Designing a Micro-Navigation Guide Map
for Mumbai Suburban Railway Station
Field
UI UX Design
Duration
12 weeks
Team
Individual
Academic Project
Mumbai’s Suburban Railway serves over 7.5 million commuters daily, yet navigation within its complex stations remains a significant challenge, particularly at a micro-level. Understanding this whole network and system is a daunting task for a new commuter or even for a daily commuter. The different types of lines and local trains are at times confusing and locating the platforms for these trains is difficult. The project focuses on understanding the complexities and challenges faced by commuters in Mumbai Suburban Railway network and further narrows down to the problem of wayfinding and navigation in a Mumbai suburban railway platform.
MSRSM
Mumbai Suburban Railway Station Map
Background
Background
Mumbai Suburban Railway Station Map is a template-based navigation solution designed to address common wayfinding and communication challenges across Mumbai's railway stations. It provides a scalable, user-friendly mapping system that combines clear layouts, categorized information, and interactive features. The design focuses on accessibility, adaptability, and ease of use for commuters - whether daily travelers or first-time users.
Objective
Motivation
Improve navigation within Mumbai’s suburban railway stations through a micro-navigation system.
Guidance for micro-navigation decisions (e.g., entry points for specific train coaches, platform transfers).
Develop a standardized mapping template to communicate station layouts, amenities, access points, services, and pathways effectively.
Featuring
Accessiblity through both physical and digital mediums.
Despite advancements like Google Maps and M-Indicator, internal station navigation remains a challenge.
New infrastructure additions under MUTP-III, such as foot-over-bridges and elevators, have increased access points but added complexity, making intuitive navigation essential.
Mumbai’s diverse commuters—daily users, tourists, elderly passengers, and occasional travelers -each have unique navigation needs unmet by current solutions.
Improved station navigation enhances not only commuter convenience but also overall system efficiency.
Scope
The scope encompasses creating a detailed static 2D map that effectively communicates both macro and micro-level navigation information within the existing station.
an overall station map providing a comprehensive view of the Thane station layout
implemented through dual mediums
physical printed versions for on-site usage
Thane as POC
The design solution aims to provide a templatized navigation system that can be adapted across Mumbai's suburban railway stations. This approach ensures scalability, allowing the system to be implemented consistently throughout the network. However, it is important to note that the actual implementation and testing are currently limited to Thane station, which serves as the proof of concept (POC).
digital versions optimized for web platforms and mobile screens.
detailed platform-specific maps offering granular information about facilities and access points on each Thane station platform
Primary Deliverables
Image Credits: Ony In India Youtube Video
Primary research
On-site visit
User interviews
Necessity
Google maps
The primary navigation tool available to commuters is Google Maps, which, while providing macro-level journey planning, exhibits substantial limitations in addressing micro-navigation challenges within railway stations.
m-indicator app
The official mobile application, M-Indicator, provides operational information such as train schedules and platform numbers, along with an overall map for Mumbai local train network but fails to address any spatial information regarding a particular station to commuters. This app's functionality is confined to service updates like train schedules, local-train lines etc.
Necessity
We all can recognize the challenges of navigating the Mumbai suburban railway system, irrespective of us being frequent or occasional travelers.
Here’s a compilation of a series of images that illustrate the wayfinding issues and ambiguities in information encountered on a specific platform.
This categorization provides a comprehensive understanding of the pain points and serves as the foundation for proposing actionable solutions aimed at improving the commuter experience.
Identified Common Issues
On-Site visit
Wayfinding &
Navigational Clarity
Communication
Barriers
Visual Obstruction
& Planning
Accessibility
& Inclusion
Insights through User Interviews
Familiarity with the system due to routine
Gets overwhelmed on any given Mumbai station.
Confusing signages and disoriented by East-West direction
Information gap as they are new to this system
Lack of awareness regarding train types, different lines, and platforms
Dependency on Google maps which fails to provide stations internal wayfinding
Seeks external help like Railway police or ask strangers
Daily Commuters
New Commuters
They have their strategies which are often influenced by proximity & convenience
Well aware of shortcuts & quick exits to save time
Informed about the connected public transport
They think it is is easy to navigate through any station
Transport Map from Other Cities
Articles & Papers
Secondary research
Checked out navigation maps and information systems from other major urban transportation hubs around the world. This provided valuable context and inspiration for developing an effective micro-navigation solution for the Mumbai Suburban Railway network.
Image Source: www.bahnhof.de
Public transport at each exit
Mention of exits
Highlighted changes
Platform access
Can be used to show commuter flow
Image Source: airportlink.com
Hauptbahnhof (Berlin) Station Map
Sydney Central Station Map
Insights through papers
Tokyo Station Layout (Japan)
Image Source: Central Japan Railway Company
Collaborative Design disciplines
Spatial Representation
Cognitive mapping
Spatial & Focus maps
Landmarks & Spatial Overview
Orientation wayfinding
Universal Design
Design Solution
Structural
Navigational
Structural + Navigational
+
The proposed design solution can be conceptualized from structural, navigational, or a combination of both perspectives. However, due to the constraints on making structural modifications to the existing space, the project won't be recommending any enhancements to the current signage or information boards, nor the addition of similar elements within the station. Therefore, the design solution concentrates exclusively on the navigational aspects of the station as it currently exists.
