Seocho District in Seoul has unveiled an innovative solution to navigate the labyrinthine structure of the Express Bus Terminal underground shopping complex. (Image courtesy of Seocho District Office)
SEOUL, Jan. 11 (Korea Bizwire) – Seocho District in Seoul, led by District Mayor Jun Sung-su, has unveiled an innovative solution to navigate the labyrinthine structure of the Express Bus Terminal underground shopping complex, known for its over 600 densely packed stores. Starting this month, Goteo Map, an indoor navigation app, will help visitors find their destinations more effortlessly.
Goteo Map assigns addresses to each shop, creating a spatial data system. This smart administrative service model is implemented through an app that guides users with location information.
Covering an area of about 31,566 square meters, the Express Bus Terminal underground shopping area (Goto Mall) presents a challenge with its complex interior and approximately 630 shops. Visitors often find themselves lost, struggling to locate their destinations, a concern echoed by the shop owners.
In developing the indoor navigation system, the district assigned road names and basic numbers to the roads and shops within the underground complex, in addition to installing number plates, object address plates, and over 150 Bluetooth-based location transmission devices.
The Goteo Map app features various functions like quick route guidance, general pathfinding, an augmented reality (AR) mode, and category search, providing diverse ways to navigate the mall. The ‘quick route guidance’ notably points out the nearest exits and restrooms. In AR mode, when users scan the surroundings with their phone’s camera, the app displays information about the shops in view.
An English language feature is also available for foreign tourists.
The district anticipates that this service will not only improve convenience and accessibility for visitors to the Express Bus Terminal but also aid in quickly locating exits and emergency exits in case of fire or emergencies, thereby preventing accidents.
The app is available for download on the Google Play Store, with an iPhone version to be released later.
Moving forward, the district plans to conduct satisfaction surveys to improve the service and expand its application to the entire area surrounding the Express Bus Terminal.
Mayor Jun Sung-su stated, “We aim to continuously develop this service to assist with the convenience and safety of visitors to the Express Bus Terminal area and to serve as a positive example in the development and use of indoor spatial information.”
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
