Gerald R. Ford International Airport has launched GoodMaps as a free indoor navigation option for passengers in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The smartphone service gives turn by turn directions through mapped public areas of the terminal and is designed to support travelers who are blind, have low vision, are deaf or hard of hearing, use step free routes or simply want more guidance in an unfamiliar building.
The airport demonstrated the live system to the public on July 9 after testing it through the Ford Launchpad for Innovative Technologies and Entrepreneurship, known as FLITE. GoodMaps is available now on iOS and Android, and the airport also provides a browser based map for travelers who want to inspect the terminal before a trip.
- What launched: GoodMaps indoor navigation is live at Gerald R. Ford International Airport.
- Cost: The mobile app and airport map are free to use.
- Guidance: Travelers can use audio, visual and haptic turn cues, plus augmented reality directions.
- Accessible routes: The app can identify step free paths and accessible points of interest.
- Emergency feature: The airport says its alert system connects with the airport dispatch center.
- Setup: Download the app before arrival and allow camera access for indoor positioning.
The launch turns an airport test into a passenger service
GoodMaps entered the airport through FLITE, which gives aviation technology companies a real terminal environment for testing. Airport teams scanned and mapped the building, then worked with dispatchers and end users to test both ordinary wayfinding and the emergency communication feature before offering the app live to guests.
The airport’s official launch notice says the system is intended to increase independence for people with visual, hearing and mobility related access needs. It also makes the same route guidance available to families, older travelers and anyone moving through the terminal with bags or limited time.
Independent WGVU reporting confirmed that local disability advocates tried the app during the airport demonstration. The report described audio instructions, augmented reality visuals and haptic feedback, and quoted a legally blind traveler who said the tool could make independent airport travel feel more achievable.
Travelers can choose how directions are delivered
GoodMaps uses the phone camera to identify a traveler’s position inside a mapped venue. Once the location is established, the app can present a route with spoken directions, on screen instructions, vibrations and visual overlays rather than relying on a single format.
The company’s current accessibility documentation explains that audio and haptic cues serve users who prefer nonvisual information, while visual instructions support deaf and hard of hearing travelers. Step free routing can avoid stairs and escalators, which can also help people using mobility devices, pushing strollers or pulling luggage.
Travelers should download the app before leaving home, confirm that camera permission is enabled and practice the basic controls. GoodMaps says a user may hold the phone at an angle for augmented reality overlays or flat for a two dimensional map after the initial location step is complete.
The airport map can support planning before arrival
The airport’s live amenities page links directly to both GoodMaps and a browser based terminal map. That web option is useful for identifying the general location of restrooms, food, services and other points of interest before a passenger is standing inside the terminal.
The mobile app is the more capable choice for active navigation because it can update the route as the user moves. Travelers who want to reduce setup pressure can review the web map at home, install the app, then use live guidance after arriving at the airport.
GoodMaps is a terminal navigation tool, not a replacement for airline assistance or trip specific accessibility planning. A traveler bringing a powered mobility device still needs to confirm airline acceptance and battery rules, which Deep Arrival covers in its airline approved scooters guide.
The emergency connection is part of the local deployment
The Gerald R. Ford Airport version includes an alert system that corresponds with the airport dispatch center. The airport tested that feature with dispatchers so directions and information can support travelers during an emergency, when unfamiliar routes and changing instructions can become especially difficult.
The launch notice does not say that GoodMaps replaces public address announcements, airport staff, emergency personnel or formal disability assistance. Passengers should continue to follow airport and airline instructions, while treating the app as an additional accessible channel for orientation and route guidance.
That distinction matters because indoor positioning depends on the phone and the mapped environment. GoodMaps advises users to stand still and pan the device slowly if localization is difficult, and its current setup guidance recommends restarting the route or checking permissions when the app does not respond as expected.
Camera use is necessary for the most precise guidance
The platform relies on camera based positioning against a detailed map created from LiDAR and panoramic imagery. The camera helps the system identify where the traveler is without requiring the user to find and scan a visual marker, a design choice that is important for people who cannot reliably locate a QR code.
Passengers should expect to hold and move a compatible phone during the initial location process. GoodMaps acknowledges that the current design works best for users who can manipulate a phone during scanning, so someone who cannot do that independently may still need help from a companion or airport staff.
The app also does not control checkpoint lines, gate assignments, airline boarding or walking time. A route can make the terminal easier to understand, but passengers still need to monitor airline messages and allow enough time for security, boarding and any assistance arranged with the carrier.
| Traveler situation | Best current approach | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| You want to preview the terminal before travel | Open the airport’s browser based GoodMaps map | The destinations and services you expect to use are mapped |
| You need audio or haptic directions | Install the GoodMaps mobile app before arrival | Camera, audio and vibration permissions are enabled |
| You need a step free route | Select the accessible routing option | The route matches your mobility needs and current terminal conditions |
| You need airline provided assistance | Arrange it directly with the airline | GoodMaps supplements rather than replaces that service |
| The app cannot establish your location | Stand still, pan slowly and retry | Ask airport staff for help if the problem continues |
- For blind and low vision travelers: Audio, haptic and screen reader compatible guidance can support more independent movement.
- For deaf and hard of hearing travelers: Visual routes and on screen information provide a nonaudio option.
- For mobility device users: Step free routing can help identify paths that avoid stairs and escalators.
- For first time visitors: The browser map allows a terminal preview before the travel day.
- For every passenger: The app remains a supplement to airline notices, airport staff and emergency instructions.
Is GoodMaps free at Gerald R. Ford International Airport?
Yes. The airport says the GoodMaps app is available as a free download for iOS and Android, and it links to a free browser based map.
Does GoodMaps work for blind or low vision travelers?
The app provides audio guidance, haptic feedback and screen reader compatible controls. It was designed to support blind and low vision users as well as travelers with other access needs.
Can GoodMaps find a step free route through the airport?
GoodMaps supports accessible routing that can identify step free paths and avoid stairs or escalators when the mapped venue data supports that option.
Does the app replace airline wheelchair assistance?
No. GoodMaps supplies indoor directions, while airline assistance, mobility device acceptance and boarding support still need to be arranged through the carrier.
Why does GoodMaps need camera permission?
The app uses the phone camera with its mapped venue data to establish a precise indoor position and update turn by turn guidance as the traveler moves.
