AIRPORT WAYFINDING DESIGN
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How a traveller makes their way through the airport is influenced by number of factors which fall into the following three broad areas.
Human Information
Environmental
1. The individual and their ability to interpret wayfinding information being conveyed to them. This is influenced by their experience in airport environment’s and their familiarity with the type of information they encounter.
2. An inexperienced traveller tend not to have a good understanding of how to move through an airport and will look for more information.
3. A traveller will register a logical sequencing of information in a liner fashion. Hence, it is imperative to provide relevant information at important decision making points.
1. How the users interprets the information will affect how they find their way through the airport.
2. Wayfinding information must stay constant in it’s look and feel for maximum recall value and presence as a system with in the environment.
3. The traveller must be able distinguished wayfinding information from other types of information, such as operational information, emergency, evacuation and advertising.
1. The airport’s physical layout and architectural features such as scale, colour scheme etc. will also influence the success of the wayfinding scheme.
2. Providing relevant information only at key points will help traveller's take decisions.
3. With the use of scale, colour, shape and form one can distinguish functional areas within the environment which in turn will aid navigation.
4. The use of various sight lines, scale in signage and other visual clues will also aid to good wayfinding system.
WAYFINDING IN THE AIRPORT ENVIRONMENT
WAYFINDING IN THE AIRPORT ENVIRONMENT
A B C
Entrance Points
Processing Points
Exit Points
1. Clarity of entrance is needed from a distance.
2. Effective use of colour, light and where appropriate, sound.
3. Visibility of next stage of journey from entrance.
4. Use of architectural feature in terms of scale and size to highlight entry point to the airport.
5. A sense of familiarity may be achieved through a consistent approach in the design of all entrance.
6. Every entrance is not equal in scale. Hence they should be defined by consistent and/or generic element.
1. In these area’s control information take president over all other types of information.
2. User must be made clear about do’s and don’t within such area’s.
3. Make the best utilisation of traveller’s queuing time. One can choose to provide a variety of information ranging from travelling instruction’s, weather or advertising.
4. Highlighting all the functional area’s with landmark signage.
5. Before leaving the processing point, make sure traveller’s are aware of the options ahead through use of sign or verbal advice.
1. Exits are entries to city’s and countries. They set the tone for a traveller’s perception of the city.
2. Exit should be signified in a reassuring way that is consistent and conveys a sense of completion.
3. Sign should physically or environmentally emphasize the transition from indoor to outdoor environments.
ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN ELEMENTS
ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN ELEMENTS
A B C
Orientation, Landmarks and Identity
Creating Zones of Different Visual Character
Lighting on Wayfinding Routes
1. The use of landmarks (visual) used to increase the chance of the traveller remembering a particular section of the airport.
2. The ability of landmarks to stand out and be seen from large area’s .
3. Visual landmarks in form of sculptures can vary in size, from large size landmarks in wide open area’s or local landmarks which are smaller in size to be seen only in the immediate vicinity.
4. Waiting area’s & travellers walkways are important for traveller to be able to absorb and process information that has been presented to them.
5. Different location within an airport should have it’s own identity or distinguishing feature. So that the traveller‘s perception of the location can be related to the greater surrounding space.
1. Zones are helpful in wayfinding. Since they provide a set of indicators to recognise a location.
2. A traveller will connect to a series of defining characteristics to recognise a place while being in a particular zone.
3. An individual zone can be set apart by its environment, architecture or visual characteristics, its purpose or function.
4. Using colour, height and dramatic lighting to break the repetitiveness and to define zones.
5. Place a sign where it’s important for a traveller to make a decision .
6. Where possible, the space should give a traveller an opportunity to socialise or retreat from progressing.
1. Appropriate and well planned lighting schemes are important parts of a good wayfinding system.
2. Wayfinding routes within an airport require sufficient level of lighting to ensure travellers can navigate through the airport and are able to see and interpret wayfinding information.
3. Lifts and ramps , entrances , exits need to be well defined and should have bright lighting.
4. Glare and shadows should be completely avoided. Hence non reflective surfaces should be considered where necessary.
5. Wayfinding information should have suitable illumination to ensure travellers are able to read relevant information.
6. This level of light must be maintain during all hours of airport operation.
1. Maps is a valuable navigation aid while navigating in a complex environment/space.
2. The location of the navigator, and what is in the immediate vicinity.
3. What destinations are available and what pathways to follow
4. The size of the space, and how far the navigator is along his/her chosen path.
5. Points out station’s/stands to catch taxi’, train’s or buses.
A B C
Designing Signs Dynamic Signs Emergency Signs
1. The sign must be positioned to ensure consistency. Visual clutter is reduced and traveller’s are presented with key information at critical decision making points.
2. The content of the sign is appropriate to support traveller’s goals in the area it is located.
3. The text information is legible and easy to read at realistic viewing distance.
4. Exploring a bilingual system of signage.
5. Any symbols used must be clear and easy to understand.
6. The information is of sufficient clarity and is unambiguous and easy to read.
7. The colour is appropriate and enhances the readability of the sign.
8. Determine the content of each of the messages to communicate to traveller’s in accordance with primary, secondary and tertiary information.
1. LCD, Plasma and DLP Projectors can be used in Custom and Border Protection controlled areas to display regulatory messages.
2. These can be located through out the airport to display flight information.
3. Dynamic displays must be carefully considered to avoid congestion in circulation areas and conflicts between ‘stationary’ and ‘moving’ travellers.
4. Dynamic Signs help in making an open ended signage system.
5. Dynamic Signs can be used to give emergency information when required.
1. The Fire Exit signs should be bold and clearly visible.
2. These sign must follow the international standard.
3. The dynamic signs, in case of emergency all these signs can switch to providing emergency information.
OUR QUESTION’S & CONCULSION
How can the navigation system be improved to give the flier a smoother stress free travel experience.
1. Navigation system should be designed to alleviate the stress involved while navigating through such environments.
2. Appropriate amount of information at appropriate location should be provided so as to avoid overwhelming the user with too much information.
3. Signage system should prepare the traveller for all parts of his/her journey.
4. Signage system should represent the culture milieu of its surroundings.
5. Should be dynamic to allow changes/quick up-gradation.
Some of the current problems with navigation at airports.
1. Lack of standardization
2. Cultural and language barriers.
3. Too much information at a single point.
4. Security information are constantly changing.
5. At Exit points from the airport lack of information is provided to the traveller about the option available for him to reach his destination in the city.
What is the targeted audience for the wayfinding signage?
1. Casual & first time fliers
2. Regular flier will use it for the overall experience.
3. International flier who will be entering the country.
4. Must be friendly to all emergency services.
1. The system must be design to promote the identity of state/city .
2. Various elements which can symbolise the value, its culture and its growth must be part of the design philosophy.
3. It must incorporate the modern aspect of an aspirating state in its way of representation.
Something that need to kept in consideration while design of signage.
The typeface must be clear and calming.
Working with symbols and text together.
Standardization of the layout system in the various signage systems
Promoting the identity of the place & country.
While designing wayfinding system?
1. Navigation system designed to aid passengers travelling.
2. To help the lost and confused traveller’s.
3. System must be designed in a calming and clean way.
4. Must be as effective as possible.
5. Should represent the culture and salient points of the city.