LOST SHOPPERS and those with a questionable sense of direction will be heartened by the development of an indoor GPS system by a firm based in Cork Institute of Technology (CIT).

MapUme was developed by Dr Martin Klepal, Dr Susan Rea and Dr Alan McGibney to help people navigate increasingly large shopping centre complexes, hospitals and office blocks.

It is based on broadband-enabled mobile phones.

“Our system is based on a smartfone with access to wireless communications and it captures information automatically and provide the user with a three- dimensional map of the building they are in and their position in it,” said Klepal.

He said the technology also fits in well with social media as it can be used to find friends, colleagues or clients within a building.

McGibney said the system is particularly useful for people visiting a building for the first time, or those looking for a particular section or room.

“MapUme is like GPS for the indoors. If you go into a building with wi-fi or mobile phone network coverage, the software catches the information and provides your location within the building,” he said.

The company has received support from CIT and Enterprise Ireland and has filed a patent before finalising its commercialisation strategy.

mapume.com