Asia University has developed the “Asia University Campus and Affiliated Hospital Navigation” system. An inauguration ceremony was held on the 5th, hosted by Asia University President Jin-Fa Tsai and Asia University Hospital Vice Superintendent Li-Wei Chou. This new guided-tour service, the “The Way AI navigator,” integrates digital maps with smart, interactive guidance. It helps new students and visitors quickly familiarize themselves with the campus and greatly enhances the overall tour experience. The system has also been extended to Asia University Hospital, providing intuitive wayfinding for patients and families so they can reach clinics and medical units efficiently.
President Jin-Fa Tsai noted that this newly launched navigation service is a pioneering initiative in Taiwan and has already been filed for patents in Taiwan, the United States, Europe, and other regions. Asia University positioned itself as an “AI University” seven to eight years ago, advancing numerous AI applications in areas such as smart teaching, AI-assisted student counseling, and the intelligent campus. The smart navigation system unveiled this time features breakthrough technology that makes everyday campus life more convenient. It not only demonstrates the university’s innovation, but also reflects its care for faculty, students, and visitors.
Vice Superintendent Li-Wei Chou of Asia University Hospital pointed out that since the hospital opened, it has continuously promoted a patient-centered and friendly medical environment. However, because departments are highly specialized and patients often need to complete multiple examinations and treatments, many patients and families feel as if they are “walking through a maze” when navigating the hospital. Although signage and volunteers provide guidance, introducing a smart navigation program makes the care journey smoother and aligns with the hospital’s vision of developing a smart hospital.
On campus, the “Asia University Campus Navigation” platform combines digital mapping with interactive functions and highlights two key features: a “Green Campus Tour” and a “Tour Guide Robot.” The system also launches an “Asia University Scenic Photo Wall,” showcasing campus sculptures, distinctive plants, and seasonal landscapes through images, text, and short videos. This allows faculty, students, and visitors not only to find their way, but also to appreciate the university’s art, humanities, and ecology. The platform further designs themed walking routes, creating an exploration experience that is both practical and visually engaging.
At Asia University Hospital, the system serves as a smart navigation assistant for patients and families. Users can enter the name of a clinic or medical unit via their phones or the platform, and the system will provide a clear walking route to help them locate the destination more quickly, reducing the time spent searching and waiting. One family member of a patient shared, “When bringing an elderly relative to appointments, we no longer need to ask around. With just a tap on the phone, we can find the clinic—making the visit much more reassuring.”
Distinguished Chair Professor Wen-Lien Hsu, who led the development, and Vice President for Industry-Academia Collaboration Chao-Neng Wang explained that commonly used tools like Google Maps often face weak indoor signals and require expensive hardware for indoor positioning. In contrast, Asia University’s “The Way AI navigator” can be built rapidly using only floor plans and is easy to maintain. To address the challenge of not having hardware-based positioning—and therefore not knowing a user’s starting location—the system uses visual landmarks and conversational prompts to let users identify the nearest landmark as a navigation starting point. By integrating this information into an interactive electronic map, navigation is upgraded into a true “guide.” The technology can be widely applied to tourism, museums, train stations, airports, and many other venues. The system has already been adopted in multiple exhibitions and will be showcased soon at the Taipei International Travel Fair and the Information Month Expo.
Vice President Chao-Neng Wang added that the “Asia University Campus Navigation” system will continue to be optimized. Beyond potential expansion into surrounding communities and more public spaces, the team plans to introduce “smart real-time information” so users can stay updated on campus activities, transportation, and emergency announcements. A “Campus Ecology Live” feature is also planned, offering real-time streaming of campus ecological scenery and seasonal changes. (Reported by Wen-Lu Chang)
