Sunshine Coast Airport (SCA) has become Australia’s first airport to install digital accessible wayfinding solution BindiMaps in a bid to help its 1.62 million annual passengers seamlessly navigate its facilities.
The BindiMaps technology was designed with input from hundreds of users who are blind or vision-impaired to ensure the highest possible levels of accessibility and inclusivity, making its installation by SCA an important step on the airport’s journey to become more accessible.
The BindiMaps app uses a network of Bluetooth beacons and smartphone sensors to offer users a choice of text, map view, or audio directions that guide users through the airport using accurate, real-time, and step-by-step directions to any destination.
SCA general manager operations Kate McCreery-Carr said BindiMaps would empower all passengers, staff and visitors to feel confident when navigating the terminal, helping remove barriers while also laying the foundation for future growth.
She said: “Our goal is to create a more accessible airport for our community, where all passengers feel welcome, included, and confident when travelling.
“While the technology can be used by anyone, the benefits it will provide to passengers and visitors who are blind or visually impaired will be significant, allowing them to precisely navigate our terminal with greater ease and accuracy from the moment they enter, to the moment they leave.”
She pointed out that BindiMaps can be adapted as needed, and maps, routes and other relevant passenger information can be updated.
The installation of BindiMaps coincides with Queensland’s Year of Accessible Tourism, a campaign aimed at recognising the importance of accessible tourism experiences and creating opportunities for business.
McCreery-Carr said SCA was the gateway to the region, and the partnership with BindiMaps would help better cater to visitors of all abilities, and would “lay the foundation for a more accessible and inclusive future” for the entire aviation industry.
BindiMaps CEO and founder Anna Wright said: “BindiMaps will not only help passengers navigate to obvious places like boarding gates and security, it will also minimise the staffing burden of personalised assistance, manage congestion, and reduce late arrivals at the gates.”
She further explained: “BindiMaps functions a bit like Google Maps, but with 10 to 20 times greater accuracy than the Google satellites and GPS, which can only pinpoint location to around 20 metres compared to one-to-two metres indoors for BindiMaps.”
In addition, the company also won a worldwide tender with Budapest Airport to offer digital accessible wayfinding services to its 12+ million passengers annually as part of Europe’s Danova project providing audio navigation solutions for people with low vision and blindness.
