Creation, Implementation and Evaluation of an Indoor Navigation System for Users With Disabilities

Abstract

Abstract. Indoor navigation is a complex task for people and especially for visually impaired ones. This research proposes an indoor navigation system oriented to visually impaired users, integrating the OGC IndoorGML and CityGML standards with Bluetooth Low Energy devices (BLE) by using the RSSI signal loss value and the Weighted Path Loss - techniques to calculate the user’s location. This paper describes the design of the system and its implementation as a functional prototype in a mobile web application. Several operational tests were conducted to determine both the accuracy and precision of the user location. The user’s positioning results show a root-mean-squared error (RMSE) of 0.88 m in a scenario with obstacles and no height difference of the BLE devices location, and a RMSE of 1.06 m in a scenario with obstacles and height difference. These results confirm the potential of the implemented prototype to grow into a fully operational system.