WIM Technical Overview

Many records.
Every channel.

A single Wayfinding Information Model record drives physical signs, digital screens, mobile apps, kiosks, and voice AI — simultaneously, from one authoritative source. No reformatting. No bilateral syncs. No sixth silo.

1
Record per destination
Unlimited
Output channels
5
Open standards aligned
Many
Objects

01 — The Anatomy

Many objects.
Everything in one place.

Every WIM record is a structured hierarchy of semantic objects. Each object is governed by an international open standard. Together they form the complete, machine-readable description of a destination — from its topology to its real-time queue status.

wim

Record Identity

Version, record type, and timestamp. Every change is tracked and addressable. Every consumer knows exactly which version they're reading — enabling cache invalidation and audit trails across all channels simultaneously.

version record_id record_type updated_at
31 fields — full reference →
place

Place Definition

Canonical name, local-language equivalent, aliases, and precise IMDF location — campus, building, level, unit, and GPS coordinates. The single identity a destination holds across every system that consumes it.

id type name.primary name.local name.aliases location.unit coordinates
52 fields — full reference →
topology

Navigation Graph

IndoorGML nodes, connected nodes, nearest openings, and vertical connections. The mathematical structure that enables machine routing — not just displaying a map, but computing and broadcasting a path.

node_id connected_nodes nearest_opening vertical_connection
42 fields — full reference →
status

Live State

Open or closed, valid date ranges, live messages, real-time queue status. When status changes, every downstream channel updates automatically — the physical sign, the mobile route, the voice answer, all in sync.

open valid_from valid_until live_message queue_status
29 fields — full reference →
accessibility

Inclusive Routing

EN 17210 accessibility attributes as first-class citizens of the record — not optional metadata. Step-free, wheelchair, tactile guidance, hearing loop, low-stimulation route. Built in, not bolted on.

step_free_route wheelchair_accessible tactile_guidance hearing_loop low_stimulation_route
33 fields — full reference →
channels

Multi-Channel Output

Physical signage, digital screens, mobile map, kiosk, voice AI. Each channel receives exactly what it needs — pre-structured, pre-formatted, and pre-validated from the single record. No adapter logic per integration.

physical_signage digital_signage mobile_map kiosk voice_ai
47 fields — full reference →
events

Events

Scheduled and real-time events tied to a place — influencing routes, flows, and messaging across all channels. From capacity changes to temporary routing, events dynamically shape the journey experience.

event_id event_type event_start event_end event_location_id
25 fields — full reference →
payments

Payments

Payment logic integrated into the journey — from tickets and parking to access control. Enables systems to determine if, when, and how a user can proceed through a space.

payment_required payment_type payment_provider ticket_required payment_status
23 fields — full reference →
sensory

Sensory Input

Live signals from the environment — occupancy, noise, light, and flow — feeding real-time awareness into routing, recommendations, and system behavior.

sensor_id sensor_type occupancy_count noise_level_db measured_at
27 fields — full reference →
validation

Validation

Quality control layer that verifies whether a WIM record is complete, current, and compliant before it is published. Ensures geometry, topology, accessibility, and channel output are trusted across every connected system.

validation_status schema_valid standards_checked onsite_verified approved_at
33 fields — full reference →
recommendation

Recommendation

Context-aware guidance tailored to the user — selecting optimal routes, destinations, and channels based on preferences, accessibility needs, and live conditions.

recommendation_id recommended_route_id recommendation_reason accessibility_preference confidence_score
35 fields — full reference →
know_my_way

Probability

Predictive layer estimating what is likely to happen — delays, congestion, wait times — enabling proactive routing and smarter decision-making before issues occur.

prediction_type confidence_score estimated_wait_time_minutes probability_of_delay prediction_expires_at
44 fields — full reference →

02 — The Record

See it in action.

A real WIM record for the Cardiology Clinic at a hospital campus. Toggle between the rendered wayfinding output — what patients and systems actually see — and the underlying JSON that drives every one of those outputs.

