Abstract
Indoor navigation systems are not well adapted to the needs of their users. The route planning algorithms implemented in these systems are usually limited to shortest path calculations or derivatives, minimalizing Euclidian distance. Guiding people along routes that adhere better to their cognitive processes could ease wayfinding in indoor environments. This paper examines comfort and confusion perception during wayfinding by applying a mixed-method approach. The aforementioned method combined an exploratory focus group and a video-based online survey. From the discussions in the focus group, it could be concluded that indoor wayfinding must be considered at different levels: the local level and the global level. In the online survey, the focus was limited to the local level, i.e., local environmental characteristics. In this online study, the comfort and confusion ratings of multiple indoor navigation situations were analyzed. In general, the results indicate that open spaces and stairs need to be taken into account in the development of a more cognitively-sounding route planning algorithm. Implementing the results in a route planning algorithm could be a valuable improvement of indoor navigation support.
Highlights
Indoor navigation systems help people to navigate indoors
To develop better navigation support, and the route planning aspect, this study examined the aspects potentially to be integrated into the route planning algorithms by applying a mixed-method approach
From the exploratory focus group discussion, it could be concluded that wayfinding research should be considered on different levels
Summary
Indoor navigation systems help people to navigate indoors. Different systems have already been developed and are running (e.g., NavCog, SafeExit4All, MazeMap, Drishti, CENSE) [1,2,3,4,5]. Given that the applied route planning algorithms in the literature have been mentioned, which usually is not the case (e.g., [29]), these are mostly shortest path algorithms (e.g., Dijkstra, A*) minimizing travel distance (e.g., [1,30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37]). In contrast to this practice, scholars disagree with the use of length optimized paths. In contrast to the general assumption of a metric Euclidian structured cognitive map, Warren [38] argues that spatial relations of a mental map are connected topologically in a graph structure, and contests the existence of this
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
