Developing a Framework for Describing and Comparing Indoor Maps

Abstract

Traditionally, research on cartography has primarily been focused on visualisation of outdoor environments. Recently, however, indoor cartography has increasingly attracted attention both from the academic world and from commercial enterprises. Indoor cartography calls for markedly different visualisation strategies. Frameworks for describing map communication and use exist for general maps. But so far, no such framework exists for indoor maps. This article presents and discusses several map types for indoor spaces found in the literature and commercial products. The different characteristics of each one are identified and described. On this basis, a framework for indoor maps is developed and presented. Arbitrary indoor maps can be described by their properties using the framework. This allows indoor maps to be compared and described using a common platform.

Keywords:

• indoor cartography
• descriptive model
• visualisation

Special thanks are due to Mike Worboys, Terje Midtbø and Rolf Nossum whose critique of my work never fails to stimulate and inspire.