Understanding the User
Daily Commuters
Digital Kiosks
Physical
Digital
Mobile App
Map integration in app
Web based platform
Interactive Map
Physical Maps
Handheld Maps
Large Printed Map
Booklet
Occasional
Commuters
New or Infrequent
Users
Design Process
Initial Sketching
The process included gathering of all relevant information visible during the site visits, with particular attention paid to the coach positions of Mumbai local trains on each platform. Additionally, the spatial arrangement of amenities, entry/exit points, and key navigation features were documented to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the station's layout.
Digitization of Sketches
Building upon the initial sketches created during the mapping phase, I proceeded to digitize these physical sketches to create a more polished and scalable design. This digital version was applied to all 10 platforms at Thane station, ensuring that each platform's unique layout and features were accurately represented.
Testing different visual treatments on one platform enable assessing how the design worked in practice and identify potential challenges or areas for improvement. This iterative approach enabled to refine the visual language, ensuring that the map was not only aesthetically appealing but also functional for commuters of all experience levels.
Categorization of Services
Design Iterations
Ticket Counter
ATVM
Help Desks
TC Office
Railway Office
Waiting Areas
RPF Office
Railway Services
Food Stalls
Toilet
Parking
Medical Shop
Drinking Water
Other Services
Bus Stand
Auto Stand
Public Transport
Staircase
Elevators
Escalators
Ramps
Access
Entry & Exits
Digital Map
The design output is a app-based interactive map that serves as a comprehensive navigation tool for commuters. This app offers two primary viewing options: an overview of the entire station layout or a detailed view of a specific platform. This flexibility allows users to tailor their interaction with the map based on their immediate needs and preferences, making it user-centric.
A key design decision for the mobile app was to implement a landscape orientation. Unlike the conventional portrait mode commonly used in mobile applications, the landscape orientation was chosen specifically for this project to maximize the visibility of the map on smaller screens. This orientation allows users to view a larger portion of the station layout without excessive scrolling or zooming, creating a more seamless and intuitive navigation experience.
Phone based Platform Map
Home Screen
The map includes a vertical scroll feature for easy navigation. The opening screen displays an overview of the entire station, providing a clear sense of its layout, orientation, and the east and west sides of the city
Map Zoom
Zoom controls are included to allow users to zoom in and out of the map, ensuring clear visibility of intricate details. This feature is available for all maps, including the overview map and individual platform maps.
Drop down
The home page features dropdown menus for seamless navigation. One dropdown allows users to select specific platforms, while another enables them to choose categories such as Railway Services, Other Services, Access, Public Transport, and Entry & Exit.
An instance of how a user could select their desired platform from the Platform dropdown and then filters specific services using the Categories dropdown, such as Railway Services or Public Transport, for a focused and efficient infromation.
A slider on the right side displays detailed information about the selected categories, providing users with quick and accessible insights.
<< Click here to view prototype for mobile app >>
The mobile app-based map serves as an extension of the web-based platform, maintaining the same information architecture while adapting the design for a mobile-friendly medium. This ensures consistency in the user experience across platforms, allowing commuters to access the same comprehensive navigation system conveniently on their smartphones.
Web based Platform Map
Hover interaction over icons for quick access to information.
Below is the evaluation plan for the proposed design solution.
In Situ Testing
To evaluate commuter interactions with the physical map at Thane station, an observational study will be conducted to assess whether commuters can successfully identify and locate key points such as exits, platforms, and nearby landmarks. This evaluation will serve as an initial validation of the design solution. The primary objective is to determine if commuters can effectively identify and utilize the information presented on the maps.
Usability Testing
This evaluation could be conducted in a controlled environment by recruiting participants who are familiar with the Mumbai railway network, as well as those who are new to it. Participants will be assigned tasks such as locating specific destinations, planning routes, or identifying platforms and railway lines.
Think-Aloud Protocol
Along with usability testing this evaluation can be held, wherein participants will be asked to verbalize their thought processes while navigating the map. This approach is expected to yield insights into their reasoning, any misunderstandings they may encounter, and how they interpret the map as a whole.
Evaluation Plan
Thanks!
Thane Station Platform Specific Map
The final map design utilizes an isometric view to provide a 3D perspective of the station layout, which significantly enhances the user’s ability to understand the spatial arrangement of the various features within the station. Compared to a flat top-down view, the isometric perspective offers a more intuitive sense of depth and structure, allowing users to visualize the relative positioning of platforms, staircases, access points, and services more effectively.
The final design effectively combines visual clarity, spatial awareness, and aesthetic appeal, making it a functional and user-friendly solution for navigating Thane station. The isometric view improves commuters’ ability to understand the station’s layout and orientation, offering a clearer, more intuitive map compared to traditional 2D representations.
Final Design
Thane Station Overview Map
Physical Map
