A Simplified Method of Cartographic Visualisation of Buildings’ Interiors (2D+) for Navigation Applications

Dariusz Gotlib,Miłosz Gnat,Michał Wyszomirski

doi:10.3390/ijgi9060407

Abstract

This article proposes an original method of a coherent and simplified cartographic presentation of the interior of buildings called 2D+, which can be used in geoinformation applications that do not support an extensive three-dimensional visualisation or do not have access to a 3D model of the building. A simplified way of cartographic visualisation can be used primarily in indoor navigation systems and other location-based services (LBS) applications. It can also be useful in systems supporting facility management (FM) and various kinds of geographic information systems (GIS). On the one hand, it may increase an application’s efficiency; on the other, it may unify the method of visualisation in the absence of a building’s 3D model. Thanks to the proposed method, it is possible to achieve the same effect regardless of the data source used: Building Information Modelling (BIM), a Computer-aided Design (CAD) model, or traditional architectural and construction drawings. Such a solution may be part of a broader concept of a multi-scale presentation of buildings’ interiors. The article discusses the issues of visualising data and converting data to the appropriate coordinate system, as well as the properties of the application model of data.

Highlights

Due to the increasing number of various geoinformation applications, new challenges appear in the field of geovisualisation and map design
The following research methodology was adopted in this paper: initial identification of the problem during various research and technological works in the field of indoor navigation, analysis of scientific literature to find a solution to the problem encountered, development of own concept during repeated meetings of the research team and an attempt to check the technical feasibility of the chosen solution
Thanks to the conducted research, it is possible to propose the basis for a new concept for the visualisation of the interior of buildings that enables the effective use of architectural and construction drawings

Summary

Introduction

Due to the increasing number of various geoinformation applications, new challenges appear in the field of geovisualisation and map design. One of them is the visualisation of the interior of buildings This is evident e.g., in the Location Based Systems (LBS) research agenda [1], where the authors note: “There has been an increasing demand in expanding LBS from outdoors to indoors, and from navigation systems and mobile guides to more diverse applications (e.g., Healthcare, transportation, and gaming).”. This is, among other things, because both indoor positioning systems and users’ needs are developing and growing. There is extensive literature on this subject, but the question of the positioning method itself is beyond the scope of the article

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Conclusion