Route directions generation using visible landmarks

Abstract

The aim of this research is to investigate how to communicate route directions for wayfinding assistance in indoor environments including visible landmarks along the route. We propose an algorithm to automatically generate low level directions, as an XML file, that can be later translated in other languages, e.g., IndoorGML. The most suitable data model is a graph with openings (doors, windows, passages), features and concave corners as nodes, and edges based on geometrical visibility between them. For a given route, the proposed algorithm extracts all the surrounding visible nodes and groups them to simplify subsequent textual instructions. This process is then implemented in a software prototype, "IndoorNav", based on an Android device. It uses QRcode scanning for locating user position, calculates the best route to follow, generates low-level route directions, and translates them into textual instructions in the requested language; finally, it shows them to users.