AHFE Open AccessWayfinding Efficiency of Virtual versus Traditional Signage under Emergency Conditions: A Virtual Reality Experiment
Abstract
Effective wayfinding is critical for ensuring safety and efficient evacuation in large public transportation environments, especially under emergency conditions. This study compares traditional static signage with dynamic virtual signage in supporting wayfinding during a simulated fire evacuation in a metro station using virtual reality. Forty participants were randomly assigned to either a traditional-signage condition or a virtual-signage condition. Results show that virtual signage significantly improved evacuation performance, leading to faster completion times, shorter travel distances, and more consistent navigation paths. Participants also reported higher perceived usefulness and lower stress when using virtual signage. These findings suggest that virtual signage can enhance navigation efficiency and user experience under emergency conditions, providing practical implications for the design of intelligent wayfinding systems in public infrastructure.
Keywords: Virtual Reality, Wayfinding, Emergency Evacuation, Virtual Signage, Signage Design, Human Factors, Metro Navigation
DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1007657
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