Indoor Navigation Explained: Tech, Benefits & Use Cases

” Indoor navigation helps you where your GPS doesn’t. Yes, it is tough for satellite signals to penetrate the thick indoor walls and therefore, indoor spaces need a different system for navigation. Indoor navigation systems are specially crafted for indoor spaces. They provide precise and real-time assistance since they use advanced tech like ‘Bluetooth Low Energy’ beacons, ‘Wi-Fi-based positioning’, and ‘Ultra-Wideband’. So, indoor navigation system improves wayfinding, logistics and staff efficiency and also improves the service of a particular place.
Spinclabs’ indoor navigation system is a necessity for complex indoor spaces like airports, transport hubs, hospitals, shopping malls, corporate offices and college campuses. They make large indoor spaces more accessible, manageable, and user-friendly.”

We feel helpless when GPS doesn’t respond or loses the network? And then we get overwhelmed with frustration and anxiety asking people for directions. This is not a worst-case scenario, but a common scenario that happens to most of the people. You lose your precious time and money. All these scenarios we are talking about include complex indoor environments like airports, hospitals, shopping malls, corporate office complexes and buildings. These places are so complex and crowded that sometimes finding your way out becomes hard and confusing.

Navigation systems like GPS help a lot to find your way (especially the outdoor navigation). However, they have their limitations. Why such a distinction? There is no doubt that GPS provides us with location data through satellite signals. But these signals weaken the minute you step inside a building, especially in basements and other underground structures. Since these satellite signals can’t penetrate walls, go underground, or even work well in crowded city streets, we need Indoor navigation to help us. They work where GPS doesn’t. How? Let’s see it!

What is Indoor Navigation?
Indoor navigation isn’t dependent on GPS and still gives you precise and real-time guidance within the maze-like spaces. How does it do that? Well, indoor positioning or wayfinding uses hardware and software to pinpoint a user’s location and provide step-by-step directions to reach the destination. Thus, where GPS signals weaken, this alternative technology can be used for accuracy. What are these alternative technologies that indoor navigation uses? Let’s find out with Spinclabs!

Let’s Understand The Tech!

Indoor positioning helps you find your way indoors in the exact way and with the same ease as GPS does outdoors. As we already have elaborated how Indoor wayfinding includes Bluetooth low energy beacons, ultra-wideband and location data to Wi-Fi signals. The use of these specialized features permits indoor navigation to negate the confusion of complex buildings and shows the easy way out to reach the destinations. Let’s see how this tech works!

1. Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Beacons:
   Small, battery-powered devices or beacons, once placed throughout a building, they emit signals. These signals then are picked up by users’ smartphones, and that’s how they permit the system to triangulate the user’s position. Nowadays, BLE beacons are quite popular because they are low-cost, easy to install, and use minimal energy.
2. Wi-Fi-Based Positioning:
   Wi-Fi networks are a great help when it comes to indoor navigation and hence, many indoor positioning systems use existing Wi-Fi networks. They analyze the strength of the signal from multiple access points and this is how the system can estimate a device’s location. This process is cost-effective in facilities where Wi-Fi is already widespread. However, the downside is that it may offer slightly lower accuracy than BLE.
3. Ultra-Wideband (UWB):
   This technology provides highly precise location tracking in indoor navigation. It measures the time it takes for radio waves to travel between the devices and gives you a precise location. If you need the exact, precise location of something such as complex structures (hospitals or manufacturing plants), UWB will be helpful.
4. Indoor Mapping:
   This is the most important thing in indoor wayfinding that makes everything possible. Indoor mapping creates detailed digital maps of indoor spaces and these maps include important mapping points of interest such as elevators, restrooms, stores, or meeting rooms. It shows you an accurate reflection of the building’s layout. So, the combination of mapping and positioning authorizes the system to provide real-time directions to their desired  destination.
5. Way-finding:
   The indoor wayfinding systems update everything in real time and hence, give you an updated way of way-finding. This means they can update routes in real time as soon as it notices changes in the environment such as closed corridors, or if there is any maintenance work going on or if there is certain crowd congestion. This way it ensures users always receive the most efficient guidance.

The Benefits of Indoor Navigation Systems:

1. The Ease of Wayfinding:
   Indoor positioning systems help visitors to find their way in unfamiliar environments. Hence, it negates the stress. There are many places and buildings that have large spaces and complex infrastructure. These complex structures can feel like a labyrinth and that’s why if you are looking for a particular store or space, it gets so frustrating and troublesome. Indoor navigation systems provide easy wayfinding.
2. The Ease of Logistics:
   This kind of navigation system is beneficial for visitors and super efficient for the staff or people who work in a certain complex space. Indoor wayfinding systems regulate the flow of people as well. In ever busier places, these systems direct the traffic in particular area and prevent hindrance. Hence, maintains order as well as safety in such busy venues.
3. Data-Driven Insights For Service Improvement:
   Surprised? Yes, whenever anyone uses the indoor navigation system, the system generates data. This data shows how spaces are being used. We can identify high-traffic areas, and improvise layouts for better service.
4. Cost Savings:
   These positioning systems minimize your need to hire extra staff just for navigation and guidance or assistance. Whether your organization is large or small, this will provide greater cost savings.

Use Cases:

Airports and Transport Hubs:
We know how stressful it gets when you have to navigate your way out in large airports or railway stations. This scenario is even more stressful when you are a first-time visitor. Indoor navigation apps help travellers quickly locate their destinations. These systems also provide real-time updates on flight changes or delays, it reduces stress for the passenger.

Hospitals:
Visiting a hospital is never a pleasant experience for anyone. All of the above, a hospital’s complex space is one thing that gets even more frustrating for a visitor. In such a situation, indoor navigation systems are a great help that guide patients and visitors to their destinations such as the right department or the ward. This way, it reduces their anxiety.

Shopping Malls and Retail:
Usually, shopping malls and retail have a complex layout. Whether if a person wants to locate their desired store or looking their way to restroom, these systems will benefit in such situations. Also, if you are a retailer, you can use the system to send promotions or guide customers to special events. This system also is crucial for mall operators as they can see through and analyze visitor behaviour.

Office Building and Campuses:
It’s so common to have large office buildings and campuses to be confusing for employees, visitors, and vendors. Now, if these complexes have indoor navigation, then users will face fewer issues regarding navigation.

Industries and Warehouses:
Without a doubt, in warehouses and factories, this system should be a mandatory thing to have. It can be used to track assets, monitor worker movement, find their way and even optimize logistics. This system can negate issues like downtime and can improve safety by routing and real-time adjustments to workflows.

Spinclabs’ Indoor Navigation is a Necessity!
Still thinking why you need an indoor wayfinding? Well, Spinclabs can help you to understand it even more. Let us tell you that these systems are a necessity nowadays, it gives easier way to move through complex indoor spaces. Since the system uses technologies like BLE beacons, Wi-Fi positioning, and dynamic mapping, it delivers you precise and real-time guidance. So, let’s change the way of your usual navigation and make large spaces more accessible, manageable, and user-friendly for everyone!