Exploring Bicycle Navigation Techniques in Hospital Settings

Sometimes I wonder if we should try something completely new to guide patients through hospitals using signage.

Look at how wayfinding for recreational cyclists works in the Netherlands, for example. All cycling paths are modeled as a network with nodes and connections between them. This makes it incredibly easy for people to find their way.

Why not apply this method in a hospital setting? The route to be followed (like the top image) could be neatly included in the appointment notification, making it very user-friendly.

The corridor network of a hospital can be easily modeled as a mathematical graph with vertices (vertical / horizontal choice points and endpoints) and edges (hallways), where various attributes can be attached to these vertices and edges. All routes could be simply calculated using Dijkstra's algorithm, even for those with disabilities.

Node numbers can be distributed randomly and can even be used multiple times. Department relocations are never an issue. If a new department is added, no problem, just assign a new number.

Adapting to a pandemic? No problem, all routes can be recalculated for one-way traffic within a split second, and all the signage can stay in place. The benefits are numerous.

And, wayfinding design for hospitals, would suddenly become very simple. Maybe it's too good to be true...

The only point is that the patient must always carry the route description. However, the patient also needs to carry the appointment notification or the registration ID, so that should not be a problem.

So far, I see no objections. Anyone who knows otherwise, let us know