| dc.description.abstract | This study focused on developing an accessible Augmented Reality (AR) application to enhance
indoor navigation, using a case study of learning institutions. A case of The Nelson Mandela
African Institution of Science and Technology and Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State
University institutions were selected for this study. The project’s objectives included gathering
requirements for the development and understanding of the challenges faced by students, staff, and
visitors who can be visually or non-visually impaired while navigating indoors in unfamiliar
buildings. The project's significance lies in its potential to enhance indoor mobility, and
accessibility, save time, and foster innovation in education technology. The application aims to
create a more inclusive learning environment by improving indoor navigation. Primary data were
collected through interviews and focus group discussions, creating a foundation requirement for
developing the application. The study used Scrum Agile methodology to develop the application
and web portal from the collected user requirements. The application was designed to run on
smartphones and further, a web-based portal was designed for staff to update their visitor
availability status. Development tools such as Unity, Microsoft Visual Studio, PHP, Python, and
APIs were used. This study highlights the challenge of indoor navigation in higher learning
institutions and the limited effectiveness of current solutions, especially for people with disabilities
particularly the visually impaired. Leveraging AR technology, known for enhancing real-world
perception by overlaying virtual content on top of users' real-world views, a user-friendly and
accessible indoor navigation application was developed. 80% of the results demonstrated the
effectiveness and usability of the application, with positive feedback from users highlighting its
potential to transform the indoor navigation experience. In conclusion, the study underscores the
need for further research to enhance indoor navigation, localization, and accessibility for a diverse
range of users and use cases.
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