BindiMaps launches world-first indoor navigation system with Australia Post
By
Stephen Reinhardt
BindiMaps, a digital accessible wayfinding company, has partnered with Australia Post to introduce a groundbreaking indoor navigation system with 30-centimetre accuracy.
The new “Hyperlocal” technology, partly funded by a $1 million NSW government grant, will first be rolled out in three Australia Post locations in Melbourne and Sydney.
Key features of the BindiMaps Hyperlocal technology include:
- 30-centimetre accuracy for indoor navigation
- Can be installed in 1 hour, down from 24 hours for previous systems
- Uses GoPro video to create 3D digital models of spaces
- Applicable to a wide range of indoor spaces, including heritage sites and temporary venues
Josh Bannister, Executive General Manager Retail, Brand and Marketing at Australia Post, said the technology aligns with their commitment to improving accessibility.
“Australia Post is committed to improving the accessibility of our retail stores and it’s important to us that all customers are able to navigate our Post Offices easily and independently,” Mr Bannister said.
While initially developed to assist people with vision impairment, BindiMaps reports that only 2 percent of its current users are blind, indicating broader appeal.
Anna Wright, founder and CEO of BindiMaps, emphasized the technology’s potential impact.
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“Access to the built environment, in all its complex and dynamic forms, is one of the largest barriers for people with disabilities to participate equally in society,” Ms Wright said.
The technology has already been implemented in various locations, including Sunshine Coast Airport and Budapest Airport, where it serves tens of thousands of users annually.
Ben Moxey, an Access and Technology Advisor at Guide Dogs NSW/ACT who is blind, trialled the system at Castle Hill Train Station.
“The increased accuracy of BindiMaps’ new system means I was able to use it to safely and easily navigate to a specific train door from the entrance to Castle Hill Station. It was really impressive,” Mr Moxey said.
BindiMaps aims to expand the technology globally, potentially benefiting the estimated 1.3 billion people worldwide with vision impairment or disability.