Graph-based Approach to Context-adaptable PNS and its Application Scenarios

Recently, the remarkable advance on mobile terminal technologies has enabled us to develop full-scaled navigation systems for pedestrians. In most systems developed so far, researches have been focused on visualization effect on maps to users to guide pedestrians to their destination smoothly. The authors present a context-adaptable pedestrian navigation system, which provides users with the preferable route, considering the conditions of each area and the objectives of users. A graph-based approach is employed utilizing metadata to represent logical space built over the real space, and a scoring scheme is provided by partitioning target region to its edges, which enables to expand target region. The usability of this system in many environments is examined by numerical simulations. The authors also discuss the possibilities of the system in practical settings in an open area, temporarily built-up sites.