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Awareness Innovation News

CF Pacific Centre Mall: Inclusive Audio-Based Indoor Navigation Pilot

In 2021, A New Inclusive Shopping Experience is Coming to CF Pacific Centre in Downtown Vancouver

Smartphone users will be able to navigate the interior of Cadillac Fairview’s CF Pacific Centre using an interactive app called Accessibuild. Jeff Godfrey, the app developer, explains, “users will be able to complete journeys in real time or virtually. The app provides directions and instructions from a starting point until the user arrives at their destination. Providing an experience like outdoor GPS but indoors. Unlike other apps that use a purely graphic interface, this one is fully accessible to persons who are blind”.

Lillian Tummonds, General Manager, and her team at CF Pacific Centre have been collaborating with Y4U / Accessibuild and Gateway Navigation CCC Ltd to implement this first of its kind pilot in Canada.

David Brun, Founder of Gateway Navigation a community contribution company in partnership with the Canadian Council of the Blind, describes the recent innovations in creating highly accurate architectural models, “as the game changer in providing accurate wayfinding that delivers a unique augmented reality experience for all users.”

What has happened so far?

Early in December, Kickstart, a local BC company specializing in LiDAR scan technology, worked a night shift compiling one hundred and twenty laser light scans of Cadillac Fairview’s flagship mall in Vancouver, CF Pacific Centre. The mall stretches three city blocks, starting at Robson Street to the south and extending to Pender Street at the north, including the large food court connecting the Mall to the Heritage Hudson Bay Building.

This location has long been considered the epicentre of downtown Vancouver. The adjacent Canada Line SkyTrain Station bears the name City Centre. A fitting starting point for creating accessible and inclusive indoor wayfinding for all downtown Vancouver’s shoppers and visitors.

In September 2020 Y4U / Accessibuild and Gateway Navigation CCC Ltd. joined a conversation with Cadillac Fairview that had been initiated by David Martin, a tenant in 701 West Georgia Street, an office tower connected to the Mall. Due to David’s own personal experience of growing up with his mother, Maureen, blind from the advancement of Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), he recognized the potential impact of accessible audio-based indoor navigation for the users of such an important community space in Vancouver. He appreciates the benefits his mother and other family members with vision impairment would get from being more independent and confident in navigating their trips to local shops and venues at CF Pacific Centre.

Hence, a single letter initiated a conversation, that in turn identified a common vision, and has now transformed into a pilot project that will provide greater access and inclusion for everyone.

What are the next steps?

In February 2021, Y4U will have converted the data point cloud gathered by the LiDAR scans into a digital 3D architectural map of the main level of CF Pacific Centre. They will then download the essential elements of that map to their Accessibuild platform, following the voluntary standards set out by the Computer Technology Association (as included in the recommendations of the CTA inclusive indoor and outdoor audio-based navigation system for all persons).

Gateway Navigation CCC Ltd. personnel, who have overseen the collaboration from inception, will then engage with Cadillac Fairview, local community stakeholders, accessibility consultants and orientation mobility professionals to beta test the Accessibuild app and platform. Feedback from that engagement will result in recommendations to enhance the audio-based augmented reality experience delivered to users.

As we progress through the pilot, we look forward to providing updates leading up to the launch of the Accessibuild app in the Spring of 2021.

Many thanks to the exceptional team at Cadillac Fairview for their commitment and willingness to partner with us on this community project. Thanks also to David Martin who took the time to write the letter to introduce Gateway Navigation CCC Ltd. to the Cadillac Fairview team.

Please feel free to contact us by e-mail at: partners@gnc3.com with any questions, feedback or leads for future projects.

David Brun, Gateway Navigation CCC Ltd.

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Awareness Innovation Service

Gateway Navigation: Inclusive Audio-Based Navigation Systems

Who We Are and What We Do

Gateway Navigation CCC Limited is a unique social enterprise based in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Bringing together social innovation and for-profit sustainability. Founded in 2017 by individuals and organizations that share a lived experience in disability and a passion to make a difference in their community. Our social and business objective is to create a more accessible and inclusive world through applying human centred design in the use of accessible ABN networks in interior and exterior spaces.

Gateway Navigation applies a multifaceted approach in working with venues, suppliers, and stakeholders. This includes upholding principles of universal design, expertise in available assistive technology, stakeholder co-design, testing proof of concept, inoperability of technology and facilitating ongoing feedback by the venue's accessibility team, stakeholders, and users.

Gateway Navigation creates an accessible wayfinding assessment.  Mapping the venue's architectural elements, including auditory, tactile, high contrast and environmental features. Supporting inclusive wayfinding systems and universal design concepts. Starting at public transit or drop-off pick up points to the desired arrival point of a journey.  This assessment becomes the basis for potential audio-based navigation network solutions.

The desired outcome of reliable, consistent and impactful projects is achieved by viewing them through a holistic lens, That Integrates best practices and principles to create an orientation story that guides users with reliable and consistent information as set out in both the ITU and CTA standards for inclusive audio-based indoor and outdoor navigation systems for all persons.

