Augmented reality indoor navigation for subway stations (I2Loc)

The project develops a novel image-based approach for precise global indoor localization, integrated into an advanced AR application for iOS and Android devices. Its goal is to enable safe and intuitive navigation for passengers in complex subway platforms by overlaying visual AR guidance—such as directional arrows and markers—directly onto the real-world camera view.

By achieving significantly higher positioning accuracy than GPS and conventional indoor navigation solutions, the project aims to improve both passenger safety and user experience while reducing navigation errors in highly frequented underground stations. At the same time, the localization pipeline generates high-quality spatial datasets, including detailed 3D models of stations, which can serve as a foundation for further commercial applications such as indoor navigation and XR services and can be licensed accordingly.

The project is a collaboration between ZAUBAR and Fraunhofer HHI, combining ZAUBAR’s expertise in AR platforms with Fraunhofer HHI’s leading research in computer vision. In doing so, it demonstrates a novel AR navigation solution and the application of state-of-the-art XR technologies “Made in Germany.”