Mobile Travel Companion in Public Transportation-Navigation in Subway Stations Using the Example of the Vienna Public Transportation

摘要

The importance of the role of public transportation for sustainable development is beyond debate. However, several entry barriers prevent people from using this means of transport. Specific barriers concerning orientation of public transportation users are, for example, the complexity of public transportation systems and situations of modal change. To overcome these entry barriers, the attractiveness of public transportation has to be increased. This paper presents user needs towards navigation in the Vienna underground public transportation and illustrates an indoor localization method to satisfy these needs. In this context, expectations and experience of public transportation users are evaluated with a focus on indoor localization in subway environments. Methods used are focus group interviews, a wireless local area network (WLAN) outdoor field survey, expert interviews and literature research. The results indicate that an indoor positioning system with wireless LAN access points is able to satisfy a majority of public transportation user needs. Passenger positioning with algorithm-enhanced WLAN localization meets most of the functional requirements and promotes the operation of a basic pedestrian navigation system for underground public transportation. If it comes to complex tasks, it is insufficient and lacks accuracy. Future research should include market-orientated argumentation which promotes navigation systems and their added benefit to public transportation in order to persuade public transportation service providers to extend their budget for a solid navigation.