The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is extending GoodMaps indoor navigation to its PATH rail system, aiming to help passengers with disabilities find their way through complex transit facilities. The expansion follows a pilot at the Hoboken terminal in New Jersey.
For the pilot, GoodMaps carried out a LiDAR scan of the Hoboken station to build a detailed digital model of the facility. The scan produced point cloud imagery and CAD drawings, which were used to create an augmented reality navigation system delivered through the GoodMaps smartphone app. The tool gives turn-by-turn directions through audio, visual and augmented reality prompts. Port Authority analyst Keith Armonaitis described the scan as supporting a customised, accessible indoor navigation tool in the GoodMaps app.
Rollout across PATH
Cities Today reports that the GoodMaps tools will expand to all stations on the PATH rail system. GoodMaps says it is introducing accessible wayfinding across 12 PATH stations, following the Hoboken pilot. The rollout is described as under way or planned rather than confirmed live at every station, and the vendor's page does not give station-by-station dates.
