Spatial representation framework for better indoor navigation by people with visual impairment

Abstract

Purpose - The research aims to find an appropriate framework for spatial representation, aka Spatial Representation Framework (SRF), to define spaces and buildings targeted at indoor navigation by people with visual impairment.

Design/methodology/approach - The SRF was first created with initially 7 main components by a review of the relevant literature and state-of-the-art technologies shown in the preliminary study. A field study was then conducted to validate and ensure that the SRF meets the needs of people with visual impairment and is deployable in a real situation. This study comprised two tasks: (i) investigating indoor navigation problems and (ii) validating of SRF which 45 participants were recruited with 30 visually impaired people and 15 sighted people.

Findings - While designing the framework, a list of problems and challenges were discovered and were used to refine and finalize the spatial representation, which was validated by both visually impaired and sighted people. The framework consists of eleven components categorized into five layers, each layer of which is responsible for a different function.

Practical implications - Many applications can be extended to provide a range of indoor-based applications by using this spatial representation framework to represent indoor spaces. Example applications are: indoor navigation by people with disabilities, robots and autonomous systems, security and surveillance, and context and spatial awareness.

Originality/value - This article presents a design architecture of BRS with its details, description and Success Criteria used in the space classification.

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Identifiers

ORCID for Gary Wills: orcid.org/0000-0001-5771-4088

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