Accessible indoor navigation systems

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Indoor navigation systems are revolutionizing how people navigate complex indoor environments by providing real-time, step-by-step guidance and prioritizing accessibility for all users. As foot traffic in venues like malls and airports rises, solutions such as Mappedin, Situm, Navigine, Mapxus, and Pointr are leveraging AI, BLE, Wi-Fi, and other advanced technologies to deliver accurate positioning, barrier-free routing, and multi-sensory guidance—including screen reader support, audio navigation, and customizable routes for those with mobility needs. These platforms not only enhance visitor experiences and operational efficiency but also ensure compliance with global accessibility standards, making indoor spaces more inclusive and navigable for everyone, regardless of ability level.

Indoor navigation systems are undoubtedly essential for helping venues guide visitors to move through complex buildings and take action along the way.

Large, revenue-generating venues like malls, transportation hubs and stadiums rely on foot traffic to sustainably generate revenue year after year. And the visitor traffic isn’t slowing down anytime soon: Indoor malls have seen a nearly 10% increase in foot traffic over last year.

Roughly 60% of mall visitors use their smartphones to navigate or browse while shopping.

This growth highlights the importance of providing clear, step-by-step guidance to specific locations within buildings, effectively reducing confusion and stress that can arise from navigating unfamiliar environments.

Accessibility is particularly crucial when developing indoor navigation apps. Poor signage and confusing navigation can make it difficult for visually impaired visitors, while traditional stairs don’t cater to visitors in wheelchairs, those with strollers, or injuries.

"Inclusivity in design is not just a noble goal; it's smart business. By making products and services accessible to persons with disabilities, companies can tap into a wider market and create solutions that benefit all members of society.”

― Dr. Kalyan C. Kankanala

Luckily, there are software solutions that can aid in both easy digital wayfinding and boosting venue accessibility for all.

Modern indoor navigation solutions now enable real-time positioning and routing within buildings where GPS signals typically fail. Further, technologies like Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Wi-Fi, Ultra-Wideband (UWB), QR codes, and Wi-Fi RTT power these systems, with BLE offering impressive accuracy up to 3 meters while maintaining low energy consumption.

In this blog, we'll explore the five top indoor navigation systems that are making buildings more accessible for everyone, comparing their features, accessibility options, and pricing to help you find the perfect solution for your space.

1. Mappedin

Mappedin stands out as a leading indoor navigation system that’s changing the way we experience indoor spaces. With maps in over 57 countries and more than 450 million visitors guided across 4 billion square feet, Mappedin is making it easier for everyone to discover and navigate complex places like malls, airports, hospitals, and stadiums.

At its core, Mappedin believes that everyone should be able to find their way indoors, no matter their abilities. That’s why accessibility is built into every part of the platform. Mappedin’s technology ensures that people using wheelchairs, strollers, or other mobility aids can get clear, step-free directions.

For those with visual impairments, features like screen reader support and audio guidance help make navigation simple and independent. The maps are designed to be easy to read, available in dozens of languages, and adaptable for different devices.

Multi Language Airport UI

Mappedin features

Mappedin excels in making indoor mapping accessible to everyone through its AI-powered technology. You can transform floor plans into interactive maps in minutes or create plans from scratch using the iOS app with LiDAR scanning, Mappedin’s platform solves problems for a variety of large venue teams, including:

  • Visitor experience: Mappedin makes it easier for visitors to find what they need, like restrooms, store hours, parking, airline flight information, exactly when they need it.
  • Venue safety & security: Mappedin keeps visitors safe by highlighting fire extinguishers, AEDs and emergency exits – all on one map.
  • Operations: Add the information your teams need, like equipment zones, service areas, or restricted spaces so they can move faster and stay focused.

Mappedin's accessibility features

Mappedin has made accessibility a core element of its mission—not an afterthought.

  • Barrier-free navigation: Routes prioritize elevators, ensuring visitors with mobility devices or strollers can navigate the venue independently.
  • Assistive technology support: Full support for screen readers and responsive text sizes, making navigation clear and comfortable for all visitors.
  • Accessible POI: Accessible entrances, elevators, restrooms and other key amenities are clearly marked.
  • Responsive text size: Text and labels on maps can be resized up to 200% without loss of clarity or functionality.
  • Audio guidance: Real-time voiceover directions provide step-by-step audio navigation for users with low or no vision.
  • AI voice assistant: Users can ask for directions or information using natural language, receiving instant, accessible responses via voice or chat across web, mobile and kiosks.
  • Inclusive design: Directory offers high/low mode to support users with different eye levels and reach heights.
  • Multi-language support: Welcome a global audience with location information and directions in 40+ languages.
  • Offline accessibility: Maps can be accessed without an internet connection, so users can always obtain directions and information.
  • Compliance: Mappedin’s SOC 2 (Type 2) report showcases its enterprise-grade system and organization controls regarding security, privacy, availability, and confidentiality of data. Mappedin is also GDPR and WCAG 2.1 AA compliant.
"Our guests say the new maps are user-friendly and accessible. The in-terminal White Hat Volunteers love how they can assist travelers by generating complicated routes through YYC and sharing it in seconds using a simple QR code. This innovation allows guests of all technical abilities to navigate our airport seamlessly.”

