The Integration of LADM and Indoor GML to Support the Indoor Navigation Based on the User Access Rights

Abstract

The existence of indoor navigation applications has gained widespread acceptance due to their ability to provide vital information to the users of the indoor environment. Over the years, various researchers have developed a range of applications for the indoor navigation field. Most of the researchers’ work has focused on the diverse aspects of indoor navigation models, including localization, indoor path computation, and human spatial cognition. However, getting a proper navigation model that provides acceptable routing results for different users is a concern that needs to be addressed. Unfortunately, the current indoor navigation systems do not take into account the user’s access rights when it comes to navigating safely and efficiently. This issue has motivated this research to develop an approach that considers the user’s rights, restrictions, and responsibilities on different days or times (e.g., in the evening, during daytime office hours) for indoor navigation. To address this issue, this research proposes enhancing the IndoorGML conceptual model in the form of the Unified Modeling Language (UML) class diagram. The UML class diagram has been improved to contain all attributes (incl. their code lists) for each class, as well as a more explicit explanation of primal and dual space, more precise terminology, and the addition of geometry as a class attribute. Using a UML class diagram that more accurately depicts the standard classes can help avoid any misconceptions. The study then proposes utilizing Land Administration Domain Model (LADM) to develop a 2D country profile for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in order to represent the rights of parties on spatial units (parcels). By integrating all of the information required to create a property registration document, the 2D country profile facilitates communication among all shareholders (Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Real Estate General Authority, and Ministry of Housing) to obtain land registration. Aside from that, the 2D nation profile helps understand local laws. The spatial and non-spatial classes were established in accordance with Saudi Arabian legislation. For the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, this study also suggests utilizing LADM to create a 3D country profile. Using Saudi Arabia’s subdivision procedures as a basis, the 3D country profile illustrates the identified principles for multi-owner buildings. As a consequence, a mapping from Building Information Modeling (BIM) / Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) to the LADM framework for conceptual modeling and individual units with their geometry and topology has been proposed. This makes it possible to differentiate between three distinct types of spaces: private, common, and exclusive common spaces. With the use of a real-world example IFC file, the proposed method is assessed, highlighting problems that must be addressed, such as recommendations for the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) sector in order to create an IFC file that can be utilized as input for 3D Land Administration with the least amount of user interaction. Saudi Arabia was used as case study, but the followed approach should also work well for other countries. The development of an integration model of LADM and IndoorGML is then proposed in this study in order to define the accessibility of indoor spaces based on ownership and/or functional right for use. Users form relationships with buildings based on the kind of building and the functionality of the spaces. As a result, the indoor spaces of each building serve a variety of functions and are utilized by a wide variety of users. By defining the user types of the indoor spaces for example student, teacher, visitor, etc., LADM makes it possible to create a connection between the indoor space and the users who will be using them. Furthermore, LADM assigns rights, restrictions, and responsibilities to each indoor space. These rights, restrictions, and responsibilities indicate which places are accessible to which types of users. The assignment of such functional rights together with the three-dimensional (3D) geometry of the building based on the access time and the indoor space condition (e.g., disaster or normal) are used to provide additional information to route planning for an individual or a group of users. This will result in a more appropriate and easier navigation process since the navigation route will avoid any non-accessible spaces based on the user’s rights, making it more appropriate and simpler. Aside from that, the integrated model of LADM and IndoorGML offers a diverse range of information classes, including (indoor 3D) cell spaces, connectivity, spatial units/boundaries, (access/use) rights and restrictions, parties, individuals, and groups of them. The conversion from the conceptual model to the technical model allows for the assessment of the conceptual model to determine its strengths and shortcomings when analyzing this step of the Implementation. More automated transformation methods from the conceptual model to the technical model are investigated. Then, on the basis of the integrated model of LADM and IndoorGML, this study proposes defining the access rights for users of indoor environments during a crisis, which was simulated on 17-7-2018 in the Physics building of the TU Delft. The integrated approach has been extended to include access rights for different types of educational building users. The Wi-Fi access points throughout the building were used to gather information on users’ movements, which was then used to depict their movements as individuals and groups depending on their Wi-Fi connection. Therefore, this research demonstrates that the combined LADM-IndoorGML model may aid in the decision-making process during an incident in an educational building context. The research concludes by proposing the development of a 3D web-based application for indoor navigation taking into account the access rights assigned to the user at different time intervals (e.g. day, night, working day, weekend). According to their access rights, the web-based application enables users of an educational facility (students, teachers, guests, etc.) to establish indoor navigation routes in accordance with their needs. It is possible to access the web-based application from a variety of devices, including personal computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. A web-client GUI based on Cesium JS was used to configure the parameters (user, time, start, and destination) and represent the indoor navigation routes. The prototype for the Architecture building of the TU Delft is still online at http://pakhuis.tudelft.nl:8080/edu/cesium74/Apps/routing/ and shows the rich possibilities of the earlier developed integrated LADM-IndoorGML conceptual model in an easy to access and use manner. In future research, it is proposed that the integrated model of LADM and IndoorGML be expanded by examining various kinds of buildings and parties, such as hospitals, hotels, railway stations, and airports, in order to guarantee that all sorts of parties are represented during their navigation activity in the indoor environment. Additionally, future work will focus on improving the present conceptual model of LADM-IndoorGML to include trajectory data associated with the indoor model’s cell spaces / spatial units. For the next edition of LADM, we propose to include an appendix that outlines the combined model of IndoorGML and LADM that allows for indoor navigation based on rights, restrictions, and responsibilities. Furthermore, the 2D and 3D country profiles that have been presented in this research should be expanded to include other categories of information, such as subsurface, marine, valuation/taxation, and spatial plan information, in addition to the types of information that have been proposed. According to Saudi Arabia’s subdivision rules, the 3D country profile may also depict a mix-use building and other kinds of buildings with multiple sections, different functions, and different ownership types. Following that, a technical model and database for data management should be implemented, as well as a user interface for visualizing land and building ownership.