Mobile Routing Services for Small Towns using CloudMade API and OpenStreetMap

This research presents a practical solution for mobile routing services for small towns using open sources. Free mapping application program interfaces (API) provided by web map services, including routing services, are available to create customised map based web services combining their cartographic base data with the users own data. However, most applications focus on big cities. Location based services in small towns are generally few as many people believe there is a little demand in such areas. However, the demand of LBS applications in some small towns can be as strong as big cities, for example university towns and tourist resorts. Better location based services, especially routing services, can help strangers get familiar with the environment in a short time and lead them to places of interest. However, there are two problems to overcome for such systems. One is cost both in terms of data costs and development time. Open source data and mash-up technology could provide an answer. The other problem is the availability of suitable data of the required accuracy and detail. This is more serious as most free map services, such as Google Maps and Microsoft Bing Maps (Virtual Earth), don’t provide sufficient detailed and accurate data for routing services. One feasible and economical way is to create the map ourselves and have it updated by the public. OpenStreetMap (OSM) is a free, open and fast developing map of the world. Detailed data was collected using a GPS logging device and uploaded to OpenStreetMap. The CloudMade API was used to provide multi-mode routing services together with turn-by-turn descriptions for car users, bicycle riders, and pedestrians. This solution is relatively easy and fast to deploy. Maynooth, a small university town in County Kildare Ireland, was used as a test bed. A prototype navigation system was developed for mobile users using the Windows Mobile platform. The system demonstrates that a solution to detailed navigational services for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers can be economical and feasible for small towns

Seamless pedestrian positioning and navigation using landmarks

Many navigation services, such as car navigation services, provide users with praxic navigational instructions (such as “turn left after 200 metres, then turn right after 150 metres”), however people usually associate directions with visual cues (e.g. “turn right at the square”) when giving navigational instructions in their daily conversations. Landmarks can play an equally important role in navigation and routing services. Landmarks are unique and easy-to-recognise and remember features; therefore, in order to remember when exploring an unfamiliar environment, they would be assets. In addition, Landmarks can be found both indoors and outdoors and their locations are usually fixed. Any positioning techniques which use landmarks as reference points can potentially provide seamless (indoor and outdoor) positioning solutions. For example, users can be localised with respect to landmarks if they can take a photograph of a registered landmark and use an application for image processing and feature extraction to identify the landmark and its location. Landmarks can also be used in pedestrian-specific path finding services. Landmarks can be considered as an important parameter in a path finding algorithm to calculate a route passing more landmarks (to make the user visit a more tourist-focussed area, pass along an easier-to-follow route, etc.). Landmarks can also be used as a part of the navigational instructions provided to users; a landmark-based navigation service makes users sure that they are on the correct route, as the user is reassured by seeing the landmark whose information/picture has just been provided as a part of navigational instruction. This paper shows how landmarks can help improve positioning and praxic navigational instructions in all these ways

Integrating Haptic Feedback into Mobile Location Based Services

Haptics is a feedback technology that takes advantage of the human sense of touch by applying forces, vibrations, and/or motions to a haptic-enabled device such as a mobile phone. Historically, human-computer interaction has been visual - text and images on the screen. Haptic feedback can be an important additional method especially in Mobile Location Based Services such as knowledge discovery, pedestrian navigation and notification systems. A knowledge discovery system called the Haptic GeoWand is a low interaction system that allows users to query geo-tagged data around them by using a point-and-scan technique with their mobile device. Haptic Pedestrian is a navigation system for walkers. Four prototypes have been developed classified according to the user’s guidance requirements, the user type (based on spatial skills), and overall system complexity. Haptic Transit is a notification system that provides spatial information to the users of public transport. In all these systems, haptic feedback is used to convey information about location, orientation, density and distance by use of the vibration alarm with varying frequencies and patterns to help understand the physical environment. Trials elicited positive responses from the users who see benefit in being provided with a “heads up” approach to mobile navigation. Results from a memory recall test show that the users of haptic feedback for navigation had better memory recall of the region traversed than the users of landmark images. Haptics integrated into a multi-modal navigation system provides more usable, less distracting but more effective interaction than conventional systems. Enhancements to the current work could include integration of contextual information, detailed large-scale user trials and the exploration of using haptics within confined indoor spaces