Destination · Record active
Cardiology Clinic
Polikliniek Cardiologie
CampusMain Hospital
BuildingA
Level02
UnitA-02-145
Coords52.085 / 5.122
Open · Normal access
RouteBlue Route 3
FromMain Entrance A
Time~4 min
QueueModerate
Accessibility profile
♿ Wheelchair ⬡ Step-free ◉ Tactile 📢 Hearing loop 🧘 Low stimulation 🚻 Accessible WC
Cardiology Clinic — Blue Route 3
Building A · Level 02 · Unit A-02-145 · approx. 4 min from Main Entrance A
● Open
Route Guidance · 4 Decision Points
1
Enter through Main Entrance A.
↳ entrance-main-A
2
Follow Blue Route 3 towards the elevators.
↳ junction-A-00-04
3
Take the elevator to Level 2.
↳ elevator-A-03
4
Turn left. Cardiology Clinic is in unit A-02-145.
↳ junction-A-02-12
Physical Signage
Cardiology Clinic — Blue Route 3
sign-A-00-04 · sign-A-02-12
Digital Screen
Cardiology Clinic: follow Blue Route 3
screen-main-lobby-A
Mobile Map
Map visible · Route active
wim://route/main-entrance-A/dept-cardiology-001
Kiosk
Output enabled
Print Screen Accessible audio
Voice AI — Natural Language Answer
"The Cardiology Clinic is on Level 2 in Building A. Follow Blue Route 3 from the main entrance."
wim-place-cardiology-001.json · v1.0 · updated 2026-02-14

          

03 — Standards Alignment

Five standards.
One record.

Each object in the WIM record maps to a ratified international open standard. Not a proprietary schema — an orchestration layer over standards that already exist. This makes every WIM deployment vendor-neutral, interoperable, and legally future-proof.

IndoorGML 2.0
OGC — Open Geospatial Consortium · Ratified 2022

Navigation Topology

Defines the indoor navigation graph: nodes (spaces), edges (connections between them), and the topological relationships that make machine routing computable. IndoorGML is what transforms a floor plan into a navigable graph.

Governs in the WIM record
topology.node_id topology.connected_nodes topology.nearest_opening topology.vertical_connection
IMDF
Apple — Indoor Mapping Data Format · Open 2019

Venue & Space Identity

Provides canonical identifiers for venues, buildings, levels, units, openings, and amenities. IMDF is the lingua franca for indoor space identity — used by Apple Maps, major navigation platforms, and smart building systems globally.

Governs in the WIM record
place.location.building place.location.level place.location.unit topology.nearest_opening
CityGML 3.0
OGC — Open Geospatial Consortium · Ratified 2021

Semantic Building Model

Connects WIM records to the semantic 3D building model: rooms, circulation paths, spatial objects, and their relationships. The bridge between indoor wayfinding information and BIM and GIS environments.

Governs in the WIM record
place.id place.type place.location.campus provenance.source_systems
EN 17210
CEN — European Committee for Standardization · Ratified 2021

Accessibility by Design

Defines functional accessibility requirements for the built environment and information provision. In the WIM, these attributes are first-class record citizens — not optional metadata added afterwards — making inclusive routing automatic across all channels.

Governs in the WIM record
accessibility.step_free_route accessibility.wheelchair_accessible accessibility.tactile_guidance accessibility.hearing_loop accessibility.low_stimulation_route
WCAG 2.2
W3C — World Wide Web Consortium · Published 2023

Accessible Digital Output

The WIM doesn't just store accessible routing data — it ensures that every digital output channel renders content meeting WCAG 2.2 guidelines. Web pages, mobile apps, kiosk interfaces, and voice AI answers are all driven by the same accessibility-first data model. Accessibility flows downstream automatically because it is encoded upstream in the record. One change propagates everywhere.

Governs in the WIM record
channels.voice_ai.answer channels.kiosk.output channels.mobile_map channels.digital_signage place.name.aliases place.name.language

04 — The Flow

From source
to every surface.

The WIM is the canonical information layer between existing source systems and every downstream channel. No bilateral integrations. No per-channel reformatting. One record change propagates everywhere, simultaneously.

Source Systems
BIMBuilding model
EHRClinical data
CMS SignPhysical assets
IndoorGMLNavigation graph
IMDFVenue identifiers
Interconnect · WIM Record One source of truth · Open standards · API-first
Output Channels
Physical SignText + route colour
Digital ScreenDisplay message
Mobile MapDeep link + route
KioskPrint / screen / audio
Voice AINatural language

Let's build
this together.

The WIM is a concept looking for its first infrastructure partners — wayfinding consultancies, hospital networks, airport operators, and smart city programmes willing to co-develop the standard.