– Bart Smith, General Manager, The Calgary Airport Authority

Mappedin pricing

Mappedin offers both a self-serve map making tool, Maker, as well as solutions for the enterprise:

Maker: Free – $165 per map/month

  • Free: Create interactive maps with AI mapping, indoor navigation, real-time collaboration, and share/embed capabilities. Try it here.
  • Plus: Adds detailed location info, custom map icons, premium themes, and additional export formats
  • Advanced: Enables multi-building mapping, indoor-outdoor navigation, path management, and custom map views
  • Pro: Provides full SDK and API access, developer tools, private access maps, and watermark removal

Enterprise solutions: Contact sales for a custom demo & quote

Interested in learning more or getting a personalized demo? Contact us today.

2. Situm Indoor Navigation

Situm Indoor Navigation offers a suite of tools that combine indoor and outdoor navigation capabilities to improve wayfinding and discovery. Their indoor navigation tools help users navigate complex buildings through intuitive, step-by-step directions, making it an ideal choice for venues seeking accessible navigation solutions.

Situm indoor navigation accessibility

Situm Indoor Navigation features

The system offers:

  • 2D and 2.5D cartography visualization in multiple formats (IMDF/GeoJSON)
  • Intelligent POI search with fuzzy capabilities that find even non-exact matches
  • Indoor and outdoor geolocation that determines building, floor, coordinates, and orientation
  • Turn-by-turn navigation with both static routes and dynamic routes with real-time location

Situm accessibility for indoor navigation

According to Situm, their indoor navigation system provides barrier-free access for all throughout your building. Their accessibility tools are embedded into their SDKs.

  • High-contrast UI
  • Screen reader compatibility
  • Wheelchair friendly routing
  • Voice guidance
  • Dynamic for font scaling
  • Custom themes & intuitive interface
  • 20+ languages
  • Offline mode

Situm Indoor Navigation pricing

Situm offers a 30-day free trial. Beyond the trial period, Situm advises people to contact their team directly for a quote.

3. Navigine Indoor Navigation Platform

Navigine is another platform that features accessibility tools to aid in indoor mapping and navigation. Commonly used in the healthcare, cultural institutions, and retail markets, Navigine has established itself as a hardware-agnostic indoor navigation platform that excels in creating optimized routes through complex buildings.

Navigine's platform is primarily designed for asset tracking, whereas other providers in this space focus on wayfinding, accessibility and discovery. The platform consists of the Navigine Tracking Platform and Navigine SDK.

Navigine Tracking Platform: Users can enhance business efficiency by integrating real-time asset tracking into your existing systems with their RTLS solution.

  • Real-time positioning
  • Geofencing
  • Track history
  • Asset searching
  • Analytics
  • 3D map view

Navigine SDK:

  • Define the location
  • Real-time navigation
  • Push notifications
  • Route building

While Navigine doesn’t specifically mention accessibility, their platform prioritizes inclusivity to some extent through thoughtful design choices that make spaces more navigable for everyone:

  • Accessible route options - The system builds paths that accommodate mobility needs, automatically avoiding stairs in favor of elevators for those with disabilities.
  • Audio guidance - Beyond visual maps, Navigine offers audio guides that assist visually impaired users through buildings. This multi-sensory approach ensures that navigation assistance reaches users regardless of ability level.
  • Safety-focused communication - The platform creates direct channels between users and facility staff, ensuring that disabled and elderly visitors can quickly request assistance during emergencies.

Navigine utilizes an enterprise-level pricing structure tailored to each implementation's specific requirements. Those interested in Navigine should contact Navigine directly to discuss their specific implementation requirements.

4. Mapxus Indoor Navigation

Mapxus offers a web-based indoor navigation platform. Named Mapxus Anywhere, the Mapxus solution allows users to access accurate indoor maps with just a few clicks, making navigation easily available to anyone with an internet connection.

