Developing Indoor Navigation App

[Jozef Miljak]

Hello!

Ive got a school project, my project is about making some sort of navigation for the school, to find specific rooms and so on.

For this ill need maps over the school, which ive required, but Ill also need some kind of navigation system, which I have no idea on how I should aquire.

Ive spent hours on google, reading about "Indoor navigation system" and many of them are open, Anyplace Indoor Navigation, for example, is one of them (google it for the link).

Now, even tho they are "open" and free to use, I have no idea on how I should implement this into a android app ?

Please help me... Some kind of tips, so I can get started, because now Im sitting frustated with nothing done sofar...

Thank you!

[A.J. Côté]

Hello,

I guess your main challenge will be locating where you are, e.g. displaying the "you are here" dot on the map. The rest should be almost trivial.

Have you read this link?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indoor_positioning_system

Using GPS could be simpler and can also be used indoors but you need a pretty accurate gps chipsets on the android device and good satellite coverage in your area which makes it a less viable option. Military grade gps chipsets and devices can achieve this.

It sounds a little complicated for a school project but it is nevertheless an interesting challenge!

[Jozef Miljak]

A.J. Côté wrote:Hello,

I guess your main challenge will be locating where you are, e.g. displaying the "you are here" dot on the map. The rest should be almost trivial.

Have you read this link?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indoor_positioning_system

Using GPS could be simpler and can also be used indoors but you need a pretty accurate gps chipsets on the android device and good satellite coverage in your area which makes it a less viable option. Military grade gps chipsets and devices can achieve this.

It sounds a little complicated for a school project but it is nevertheless an interesting challenge!

Thank you for your reply!

Yes, ive read that link.

I think GPS wont be enough to locate the user inside the school, as our school has 3 floors, which makes it pretty hard for the signals to come trough correctly.

Do you have any "tutorial" on how to write code for locating the user with other techniques ? Like, triangulation for example ?


EDIT::

Im starting on my application now and I wonder how I should mark the map with the cordinates ? I guess this is my problem now lol

[A.J. Côté]

Thank you for your reply!

Yes, ive read that link.

I think GPS wont be enough to locate the user inside the school, as our school has 3 floors, which makes it pretty hard for the signals to come trough correctly.

Right, only military grade gps-like chipsets and devices, sometimes using classified satellites, can accomplish that and it doesn't work if the building is lead shielded although I don't think your school would be. Forget about it for a typical Android device.

Do you have any "tutorial" on how to write code for locating the user with other techniques ? Like, triangulation for example ?

Not really, but you seem on the right track. Choose the technique (algorithm) e.g. triangulation etc.. you are going to use before looking for code.

EDIT::

Im starting on my application now and I wonder how I should mark the map with the coordinates ? I guess this is my problem now lol

The sky is the limit, you could have a 0,0,0 point in the middle of the school second floor or find out your school accurate elevation and longitude/latitude and map based on that. I would probably choose the latter.

The main challenge that I see is that I assume you won't have control over the Android devices. It would be much easier if you provided the devices to the users. You are basically left with triangulation based on the different Wi-Fi access points in your school given their signal strength. I don't even know if the Android devices would be able to handle that.

Another option would be a facial recognition-like program where the user would point his Android device camera to a barcode-like sign on the wall to let the application know where the user is. Edit: using that, you wouldn't even need and accurate positioning system. You would only need a high-level knowledge of the school layout, more like a human mind would do.

Let us know what you come up with please,

[Ron McLeod]

You may be able to perform Dead Reckoning by using a combination or the mobile device's sensors and accurate location information from other sources such as GPS or Bluethtooth beacons when they are visible.

[A.J. Côté]

A.J. Côté wrote:

Another option would be a facial recognition-like program where the user would point his Android device camera to a barcode-like sign on the wall to let the application know where the user is. Edit: using that, you wouldn't even need and accurate positioning system. You would only need a high-level knowledge of the school layout, more like a human mind would do.

Let us know what you come up with please,

Similar to barcode-like signs on the walls, it could be bluetooth like devices on the walls or ceilings with limited range so they don't interfere with each other that emit a specific coordinate/location to let the user know where he is. Again, I do not know if it is feasible with non-rooted Android devices but it should be feasible if you have full control of the device.