Interactive Campus Mapping for Colleges and Universities

Frequently asked questions

• How to Make a Campus Map

  If you’re looking to create your own map, you will need to determine the objective and goal of your indoor campus map. Will the map be used for simply college wayfinding, or will it provide interactive virtual college tours? Once you have a list of goals for your map, you can choose an indoor map software provider that can execute all the features. You will want to choose a reliable indoor map software provider, like Mappedin, that has extensive experience creating venue maps for facilities of similar sizes. Whether you’re making a map for a university or college, you want to ensure that the service provider can integrate seamlessly with your existing website and apps. Once you’ve established the goals and found a service provider, gather all the information about your higher education institution. This includes a 2D map of your entire campus and floor plans of each building. Put together a list of all the facilities and make sure you include all points of interest as well, to better enhance the indoor map. The more information you provide, the better the mapping experience and student interactions with your digital map. Experts from your wayfinding solution provider will help to upload all the information and details, and then your 2D map into 3D maps. You can then easily make edits and revisions on their CMS. Once your indoor map and digital directory are up to date, you can also implement digital signage across the campus. These digital signs and wayfinding apps can provide detailed information about places to find a campus computer, campus resources, the latest news, and updates, as well as upcoming events.

• Do you only map the indoors? What about navigation outdoors between buildings?

  While Mappedin is the leading provider of indoor maps, we work with venues such as campuses, city districts, theme parks, and outlet shopping malls that also have an outdoor component. Mappedin’s solution for these venues (and anything similar) will include mapping of both the in and outdoors. Users will be able to navigate through any building, as well as between them.

• Can digital campus maps be used for more than simple wayfinding?

  Yes, digital campus maps can be used for a variety of things in addition to A-B wayfinding. Students, staff, and visitors can use Smart Search to discover classrooms, study spaces, food options, shops, and any additional services and amenities located on campus. Colleges and universities may also highlight on-campus events and promotions with the digital map and thereby increase visibility and student engagement. Location details are another important use for digital maps: users can view information such as hours, a description, phone number, and other relevant data in one centralized location. You can even include important links in your map - a bookstore’s website, a reservation link for study space, or the menu for an on-campus restaurant, for example. Digital campus maps can also be used to increase safety for students and visitors. Your map can include the location of campus security, fire extinguishers, emergency exits, and other security facilities. Paired with the ability to send push notifications, campuses can send emergency notifications to individuals in specific locations. For example, all those within a certain building should evacuate through the emergency exits highlighted on the map.

• How can indoor mapping reduce stress for students?

  Students can map routes in advance to find the perfect walkways that allow them to plan their timetable in advance. Create university interactive virtual tours through the mapping application so students can familiarize themselves with the campus areas. Help students adjust to campus life and eliminate campus navigation challenges.