What is the difference between 3D and 2D wayfinding and what are the benefits of 3D floor plans?
We have tested 3D, semi-3D and 2D floor-plans with our small focus-group and below is the short summary.
To see the 3D floor-plans in action, please sign up to 3D Wayfinder for creating your own 3D floor-plans, or see our 3D modelling services and examples.
3D Wayfinder supports also 2D images for creating wayfinding application.
Semi-3D maps are rendered or designed floor plans, that are made to look like 3D. The map is rendered on an angle, so it is possible to see part of walls also.
We are using semi-3D maps for mobile devices, where WebGL is not supported yet.
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3D floor plans |
Semi-3D floor plans |
2D floor plans |
| Overview of the building |
- 3D floor plans give a good overview of your location.
- With 3D users see the map the way they see the building in real life.
- It is possible to show the details, that people use for orientation inside building, for example escalators, pools, statues, tables, benches, trees etc.
- Showing walls give a better understanding of where you are and it is easier to link the map with a real building.
- It is easy to understand which floors have atriums and distinguish between things on different plains.
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- Semi 3D floor plans give also a good overview where you are.
- Semi 3D can be shown only from the one angle, when looking from the other side, they can be are hard to understand.
- Limited possibility to show the walls of the building.
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- Detailed 2D floor plans don’t give a clear overview, so it is better to use simple floor plans.
- With simple maps the amount of details are limited.
- It is hard for users to understand where they are and linking the map with real building is not that convenient.
- With 2D it is not possible to show the walls of the building.
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| Usability of wayfinding application |
- 3D floor plans are easy to use. It is always possible to limit the zoom distances and even forbid rotation if needed.
- Pathfinding is simple and 3D gives a good visual overview for navigating from one floor to another.
- It is always possible to use camera view for path visualization.
- Extra dimension enables to add more info.
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- Semi 3D floor plans are also easy to use, but it is not possible to rotate the maps.
- Pathfinding is more convenient than 2D, as users can see some parts of the walls.
- It is possible to add more info to the maps as 2D, but it is still not possible to add as many info/layers than 3D.
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- Rotating and moving is not that convenient, especially when looking on the vertical screen.
- It is not convenient to guide visitors to other floors.
- 2D floor plans should be kept simple, as there is limited space for layers and info.
- Simple maps may not provide enough information and visitors may think, that the maps are not useful for them.
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| Map details and amount of information on the floor plans |
- With 3D there is one more dimension for presenting details and map related data.
- Billboards on the map don’t disturb browsing.
- It is possible to show details for better orientation.
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- It is possible to add more details than 2D maps, but the space for information is still limited.
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- Level of details should be kept as simple as possible, otherwise they disturb the understanding of the map.
- Illustrated details cannot be presented in real size and it can be confusing.
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| Impression and imago of the building |
- 3D floor plans look nice and realistic.
- Visitors have a sense of „controlling the building”, which makes them feel good
- Users understand, that there has been more effort to make the wayfinding for them as good as possible.
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- Semi 3D looks prettier than plain 2D map.
- Visitors may get disappointed when they try to turn the building, as they expect it to be real 3D.
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- With too simple 2D maps it is possible, that visitors may avoid using maps not to look foolish.
- Detailed maps confuse visitors and they feel more lost than they were before stepping in front of the wayfinding application.
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| Displays and future technological possibilities |
- 3D wayfinding can work also with real 3D technologies like holograms, LED-cubes and 3D displays. Unfortunately these technologies are still in prototype phase.
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- With larger displays it is possible to add more details.
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- There is no reasonable point of showing more details with larger screen.
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| Advertising channel and Digital Signage integration |
- More advertisements can be shown on the maps, as the ads don’t hide the map.
- Billboard ads on the maps look cooler and attractive.
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- Better than 2D but the advertisements still hide the map.
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- Advertisements disturb the using the wayfinding.
- Less space for advertisements, as they hide the map behind them.
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