The recently released Wi-Fi standard, IEEE 802.11az enables more refined and accurate indoor location capabilities.
As technology manufacturers incorporate the new standard in various devices, it will enable buildings, including malls, arenas, and stadiums, to provide new wayfinding and tracking features. The previous standard yielded Wi-Fi location accuracy of 1-2 meters, while the new standard raises accuracy to less than 0.1 meter or about 4 inches.
Applications are expected to use this technology by:
- Providing more accurate indoor navigation. In a retail store, for example, a consumer could use an application to navigate through a store, as is used in vehicles to map a travel route, from the entrance to the desired product.
- Enablement of micro-targeting for retail and warehouse asset tracking. A store worker could use a mobile app to track products on shelves, in the stock room, and in a warehouse. A retailer could also leverage usage data from its customers’ shopping apps—such as their movements on the retail floor—to derive analytics and serve relevant ads to the user.
- Improved scalability will allow hundreds of devices to connect at the same time in dense environments, such as shopping malls, arenas, and stadiums where large numbers of users are actively co-locating with Wi-Fi simultaneously.
- Secure, authenticated, and private positioning. Proper authentication can be confirmed when you are within inches of two devices. This could be used, for example, to unlock an interior door via a smart device. Other applications could be the use of a smart device to make payment at the point of sale or using it to facilitate an ATM transaction.
Related Stories
Airports | May 31, 2018
Denver's airport city
Cultivation of airport cities is an emerging development strategy shaped by urban planners, civic leaders, airport executives, and academics.
| May 24, 2018
Accelerate Live! talk: Security and the built environment: Insights from an embassy designer
In this 15-minute talk at BD+C’s Accelerate Live! conference (May 10, 2018, Chicago), embassy designer Tom Jacobs explores ways that provide the needed protection while keeping intact the representational and inspirational qualities of a design.
Retail Centers | Apr 19, 2018
Miami International Airport is home to the first Johnnie Walker store in the U.S.
The store will be a permanent fixture in the airport’s North Terminal.
Airports | Feb 21, 2018
Terminal Modernization: Why Bother? Part II
This is the second post in our series examining why airport operators should bother to upgrade their facilities, even if capacity isn’t forcing the issue.
Airports | Feb 7, 2018
LaGuardia Airport receives eight private work booths in Terminal B
The hub sees over 15 million travelers annually.
Libraries | Jan 29, 2018
Commercial plane that skidded off the runway may become Turkey’s newest public library
The plane was removed from its cliffside perch five days after the incident.
Giants 400 | Oct 5, 2017
On wings of gold: Alternative financing schemes are propelling the high-flyin’ air terminals sector
The $4 billion renovation of New York City’s LaGuardia Airport is the first major U.S. aviation project delivered using a public-private partnership (P3) model.
Giants 400 | Oct 3, 2017
Top 30 airport engineering firms
AECOM, Burns & McDonnell, and Arup top BD+C’s ranking of the nation’s largest airport sector engineering and EA firms, as reported in the 2017 Giants 300 Report.
Airports | Sep 11, 2017
Terminal modernization: Why bother? Part I
A terminal modernization program can be a complicated and expensive task that airport operators may be hesitant to undertake unless necessitated by demands for increased capacity. This is the first post in our series examining why airport operators should bother to upgrade their facilities, even if capacity isn’t forcing the issue.
Hotel Facilities | Jul 5, 2017
It only took 26 days to complete construction on the Crowne Plaza Changi Airport hotel extension
PPVC techniques allowed the project to save time and manpower.