigation application or open it on a web or mobile device to receive live updates in real-time.
What can you do with indoor maps
Indoor navigation maps are a great way to navigate large spaces. They can be beneficial for a variety of settings. Let’s review some of the main uses.
Stadiums
Stadiums and other large venues can create a memorable experience for your visitors. Custom indoor mapping solutions can help visitors find their seats, guide them to the right location, and provide information about toilets and stores.
Office buildings
Indoor mapping technology can help to create a more efficient workspace, improve productivity, and enforce social distancing measures. And with real-time asset tracking, you can monitor your inventory. Office buildings are home to many different types of equipment that need to be tracked in order to ensure the highest level of performance. With indoor mapping, you can pinpoint where each item is located on a map so that you know exactly what you have available at all times.
University campuses
When you’re walking around a campus, there are a lot of places that can seem like they’re just out of reach. You could spend hours looking for the room you need to get to your next class, or you might need to find your way to a lecture hall or administrative office. Digital campus maps allow the school to offer personalized wayfinding experiences to users.
Amusement parks
Amusement parks are known for their fun, exciting rides and attractions. But when you’re in the park, it can be hard to find your way around. Instead of using a physical map, park visitors can enter their destination in the app and follow the directions. Location technology helps to make a park safer for families, reunite lost children with their parents, and allows security detail to be dispatched immediately.
Leasing provider
Leasing a space can be tough, but it doesn’t have to be. You can create an interactive indoor map to walk potential tenants through a virtual tour of the space and demonstrate its various options for meeting their needs. With an interactive map, you’ll be able to show off your space in a way that makes it easy for tenants to visualize how they could use it—whether they’re looking for something tiny or large enough to host an event.
Grocery stores
You can build an in-store map that guides shoppers through your store, giving them turn-by-turn navigation. Users can find the products they need by entering a search term and the indoor navigation app will provide them with the best route to direct them to the correct aisle.
Healthcare facilities
Healthcare facilities are often complex and confusing places. The use of indoor location-based technology allows users to navigate through the facility easily. You can keep track of your equipment and direct employees to the right supplies whenever they need them. It allows people to move around the facility without worrying about getting lost.
Airports
Indoor navigation systems can help cut down unnecessary movement within the airport, allowing passengers to find what they’re looking for, whether it’s a service (e.g., money exchange), product (e.g., burger), or gate. You can send out personalized real-time messages to your users, informing them of flight changes or reminding them of boarding times.
Hotels and resorts
Vacation getaways can be a great way to relax, but sometimes it’s hard to find the perfect place. That’s where location technology comes in. It can help people find the perfect destination for tier vacation, and even help make sure it’s a good experience for everyone involved. You can use an interactive resort map to reinforce your marketing and showcase your facilities with a virtual tour. With proximity marketing, you can trigger automatic notifications whenever a person reaches a particular zone – for example, you can draw their attention to the in-house cafe.
Transportation hubs
You can build an indoor navigation map to support both passengers and employees by providing turn-by-turn navigation and informing users of schedules. Location-based technology can help you monitor the flow of passengers and identify areas where congestion is occurring. You can also optimize security routes and locate important equipment, as well as collect real-time data about users.
High schools
High schools are a key location for students and staff. They are also a major source of traffic congestion, especially in the morning when students arrive. Indoor mapping can help you identify overcrowded areas and restrict access to virus hotspots. Also, you can plan routes to designated evacuation points and avoid congestion in case of a crisis.
Convention centers
An indoor mapping solution can help attendees find the booths easily, with step-by-step directions from any point in the convention center. And facility managers can see which areas get the most foot traffic and optimize layout to encourage attendee flow.
Warehouses
Warehouses are a critical part of any operation, but they can be difficult to navigate. Indoor maps can streamline picking, provide workers with the fastest routes, and help to track items. With process automation, when a user enters a pre-mapped zone, specific notifications could be triggered.
Museums & art galleries
You can guide visitors through different exhibits. You can provide them with an innovative learning experience by incorporating interactive content, such as games, videos, and quizzes. Indoor mapping can help you gather user data, such as the average viewing time and the most popular spots. You will be able to plan more engaging exhibits, avoid crowd bottlenecks and improve security.
Types of indoor maps and the features that differentiate them
Indoor maps can be used for various purposes, depending on the type of information you’re trying to convey. In general, indoor maps can be divided into two categories: static and dynamic.
Static maps
A static map is an indoor map that does not have any interactive features. It’s essentially like paper maps on a phone. Static maps are essentially like the web equivalent of carrying a stack of paper maps with you.
| Pros | – Highly customizable – Branding can be easily incorporated into your indoor map design – Easily reproduced and shared – It requires little or no technical skill to use |
| Cons | – The number of data layers will be limited – Looking at one area at multiple scales requires different maps – It is not possible to update maps that have been distributed |
| When to use | – You’re trying to deliver a specific message to a specific audience – The information that will be in your map doesn’t change often or ever – You want to be able to easily distribute the exact same information to many people – Your map will be printed or used in a presentation |
Dynamic maps
A dynamic map is a type of map that is integrated into special software and viewed on a computer or mobile device. The person using the map can interact with the map, change the view/location, zoom in and out, view information about things on the map, etc.
| Pros | – Capable of handling large amounts of data – Users can view updates in real time – User can control zoom level of the map – High degree of interaction |
| Cons | – Users have to be tech savvy – Users need access to the web through a digital device – The cost of a custom-made dynamic map is higher |
| When to use | – The information will change frequently – You want to offer users with large amounts of information – You want your audience to have an interactive experience |
Technologies required for indoor navigation app
Now let’s look at technologies powering indoor maps.
