The PhD will be based in the School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering and will be supervised by Dr Salem Aljareh.

Navigating complex indoor environments is becoming increasingly vital, from shopping centres to airports, hospitals to huge museums. Indoor mapping presents unique challenges compared to outdoor mapping due to the complexity of indoor environments. These environments are widely variable in terms of size, structures, materials used, number of floors and layouts. Furthermore, they are often dynamic environments as objects, furniture and even walls can move around. Indoor mapping involves gathering information about interiors of different buildings which can raise security and privacy concerns.

The "3D Indoor Mapping for Navigation in Complex Environments" project at the University of Portsmouth takes on the challenge of creating a universal indoor mapping standards and techniques. We align with the University's commitment to cutting-edge research that solves real-world problems.

This project recognises the limitations of traditional two-dimensional maps when navigating complex indoor spaces. We envision a future where individuals and robots can effortlessly traverse complex environments with the aid of immersive, three-dimensional indoor maps. These maps will provide not only directions but also information about their surroundings, creating a more intuitive and efficient navigation experience.

The work explores state-of-the-art advances in 3D mapping both in academia and the industry and builds upon recent attempts to standardise indoor maps. It involves 3D mapping technologies and user-centric design, privacy considerations, and integration into existing navigation systems. Creating a seamless transition between outdoor and indoor navigation, ensuring that users can rely on accurate and immersive guidance wherever they go, is also vital.

Contributing to the field of indoor mapping not only enhances user experience and efficiency, but can also enable better space utilisation, reduce energy consumption, improve safety, and so much more.

The work on this project will:

• Research and development of cutting-edge 3D mapping technologies, including LiDAR and computer vision, to create detailed and dynamic indoor maps.
• Designing intuitive user interfaces and experiences for indoor navigation, catering to diverse use cases and accessibility needs.
• Implementing robust data privacy and security measures to protect user information while providing personalized navigation experiences.
• Collaborating with smart building technologies and IoT systems to enhance navigation with real-time information.
• Ensuring that the proposed 3D indoor mapping system seamlessly integrates with existing outdoor navigation systems, providing continuity and accuracy in complex environments.
• Emphasise how data collected can contribute to big data analysis exploring ways to optimise energy consumption, safety and mobility efficiency in indoor environments.

The PhD will be based in the School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering and will be supervised by Dr Salem Aljareh.

Navigating complex indoor environments is becoming increasingly vital, from shopping centres to airports, hospitals to huge museums. Indoor mapping presents unique challenges compared to outdoor mapping due to the complexity of indoor environments. These environments are widely variable in terms of size, structures, materials used, number of floors and layouts. Furthermore, they are often dynamic environments as objects, furniture and even walls can move around. Indoor mapping involves gathering information about interiors of different buildings which can raise security and privacy concerns.

The "3D Indoor Mapping for Navigation in Complex Environments" project at the University of Portsmouth takes on the challenge of creating a universal indoor mapping standards and techniques. We align with the University's commitment to cutting-edge research that solves real-world problems.

This project recognises the limitations of traditional two-dimensional maps when navigating complex indoor spaces. We envision a future where individuals and robots can effortlessly traverse complex environments with the aid of immersive, three-dimensional indoor maps. These maps will provide not only directions but also information about their surroundings, creating a more intuitive and efficient navigation experience.

The work explores state-of-the-art advances in 3D mapping both in academia and the industry and builds upon recent attempts to standardise indoor maps. It involves 3D mapping technologies and user-centric design, privacy considerations, and integration into existing navigation systems. Creating a seamless transition between outdoor and indoor navigation, ensuring that users can rely on accurate and immersive guidance wherever they go, is also vital.

Contributing to the field of indoor mapping not only enhances user experience and efficiency, but can also enable better space utilisation, reduce energy consumption, improve safety, and so much more.

The work on this project will:

• Research and development of cutting-edge 3D mapping technologies, including LiDAR and computer vision, to create detailed and dynamic indoor maps.
• Designing intuitive user interfaces and experiences for indoor navigation, catering to diverse use cases and accessibility needs.
• Implementing robust data privacy and security measures to protect user information while providing personalized navigation experiences.
• Collaborating with smart building technologies and IoT systems to enhance navigation with real-time information.
• Ensuring that the proposed 3D indoor mapping system seamlessly integrates with existing outdoor navigation systems, providing continuity and accuracy in complex environments.
• Emphasise how data collected can contribute to big data analysis exploring ways to optimise energy consumption, safety and mobility efficiency in indoor environments.