How to design a pedestrian navigation system for indoor and outdoor environments

Abstract

The fast transfer rates via UMTS and their corresponding high-tech devices provide the opportunity to develop easily accessible Location Based Services, which can be utilised to guide pedestrians in unfamiliar environments. With the help of cartographic multimedia data navigation systems can be responsive to the needs of pedestrians by presenting information in the preferred forms. In order to facilitate ongoing tasks, not only the presentation forms themselves are decisive, but also their combination and deliberate design is a crucial factor for usability. Moreover landmarks are an important enhancement for pedestrian navigation systems, yet their immense diversity makes it difficult to effectively include them in guiding instructions. For that reason this paper discusses the use of active and passive landmarks, as well as multimedia presentation forms and general design goals for a combined indoor/outdoor pedestrian navigation service.