Expanding Navigation Systems by Integrating It with Advanced Technologies

Navigation systems provide the optimized route from one location to another. It is mainly assisted by external technologies such as Global Positioning System (GPS) and satellite-based radio navigation systems. GPS has many advantages such as high accuracy, available anywhere, reliable, and self-calibrated. However, GPS is limited to outdoor operations. The practice of combining different sources of data to improve the overall outcome is commonly used in various domains. GIS is already integrated with GPS to provide the visualization and realization aspects of a given location. Internet of things (IoT) is a growing domain, where embedded sensors are connected to the Internet and so IoT improves existing navigation systems and expands its capabilities. This chapter proposes a framework based on the integration of GPS, GIS, IoT, and mobile communications to provide a comprehensive and accurate navigation solution. In the next section, we outline the limitations of GPS, and then we describe the integration of GIS, smartphones, and GPS to enable its use in mobile applications. For the rest of this chapter, we introduce various navigation implementations using alternate technologies integrated with GPS or operated as standalone devices

A Computer Vision and Maps Aided Tool for Campus Navigation

Current study abroad trips rely on students utilizing GPS directions and digital maps for navigation. While GPS-based navigation may be more straightforward and easier for some to use than traditional paper maps, studies have shown that GPS-based navigation may be associated with disengagement with the environment, hindering the development of spatial knowledge and development of a mental representation or cognitive map of the area. If one of the outcomes of a study abroad trip is not only to navigate to the location, but also to learn about important features such as urban configurations and architectural style, then there needs to be a better solution than students only following GPS directions. This research introduces one such explored solution being a new feature within wayfinding mobile applications that emphasizes engagement with landmarks during navigation. This feature, powered by computer vision, was integrated into a newly developed wayfinding mobile application, and allows one to take pictures of various Texas A&M University buildings and retrieve information about them. Following the development of the mobile application, a user study was conducted to determine the effects of the presence or absence of this building recognition feature and GPS-based navigation on spatial cognition and cognitive mapping performance. Additionally, the study explores the wayfinding accuracy performance of the building recognition feature and GPS-based navigation compared with traditional paper maps. This paper includes preliminary results where it was found that groups without GPS-based navigation took longer routes to find destinations than those with GPS-based navigation. It was also found that cognitive mapping performance improved for all participants when identifying destination buildings. Final data collection and analysis is planned for April 2022

Enabling technologies for urban smart mobility: Recent trends, opportunities and challenges

The increasing population across the globe makes it essential to link smart and sustainable city planning with the logistics of transporting people and goods, which will significantly contribute to how societies will face mobility in the coming years. The concept of smart mobility emerged with the popularity of smart cities and is aligned with the sustainable development goals defined by the United Nations. A reduction in traffic congestion and new route optimizations with reduced ecological footprint are some of the essential factors of smart mobility; however, other aspects must also be taken into account, such as the promotion of active mobility and inclusive mobility, encour-aging the use of other types of environmentally friendly fuels and engagement with citizens. The Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain and Big Data technology will serve as the main entry points and fundamental pillars to promote the rise of new innovative solutions that will change the current paradigm for cities and their citizens. Mobility‐as‐a‐service, traffic flow optimization, the optimization of logistics and autonomous vehicles are some of the services and applications that will encompass several changes in the coming years with the transition of existing cities into smart cities. This paper provides an extensive review of the current trends and solutions presented in the scope of smart mobility and enabling technologies that support it. An overview of how smart mobility fits into smart cities is provided by characterizing its main attributes and the key benefits of using smart mobility in a smart city ecosystem. Further, this paper highlights other various opportunities and challenges related to smart mobility. Lastly, the major services and applications that are expected to arise in the coming years within smart mobility are explored with the prospective future trends and scope