Mapxus indoor navigation accessibility

Mapxus Web-Based Indoor Navigation features

Mapxus stands out primarily through its straightforward implementation and user-friendly approach. Initially designed as building blocks for location-oriented products, the system offers:

  • Vector-based digital map – Enables seamless integration with GPS-powered outdoor map and renders across devices
  • POI search and filtering parameters – Supports dynamic multi-floor wayfinding accessible for both pedestrians and wheelchair users
  • Indoor positioning – Finds users’ real-time location using a WiDi fingerprinting technique

The platform simultaneously supports third-party integrations, helping businesses expand their reach.

Mapxus accessibility options

Accessibility is present in Mapxus’s platform, touting solutions that deliver seamless and intuitive wayfinding experiences to improve the overall independence of living.

Essential accessibility features include:

  • Audio buttons located in the navigation bar, allowing users to learn about current and nearby locations in real-time
  • Category browsing that enables users to find points of interest by primary categories like facilities, restaurants, and shops
  • Keyword search capabilities for locating specific destinations
  • Route summaries illustrating suggested paths from the user's current location
  • Turn-by-turn navigation with specific instructions about directions, distance, and floor transitions

Mapxus pricing

Mapxus seems to offer customized pricing solutions based on implementation requirements. Unfortunately, no standardized pricing tiers are publicly available in the factual information provided. Potential customers should contact Mapxus directly for a tailored quote based on their venue size and specific needs.

Pointr Maps

Pointr's indoor navigation system leverages patented technology to deliver precise positioning . Per its website, Pointr says it provides “a suite of products that are accessible to the widest possible audience, including those with visual, hearing, cognitive, motor or other impairments, regardless of technology or ability.”

Pointr products are partially compliant in WCAG 2.1 level AA.

Pointr maps accessibility.webp

Pointr features

Pointr offers various navigation capabilities:

  • Indoor-outdoor transitions that provide seamless wayfinding between and within buildings
  • Multi-level detection for accurate floor identification in multi-story structures
  • AI mapping tool that transforms static floor plans into interactive 3D maps within minutes
  • Offline functionality that enables navigation even without internet connectivity

Pointr accessibility options

Pointr demonstrates commitment to accessibility by following WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards, achieving partial compliance.

As a result, the platform offers an accessibility mode that avoids stairs and provides turn-by-turn voice directions. Given their focus on inclusivity, Pointr has partnered with Okeenea to enhance navigation for visually impaired users.

Pointr Smart Navigation pricing

Pointr doesn't publish standard pricing plans. The company offers two core packages: Maps (including indoor mapping and static navigation) and Maps & Location (adding dynamic indoor wayfinding). Interested customers should contact Pointr directly for a precise quote.

FAQs about accessibility in indoor navigation

What are the key advantages of indoor navigation systems?

Indoor navigation systems provide step-by-step guidance in complex buildings, reducing confusion and stress for users. They offer real-time positioning, accessible routing options, and can integrate indoor-outdoor navigation for a seamless experience.

How do infrastructure-free indoor navigation systems work?

Infrastructure-free systems use the Earth's magnetic field and deep learning technology to provide accurate positioning without requiring additional hardware installation. This approach allows for quick deployment and is cost-effective for temporary or large-scale implementations.

What accessibility features are common in modern indoor navigation systems?

Many systems now offer barrier-free routing, screen reader compatibility, high-contrast modes, and audio guidance. Some platforms also provide customizable routes based on user needs, such as avoiding stairs or finding rest areas.

How accurate are indoor positioning systems compared to GPS?

Indoor positioning systems can achieve higher accuracy than GPS in indoor environments.

What factors should be considered when choosing an indoor navigation system?

Key considerations include the required accuracy, existing infrastructure, implementation costs, scalability needs, and specific accessibility requirements. It's also important to evaluate the system's ability to integrate with other technologies and adapt to future needs as both technology and accessibility standards evolve.

Taking action: Accessibility in indoor navigation

Choosing the right indoor navigation system ultimately depends on your specific venue needs, budget constraints, and accessibility requirements. Each solution we've explored offers unique strengths—whether you need infrastructure-free deployment, sub-meter accuracy, or comprehensive accessibility features.

Accessibility stands as a critical factor when evaluating these systems. Most platforms now offer barrier-free routing, screen reader compatibility, and multi-sensory guidance that creates truly inclusive spaces. These features transform complex buildings into welcoming environments for everyone, regardless of ability level.

Looking ahead, indoor navigation systems will continue evolving with improved accuracy, deeper accessibility features, and more seamless indoor-outdoor transitions. It’s essential for venue managers to consider not just current needs, but platform scalability and proven innovation for the years to come.

Here at Mappedin, we partner with leading global companies to deliver easy-to-use indoor mapping solutions.

Interested in seeing a demo personalized for your needs? Contact us today to get started, or check out our map gallery to see what’s possible.


Tagged In

  • Indoor Mapping

  • Indoor Positioning

  • Safety and Security

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