On International GIS Day, observed every year on the third Wednesday of November, Siberian Federal University announced a new campus navigation GIS aimed at helping everyone get oriented across the university grounds. The project came from the university’s geographic information systems department in partnership with students who studied in the same program, turning classroom knowledge into a practical tool for campus life.
Officials explained that the indoor-outdoor navigation concept had been on the drawing board for some time, with efforts accelerating this year into a working prototype. The project represents a collaborative effort that blends academic instruction with real-world application, showcasing how GIS skills can directly improve daily campus experiences.
The application was developed as part of an intra-university competition aligned with the Priority 2030 program, and it received support from the SFU program committee. This backing underscored the university’s commitment to fostering student innovation while advancing institutional digital infrastructure.
According to associate professor Anna Gosteva, head of the basic department of geographic information systems, the pilot currently covers a subset of the campus. The initial rollout focuses on 3 of the university’s 30 buildings, serving as a proof of concept for the broader system. The interface is designed to be intuitive, following the same logical structure that has guided other terrain-aware GIS applications developed in similar settings.
“With the new system, users can create continuous routes that connect two to five points both outdoors and inside buildings. It enables quick searches for specific facilities and allows users to switch floors as needed. The platform also highlights popular pedestrian corridors and shuttle stops, making it easier to plan efficient trips across the campus,” Gosteva explained. She emphasised that user preferences are considered, with options to choose the shortest route or a path that minimizes stairs if necessary.
Developers reported substantial progress, detailing that the team worked with roughly 65 thousand square meters of floor plans, digitized 547 classrooms, and mapped around 40 kilometers of routes. The effort involved meticulous digitization and route planning to ensure accuracy and reliability for everyday campus navigation.
Once testing concludes with university students and faculty, the team plans to refine the system further and extend coverage to additional buildings and pathways. The anticipation is that the tool will prove particularly valuable for first-year students and visiting researchers who attend SFU for conferences, sports events, and youth activities, helping them find their way quickly and confidently.
SFU acknowledges that even a large campus can be challenging to navigate. The university spans more than 850 thousand square meters, with 30 academic buildings along with a congress hall, a medical center, 30 dormitories, and 28 sports facilities. This scale makes an accurate, user-friendly navigation system especially important for new arrivals and guests alike.
Beyond basic wayfinding, the GIS project may assist visitors who need to locate dining facilities or pharmacies, contributing to a smoother campus experience. The team also envisions future enhancements, including fun and unique elements such as a squirrel feeding area, the highest flag on campus, and street chess tables, all designed to add character and a sense of place to the navigation experience while supporting practical movement across the site.