Editorial for Special Issue Indoor Navigation in Smart Cities

Abstract

• The first one is mapping, i.e., creating a map of the indoor environment, where points of interest (e.g., elevators, offices etc.) are to be displayed. Indoor positioning theoretically is by XYZ (e.g., a building with floors), whilst outdoor typically is by XY. The map may be pre-stored or acquired in real-time. • Secondly, positioning phase addresses the question “Where am I?’, thus identifying the location of the navigator on the map. • Thirdly, path planning manages the process of plotting the course from the current position to a given destination through the floors. • Fourth, in-route assistance addresses a twofold issue, namely (a) avoiding moving obstacles and detecting near objects, a sort of proximity sensing, and (b) informing the navigator the actual progress versus the planned course. • Finally, the analysis of navigation flows analyzes the way people (or objects) move within a given space, e.g., a supermarket.