Indoor Routing for Individuals with Special Needs and Preferences

Recently much research has been focused on developing techniques and systems for providing routes within buildings. While outdoor routing is based on criteria such as shortest, fastest and least turns, indoor routing is primarily based on accessibility and safety criteria, and while outdoor routing could adversely be impacted by weather and traffic, among other conditions, such conditions do not affect indoor routing. However, developing techniques that meet user's indoor routing preferences, especially those with special needs, is a challenging task. An example is development of a set of techniques that avoids a hallway with a protruding object to allow safe passage by the visually impaired or that avoids stairs for the mobility impaired. In this article, we present and analyze new techniques based on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards that provide routes within buildings and meet user's special needs and preferences.