Sensory sensitivity wayfinding for complex public transport hubs

This Sensory Sensitivity Wayfinding project will explore how digital navigation tools can better support people with sensory sensitivities when navigating complex public transport hubs. Through co-design, consultation, and user research, the project will investigate the barriers faced in navigating public transport venues and identify the design principles required to address them.

The findings will inform the development of sensory-friendly wayfinding features, helping to shape more inclusive, user-centred mobility solutions for transport settings across Australia.

Participants

• iMOVE Australia
• BindiMaps
  

Project background

People with sensory sensitivities often face significant barriers when navigating public transport environments. These barriers include overwhelming noise, lighting, and crowding, which can make independent travel stressful or inaccessible.

While tools like static sensory maps exist, BindiMaps’ early research has shown that such solutions are often generic and fail to address the complexity of individual sensory needs in real-time.

The Sensory Sensitivity Wayfinding project is being undertaken to explore how digital wayfinding technology can better serve this user group. By conducting user research, co-design workshops, and early prototyping, the aim is to develop a foundational understanding of what meaningful, personalised navigation support for sensory sensitivities should look like. This work will inform future feature development in BindiMaps’ infrastructure-free, accessible wayfinding platforms, and will generate valuable insights for the broader transport and accessibility sectors.

Project objectives

The main objective is to:

• Produce functional prototypes (or Minimal Viable Product) of digital wayfinding solutions that respond to user requirements, demonstrating the feasibility and potential of sensory-friendly design.

Sub-objectives of the project are to:

• Develop a validated framework for sensory-sensitive wayfinding.
• Deliver a set of evidence-based design guidelines and user requirements to inform the future development of inclusive navigation tools and features.
• Provide a roadmap for further development and deployment, including insights into technology, user experience, accessibility standards, and practical implementation in real-world environments.

Please note …

This page will be a living record of this project. As it matures, hits milestones, etc., we’ll continue to add information, links, images, interviews and more. Watch this space!