How to add digital wayfinding to your website?
Adding digital maps and wayfinding functionality to a website involves a combination of tools, technologies, and steps.
Here's a general guide on how to achieve this:
1. Gather Indoor Map Data:
Obtain detailed floor plans and indoor map data for the venue and building you want to display. This can be in formats like SVG, PNG, PDF,CAD or vector files.
2. Choose a Mapping Platform:
Decide on a mapping platform that supports indoor maps and navigation. If it’s for your website or web based app, you’ll need a platform that is responsive and web based and does not need you to download a SDK.
3. Prepare Indoor Map Data:
If your mapping platform supports it, convert or pre-process the indoor map data into the required format, typically GeoJSON – we recommend IMDF(OGC approved format and the standard for Indoor Mapping applications)
4. Integrate the Mapping API / Code:
Include the mapping API script in your website's HTML code. This could involve adding a <script> tag with the provided API key/token and loading the mapping library.
6. Display Indoor Maps:
Use the mapping library's documentation to add indoor maps to your website. This may involve specifying the map's container, center coordinates, zoom level, and initial view.
7. Add Wayfinding Features:
Implement wayfinding logic for your venue
Define landmarks, points of interest, and key landmarks to assist users in finding their way.
8. User Interaction:
Implement user interaction features like pan, zoom, and rotate to allow users to explore the indoor map easily.
9. Styling and Customization:
Customize the appearance of the indoor map to match your brand and website's design using the available styling options in the mapping platform – you’ll need access to a real time Content Management Solution
10. Testing:
Thoroughly test the indoor map and wayfinding functionality on different devices and browsers to ensure compatibility and a smooth user experience.
11. Documentation and Help:
Provide clear documentation or tooltips to guide users on how to use the indoor map and wayfinding features effectively. Also make sure you have access to your own documentation to ensure a self-service approach to deployment and maintenance
12. Maintenance:
Regularly update your indoor map data and ensure that the mapping platform's APIs and libraries are up to date.
13. Accessibility:
Consider accessibility guidelines to ensure that the indoor maps and wayfinding features are usable by all. (Font sizing / colour differentials for example)
Remember that the specific steps might vary based on the mapping platform and the technologies you're using for your website. Work with the mapping platform to understand detailed integration instructions and best practices
At Point Consulting, all we need to get started is the base map data and then we help you to style and manage the data through our online content management solution. If you are exploring and want to know more, please reach out to the team (click on team!)