Google Australia and Sydney Airport have joined forces to launch Indoor Live View, an innovative augmented reality feature on Google Maps.
The launch comes as Sydney Airport braces itself for the imminent influx of millions of passengers during the peak Christmas travel period.
As Sunrise’s Consumer Correspondent Shaun White explains in the video above, Indoor Live View is set to revolutionise the way passengers and visitors navigate the vast expanse of Sydney Airport, comprising three terminals (T1, T2, T3). The AR feature, integrated into Google Maps, offers a comprehensive solution to the common challenges faced by travellers within the airport’s infrastructure.
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The airport maps feature helps passengers find their way from the train station to check-in counters, gates, lounges, baggage carousels, dining and shopping precincts, restrooms, ATMs, ticketing offices and more.
Indoor Live View brings this vision to life by overlaying arrows, directions, and distance markers onto the user’s phone camera view, providing real-time guidance and eliminating the guesswork associated with navigating such sprawling spaces.
A noteworthy feature is the inclusivity embedded within Indoor Live View. Users can select the wheelchair accessible preference, unveiling paths friendly to wheelchairs, prams and suitcases. For an enhanced navigation experience, audio prompts can be activated in addition to visual cues, catering to a diverse range of passenger needs.
The technology powering Indoor Live View is called global localisation, leveraging artificial intelligence to analyse billions of indoor street view images. This process allows the system to comprehend an individual’s orientation within the airport and offer precise guidance, marking a significant leap forward in the realm of AR-powered navigation.
Sydney Airport stands as the pioneer in Australia, being the first airport in the country to integrate Indoor Live View into Google Maps. Regardless of whether you’re departing or landing, the feature is readily available on both Android and iOS platforms, promising a smoother and more efficient travel experience.