Why is Indoor Mapping becoming more and more Important?

Indoor mapping of buildings is one of the fastest growing and developing markets led by recognised names such as ESRI, Here Technologies, MapsPeople and Locatrix.

Indoor mapping as-a-service is built from three main methods:

1. Adapting existing map files such as pdf, jpeg, CAD, PlanStudio.
2. Creating maps from the ground up using drafting techniques.
3. Map creation by inference such as Wi-Fi technology, beacons and even Lidar technologies.

Once data is collected, it is used to provide building owners with information that will help them better understand how their buildings are operating and analyze this data to implement changes to increase efficiencies, find points of interest (POI) and even track people or assets within the as-built environment. 

Indoor mapping can also assist with locating fixed and mobile assets. One of the biggest problems in the healthcare sector is locating assets that have wheels, normally thousands of them! 

Space management became critical during the COVID-19 Pandemic but it has always been a way building managers could assess and scope cleaning contracts and building functionality.  Having floorplan and mapping information at hand that is up to date and accurate is critical to understanding how to run and manage your building efficiently.  

Wayfinding in shopping centres is difficult enough but the real challenge is understanding which carpark to enter, and off what street to achieve the closest carpark to the shop you need to collect your goods from, particularly when you are in an unfamiliar centre. Same issue when visiting a friend or relative in hospital. Where are they in relation to where you park? This is where indoor mapping meets outdoor mapping. But how can you do that? 

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What are the challenges that indoor mapping companies face?

Indoor mapping providers need to respond to changing regulatory landscapes, operational barriers, and the emergence of alternative technologies. In addition to these challenges there is the always changing physical landscape; when buildings are renovated or added to. The task of updating the indoor floor plans is difficult to control as there is very rarely a single source of truth in absence of a business model in place that regularly ensures this. 

Indoor Mapping market‍

According to Gartner report “Emerging Technologies: Revenue Opportunity Projection of Indoor Location Services” Authored by Annette Zimmermann and Ranjit Atwal dated 16 June 2021, “the indoor location services market is expected to reach global revenue of $55 billion by 2030,up from $1.9 billion in 2021, with asset tracking the largest market opportunity.” This growth has been unexpected but like many industries, has received a surge in demand due to the disruptive effect Covid-19 has had with the necessity of people tracking. This only outdone by the need for asset tracking for manufacturing, healthcare, transporation/logistics, retail/hospitality and education. 

PlanStudio Provides an easy way to import existing plans for simple amendment or when none are available, or quickly automate the creation of your building’s indoor mapping and provide your evacuation diagrams digitally and easily by using geotagging technology. Essentially providing a digital twin of your building. It then has capability to do so much more. Along with being able to collect the data necessary to populate an automated emergency evacuation plan of your building, it also can provide any site-specific online training product called PlanSafe. 

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PlanSafe can easily get the occupants of your building inducted for first attack and fire safety training and has capability to deliver more specific workplace health and safety content specific to your building. This could be content you create, e.g. a “How-to video” on the correct way to safely clean external windows or how to operate complex machinery. The training then can be completed anytime and anywhere within 30 minutes saving employers’ operational cost and providing more targeted content to the right people in the right roles. PlanStudio has been designed to assist an auditor on the go and therefore makes updating plans and content very simple. 

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What is the Locatrix difference?

Locatrix offers PlanStudio to the building contractors, Fire Contractors, building certifiers, and the building owner. In addition, Locatrix automatically extends the right to use these plans to the First Responders. This enables them to better react when an emergency is in progress by automatically loading the most current plans available. This concept is called “Digital Twin” and whilst it may only be the floor plans, it is digital, full of asset and layered information that will result in better emergency management in times of crisis.

Targeted at the Building and Fire Industry through building certifiers, Locatrix has the technology to enable users to update plans easily. Since its launch in 2019, PlanStudio has helped its users map over 70,000,000 sqm of floor plans. That’s right, your building certifier most likely is keeping this plan current for you. This means the digital twin for your building is most likely already created, waiting for the building owner to realise the additional features now available to them such as being able to create a visual digital floor plan identifying exactly where assets are and better managing them. In addition to this, Locatrix increases the safety of your building occupants by making your digital floor plans available to emergency services to assist them with better planning in the case of emergency. One dynamic digital floor plan as a single source of truth created by the certifier, accessible to the building owner and viewed as necessary by those who need to protect you and your building.

Ask your Certifier today if they are using PlanStudio, if not, ask “why not?!”

Gartner, Emerging Technologies: Revenue Opportunity Projection of Indoor Location Services Annette Zimmermann and Ranjit Atwal dated 16 June 2021