Apple Maps data requirement for indoor mapping inclusion Ping!
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Posted on 03/04/2015 6:25:43 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
One thing you can depend on, Apple is going to pack all kinds of goodies into its technology that offer the potential to transform the functionality of these devices and transform how you communicate with your customers. A case in point is Apple’s Indoor Positioning functionality, which Apple has updated for iOS 8 to provide facility owners with indoor latitude, longitude and floor level via API.
To utilize Indoor Positioning in their own app, facility owners will need to survey their facility using Apple tools and upload a map to the Maps Indoor interface. Once that is done, the technology can be incorporated into the facility’s app. However, not just any company can utilize Apple’s Indoor Positioning.
To do so you must meet the following criteria:
- Be accessible to the general public.
- Have annual visitors in excess of 1 million.
- Have complete reference maps available.
- Have enabled Wi-Fi throughout.
- Have an associated app authorized by the facility owner.
If you qualify, it can be an enticing opportunity, but is it one for your company? Do you have the internal expertise to leverage the opportunity? To answer these types of questions, the safe bet is to work with a company who has in-depth expertise in location aware technology.
One such company is Phunware, which specializes in location aware technology. To help facility owners learn more about Apple’s Indoor Positioning, Phunware’s VP and GM of Product, Andy Greff, has written “Apple Indoor Maps and Positioning: A Primer” which examines the technology and provides advice on how facilities should approach the opportunity.
As he points out in the article, rolling out a comprehensive mobile indoor positioning system takes more than just knowing the latitude, longitude and floor. With Phunware’s expertise in Mapping, Navigation and Wayfinding, developers can quickly implement indoor mapping and positioning into their mobile offerings. You can also take advantage of one of Phunware’s pre-built vertical solutions if you don’t yet have an app of your own or prefer a purpose built solution.
Realizing that you have to serve all customers, not just those with an iPhone, Phunware provides location aware solutions that are technology-agnostic, having productized SDK location provider integrations such as OS (iOS and Android) for GPS, Wi-Fi (server-side), Wi-Fi (client-side), chipset / processor and BLE beacons. And now Apple Indoor Positioning.
Example: mapping the inside of a mall. Want directions to the Starbucks? Elevator to first floor, north wing, keep walking from where you are, you’re almost there, it’s on your right.
“. Want directions to the Starbucks?”
More practical .... Directions to find duct tape at Home Depot.
One good example.
Another would be - " How and where do I get the hell out, when the gang-bangers start shooting?"
Seems to be what malls are for anymore.
The future of “malls” appears to be computer server farms (cheap lease rates) and conversion to Section 8 housing.
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I see helpless people.
Help! I’m stuck on Infinite Loop!
AND ... that would indeed be a very practical application, which Home Depot should definitely implement!
You say it’s helpless people ... well, I was at Woodland Hills Mall in Tulsa, and I had to hunt around — FIRST — to find one of those “Mall Maps” that are scattered around the mall. I could have used a MAP right then to FIND THEIR MALL MAP ... LOL ...
THEN ... I used their “Mall Map” to find the location of the store I wanted.
SO YEAH! ... I would have definitely used a map from Apple in a much more FUNCTIONAL WAY than what they have set up right now!!
That would be good to have. I was in the hospital today, on the sixth floor and when I looked out my window, I was looking at their ground-level Helicopter-Pad.
HOWEVER, my map put me (the iPad) on the Helicopter-Pad, instead of in the building. For general usage of finding the right street and getting to the right building — that would be okay ... but it doesn’t work well (right now) for finding where you are, exactly, in a building. I would welcome that improvement!
Thanks for the ping...
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