Qualitative study of the incompatibility of indoor map file formats with location software applications

• Main Authors: J. Gelernter, Nishith Maheshwari
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SpringerOpen 2019-08-01
• Series: Open Geospatial Data, Software and Standards
• Subjects: Indoor map; Building diagram; Floor plan; Interoperability; File format; IFC
• Online Access: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40965-019-0063-1

Abstract Indoor maps, and therefore the indoor map data and software that uses them, are used by architects, designers and planners, those in public safety and emergency response, facilities management and even advertising. Presently, the wide range of commonly-used formats for generating indoor maps means that many who would use indoor map applications either must convert indoor map data to another format or re-create the map, which can be time-consuming, costly, and even result in a flawed map. Because the problem is not recognized widely, the benefits that would come from solving it are not widely considered, and so indoor-map related software is not evolving rapidly. This article brings the problem into focus, which should spur enthusiasm to solve it. The article also considers solutions to interoperability problems, and offers what may be the most expedient solution. The solution, in brief, is that automatic conversion between commonplace indoor map file formats may result in data loss, so encouraging software makers to adopt certain formats is more practical than a solution involving file conversions which will be flawed. This paper advocates for a planned solution to indoor map data incompatibility rather than a market-driven solution which might take years longer to effect.