Optimal multiobjective design of guidance information systems in underground spaces: Model development and a transportation hub case study.

[Display omitted] • A multi-objective model is proposed to design guidance information system. • The model is designer-friendly due to simultaneous optimization of signage location and information allocation plans. • The model produces cost-effective GIS plans for underground spaces. • The model improves wayfinding efficiency by satisfying potential information demand in underground spaces. Guidance information systems (GISs) are widely used for pedestrian navigation in underground spaces. We investigate GIS design methods in this paper. First, the information demand and potential information locations are abstracted based on the network discretization of underground spaces. Second, a multiobjective GIS design (MOGISD) model that focuses on economic costs and wayfinding is developed, and a dynamic solution evaluation-based heuristic algorithm is proposed to determine the optimal GIS design plan. To obtain a GIS plan that can achieve a perfect match between demand and information, a three-dimensional microscopic pedestrian-information interaction model that considers both human and information factors is formulated. Finally, to evaluate the effectiveness of the MOGISD model, we use the model to design a GIS plan for the underground floor of a multimodal transportation hub. The results show that the proposed method produces cost-effective GIS design plans contributing to high-efficiency wayfinding. The MOGISD model is designer-friendly due to the simultaneous optimization of signage location and information allocation plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]