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Advocacy Awareness workshop

Sinclair Centre: Inclusive Audio-Based Indoor Navigation for all Persons

Sinclair Centre Plays Virtual Host to Audio-Based Navigation Scavenger Hunt

Editors note: At the end of the post is a link to the Accessibuild app for IOS and Android users to download the free app. Then participate in the scavenger hunt. Using a virtual map of Sinclair Centre and recover the clues used in the June 4th National Accessibility Awareness Week event.
As part of National Accessibility Awareness Week. Public Services Procurement Canada partnered with Gateway Navigation and Accessibuild. In a one-hour Zoom session focused on universal design, accessibility as a social justice issue and a virtual scavenger map walk through at Sinclair Centre.
The session titled “Enhancing Accessibility One Building at a Time”, is based on an educational / awareness series developed by Jim Taggart FRAIC in collaboration with Gateway Navigation and the Canadian Council of the Blind. Added to this edition was an interactive virtual audio-based indoor navigation experience created by Jeff Godfrey, Lead App Developer, Accessibuild. With the support of Sinclair Centre, home of Services Canada and Passport Canada Offices in downtown Vancouver.
David Brun, Director and Founder, Gateway Navigation stated, “We are extremely fortunate to have the confidence and support of the leadership of PSPC in British Columbia to get our perspective and solutions to potential users and decision makers within the Federal Government. Specifically, I would like to express my deep appreciation to Tara Hartley, Regional Director and Annie Desgagné, Regional Director General of PSPC. And their teams for making our efforts possible. When trying to change attitudes and empower ability in contrast to decades if not centuries of engrained bias. The need for Champions is vital and we are extremely fortunate to have Annie and Tara working with us”
Jim Taggart in his presentation explains, “There are no special needs only the needs for people to work, go to school or access services”. Further elaborating that the lack of universal design contributes far more to a person being disable than any limitation they may have in sight, hearing, mobility, etc.”. Concluding that with 22% of the population currently identifying as having a disability and compounding this reality with an aging population. Creating accessible and inclusive public spaces is not only important it is essential for the economic and social health of society.
Jeff Godfrey from Accessibuild then set the stage for the interactive experience of Sinclair Centre, saying, “Normally, for a full service app a highly accurate scan would be done of the interior space, that would then be rendered into a map data file for download to the app. However, for the purpose of this event a data file was created from existing architectural drawings and due to the current social distancing restrictions, the on-site accessibility assessment and trialing by stakeholders was not possible. For that reason, the purpose of the map developed is as a virtual map experience to demonstrate the functionality of the app and is not to used for actual navigation purposes”.
Brian Bibeault, a member of the Canadian Council of the Blind and the Get Together with Tech GTT Program. Then demonstrated the app and the pre-set route through Sinclair Centre. Brian described the features of the app and his experience in testing. Adding, “Using the app to navigate the beta test site in North Bay, I consistently arrive within a step of my destination. The app provides me with direction, distance, and relevant information at each decision-making point. While I apply my orientation and mobility skills as a white cane user to navigate independently.
During question and answer an audience member asked, how would a deaf person access the app for navigation purposes. Panelist, Albert Ruel, Coordinator CC B Get Together with Tech Program, replied, “The map data is digital, not graphical as you would find using Apple or Google maps. So, this information can be delivered through the means most accessible to the user. For example, a braille user could use a refreshable braille device connected to their smartphone. A deaf or visually impaired user may just used screen text that is enhanced by contrast or font size. Or as in my case, by audio feed.”
In concluding, Brun summarized, “we are at the cusp of great change in relation to inclusive audio-based navigation systems. The cost effectiveness and accuracy available through advances in LiDAR mapping. Combined with Apple’s Indoor Mapping Data Format – IMDF as a shareable open source database. Puts venues, app developers and users on a path to greater accessibility and inclusion for everyone”.
Please contact us at partners@gnc3.com if you or your organization would like to find out more about our educational / awareness series, “Enhancing Accessibility One Building at a Time” or for any questions or quotes to make your venue more accessible using inclusive audio-based navigation systems that benefit everyone.
Accessibuild free app links:
Android: coming soon. Check the Accessibuild homepage for availability: https://www.accessibuild.ca/
IOS: https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/accessibuild/id1487709203

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Awareness News Standard

Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC): Inclusive Indoor Navigation Systems

Working Together for the Common Good: Standardizing IMDF

OGC members, including Google, are supporting Apple’s, Indoor Mapping Data Format (IMDF) to be recognized as the industry’s standard for open indoor digital map information. Other Consortium Members including Autodesk, Esri, New York City Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DOITT), Ordnance Survey Limited, and Safe Software also supported the submission
IMDF enables mobile-compatible and user-friendly information for any indoor space, providing a basis for orientation, navigation, and the augmenting of an individual’s understanding of their surroundings.
Agreeing to an industry standard enables venues to share and/or register their location information to a multitude of navigation / wayfinding app developers. Essentially, marketing the venue and services it offers to the widest audience possible.
Apple IMDF Overview
“Indoor Mapping Data Format provides a generalized, yet comprehensive model for any indoor location, providing a basis for orientation, navigation and discovery. In the current release there are also detailed instructions for modeling the spaces of an airport, a shopping mall, and a train station.
Developers can access both text and visual examples of all features, along with clear explanations of all terms. IMDF conforms to RFC 7946, ensuring compatibility and transferability of the data. IMDF is lightweight, mobile friendly, and can be rendered on any device, OS, or browser.
For GIS and BIM specialists, there is support for IMDF in many of your favorite tools.
IMDF maps integrated with indoor positioning can establish the foundation for a wide range of consumer and enterprise location-based apps and websites.” (excerpt apple website)
Building owners and managers implementing the development of the digital mapping data, IMDF Standard for their venue. Along with the ITU and CTA international standards for creating inclusive audio-based indoor and outdoor navigation systems for all persons. Are not only addressing the spirit and regulatory requirements under the Accessible Canada Act. They are welcoming the 22% of working age Canadians with a disability to work, learn and enjoy the services and products supported at their location.For more information on the use and importance of standards for building welcoming, accessible, and inclusive environments for everyone. Contact Gateway Navigation at email partners@gnc3.com.
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