- Proximity positioning
Proximity positioning helps to establish direct contact between a receiver and a device. For example, when you measure the distance between a WiFi router and a smartphone, you understand its proximity positioning.
- Trilateration positioning
Trilateration positioning is a method used to determine the location of an object by identifying its position in relation to known points which are usually radio wave emitters. Signal strength is used to determine the distance between two objects.
- Fingerprint positioning
Fingerprinting location systems use signal strength measurements to detect the position of an object. Typically, signal intensities and coordinates are recorded in a database for future reference. When a new device is discovered on a network, its location is mapped based on previously acquired coordinates.
- Motion positioning
Motion positioning can be used to determine the location of people’s movements in a place. Smartphones use accelerometers, gyroscope sensors, and magnetometers to determine the location of a device.
- Bluetooth
By using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi radio networks, indoor positioning works in indoor environments where GPS inside buildings does not work.
- Near-field communication (NFC)
Near-field communication tags can be placed throughout a property. The smartphone’s position is updated in real time when devices come within range of a tag.
7 steps to create an indoor map for applications and web platforms
Let’s go over the steps involved in creating indoor navigation maps. The process can be broken down into seven main steps:
Step 1: Define your goals
To create effective indoor maps, it is important to define your objectives early on. Some common goals include:
- Improved space management
- Improved productivity
- A more efficient use of energy
- Increased safety
- Improved security
- Data collection
- Better visitor experience
Step 2: Converts your venue’s floor plan into an indoor map
One of the most important tasks you’ll have is converting your floor plan into an indoor map.
The floor plan is the blueprint for your mapping solution. It should be as detailed as possible, including all walls and doors, as well as any other obstacles that may be present.
Step 3: Translate your 2D floor plan into a 3D rendering of your space
Your 2D map which comes in the form of a floor plan or floor layout is the foundation for your 3D map. In order to translate your 2D floor plan into a 3D rendering of your space, you will need to use GIS software.
Step 4: Identify key points of interest
Points of interest (POIs) are locations that are notable and/or useful to the visitor. POIs can include (but are not limited to):
- Basic necessities: entrances, exits, stairs, elevators, restrooms
- Safety: security desks, safety areas, first aid kits
- Business: meeting rooms, conference halls
- Amenities: ATMs, vending machines, coffee counters, restaurants
Step 5: Integrate other data sources
You can build a location-based alert system, real-time usage and occupancy data pipeline, and much more by connecting it to IoT data sources.
Step 6: Integrate indoor navigation SDK
Once the equipment is deployed, the map is uploaded, and both are interlinked, you can start developing your indoor navigation apps. You can use the relevant SDK and API.
Step 7: Incorporate your branding
The last step is to make sure that your mapping solution reflects your branding. Choose a color scheme of your brand’s colors and stick with it throughout all of your indoor maps.
You’ll want to incorporate your company logo and name into the design so that it’s easy for people to recognize what your business is all about.
Cost to create indoor maps
The cost of creating an indoor map depends on your project requirements. In general, the more complex and detailed your design, the more you’ll pay for it.
Costs can vary depending on such factors as:
- the size and complexity of the building (larger buildings typically require more resources);
- the number of floors;
- the amount of detail that is required;
- the type of data you need to include in the map.
The best way to determine the cost of creating an indoor map is to get a quote from a professional company who specializes in this type of work.
Our experienced developers can provide you with this information and help you decide whether or not it is worth it for your business.
Volpis experience
Our team is made up of a group of highly talented individuals who work together to create the best possible products. We’ve been in the business for years, and we know how to create indoor navigation apps that are tailored to the needs of businesses.
With our indoor navigation app development services, you can create a mobile app for your customers that helps them find their way around your facility.
If you’re looking for an accurate and detailed indoor map, we’re here to help. We’ll work with you to ensure that your map meets all of your requirements and is delivered on time.
Final thoughts
Creating indoor maps is a great way to provide users with information about your facility. With this in mind, it’s important to make sure that the indoor maps you create are accurate and up-to-date.
If you are looking for more information about creating indoor maps, you can reach out to us by filling the form below.
Frequently asked questions
An indoor navigation map is a type of map that can be used to navigate through an indoor space, such as a building or a shopping mall.
To make an indoor navigation app, you’ll need to have a good understanding of the different types of maps, the best way to display them on the screen, and how to use the information they provide.
To make an indoor interactive map, you’ll need to convert your venue’s floor plan into an indoor map, translate your 2D floor plan into a 3D rendering of your space, identify key points of interest, integrate other data sources, and incorporate your branding.
The price of creating an indoor navigation app also depends on what features you want included in the app. For example, if you want more than just basic directions, then you will likely have to pay more money for more complex features such as turn-by-turn navigation.
