Adaptive indoor route guidance: linking space syntax, building complexity, user perception and route communication

By using navigation aids, users are supported in their decision on where to go next during an

(indoor) wayfinding task. However, the complexity of these decision points may vary, which has an

influence on how easy the correct route can be selected by the user. Therefore, the

communication of route instructions by the navigation aid should be as effective and efficient as

possible, and thus keyed to the user’ local needs. This project focusses on the development and

evaluation of an adaptive system, in which the communication of route instructions varies

according to the perceived level of complexity at decision points. In a first phase of the project,

building complexity will be derived from theoretical measures (based on space syntax theories).

Next, the users’actual perception regarding complexity on the same decision points will be

evaluated. A match between the theoretical and perceived values will be made in order to be able

to automatically calculate the perceived level of complexity at decision points. Through a number

of user studies, we will derive what type of route communication (e.g. 2D or 3D maps, symbols,

pictures, etc.) works best at decision points with a certain level of (perceived) complexity. This

information is combined into a navigation aid which will automatically adapt its route instructions

according to the (perceived) complexity of a certain decision point. This system will be evaluated

in a real life setting in the final phase of the project.