Augmented Reality for Smart Campus Navigation: A Bibliometric Analysis and Case Study Using SLAM and Visual Positioning

Marian-Vladut TOMA; Ruxandra BEJINARU

doi:10.2478/picbe-2026-0317

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Augmented Reality for Smart Campus Navigation: A Bibliometric Analysis and Case Study Using SLAM and Visual Positioning

Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence

Volume 20 (2026): Issue 1 (July 2026)

By: Marian-Vladut TOMA and Ruxandra BEJINARU

Open Access

|Jul 2026

Abstract

As universities advance towards smart campus models, Augmented Reality (AR) technologies offer new opportunities for improving indoor navigation and accessibility. This study combines bibliometric analysis of 444 Scopus-indexed articles with the development and validation of a mobile AR-based navigation application for higher education environments. The bibliometric analysis revealed both thematic gaps in AR integration for practical wayfinding systems and current trends in advanced technology for smart campus. In response, we designed and implemented a smartphone application using Unity3D and the ARway SDK, leveraging Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) and Visual Positioning Systems (VPS) to enable accurate, marker-based indoor navigation. The system supports real-time routing, contextual location-based information, and wheelchair-adapted paths. A preliminary usability test with 50 participants indicated high satisfaction with usability and spatial accuracy. A subsequent large-scale statistical validation involving 256 students confirmed the system’s effectiveness, achieving a mean navigation satisfaction score of 4.6/5 (SD = 0.48) and an average positional error under 1 meter. The proposed solution is scalable, hardware-independent, and aligns with digital transformation strategies in education.

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Articles in this issue

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/picbe-2026-0317 | Journal eISSN: 2558-9652

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Language: English

Page range: 4287 - 4305

Published on: Jul 22, 2026

Published by: Bucharest University of Economic Studies

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Publication frequency: 1 issue per year

Keywords:

Smart Campus,

Indoor Navigation,

Augmented Reality,

SLAM,

VPS,

User Experience,

Mobile AR,

Accessibility

Related subjects:

Business and economics,

Political economics,

Political economics, other,

Business management,

Business management, other,

Industrial chemistry,

Energy harvesting and conversion

© 2026 Marian-Vladut TOMA, Ruxandra BEJINARU, published by Bucharest University of Economic Studies
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Volume 20 (2026): Issue 1 (July 2026)