How to tell if your airport has a wayfinding problem

Abstract

Any airport without a wayfinding master plan and asset management programme as part of its signing and wayfinding process has a wayfinding problem on its hands, or at best, one in the making. This paper considers the basic question of how to recognise whether one's airport has a wayfinding problem. Discussion includes steps to follow in analysing the problem in both a reactive and proactive manner. Understanding the importance of proven wayfinding principles such as consistency, the backbone of any wayfinding system, will help airports develop effective wayfinding solutions. Acknowledging the key principle of any wayfinding strategy is to value it. For wayfinding to be successful, the wayfinding system must be treated as an integral part of the airport's building systems. The net result will provide airport customers with a wayfinding experience that yields positive results not just for the airport and its customer, but also the airport's bottom line.