Turn a PDF floor plan into a walkable indoor map.

1. Choose a current, readable floor plan

Use the version your facilities team considers current. Check that corridors, room numbers, entrances, stairs and elevators are visible, and confirm that each drawing represents the floor you intend to map.

A CAD-exported PDF often contains vector lines that Map Studio can read as wall geometry. A scanned PDF or image has pixels rather than that linework, so plan for manual tracing and review. Do not assume that every PDF can be converted automatically.

You can explore the workflow with the sample clinic floor plan (PDF) before using your own building drawing.

2. Confirm the drawing scale

Route distances depend on an accurate scale. Map Studio can read scale markings such as 1:150 or 1/16″ = 1′-0″ from a drawing. When a scale is missing or unreliable, click two points and enter their known real-world distance.

Check the result against another known dimension. A resized print, cropped drawing or sheet containing several different drawing scales can otherwise produce a misleading map. Repeat the check for each floor.

3. Read walls and review walkable areas

For a CAD PDF, use Read walls to extract wall linework while filtering lettering, furniture and door swings. Review the resulting walkable floor before adding destinations. Detection gives you a starting point; it does not replace a check of the building.

• Check that corridors are connected and doors are passable.
• Remove false barriers from dimensions, furniture or drawing symbols.
• Mark areas that visitors must not enter.
• Check narrow junctions and complex entrances with a test route.

4. Add rooms and connect floors

Add destinations at the doors or arrival points visitors should reach. For numbered rooms, you can box a range such as Rooms 700–750 so each room becomes a destination placed at its number on the drawing; review the resulting positions before publishing.

Add other useful destinations with clear names: reception, departments, toilets and public amenities. On a multi-floor map, connect matching stairs and elevators across levels and check which connections support step-free routes.

5. Test routes before publishing

1. Place a starting point at reception, an entrance, a kiosk or a QR sign.
2. Test routes to destinations on the same floor and on other floors.
3. Compare ordinary and step-free routes, including elevator connections.
4. Walk representative journeys in the building and correct mismatched doors, restrictions or destination positions.

Building the map and testing routes is free. Publishing to interactive kiosks and QR phone directions requires a paid plan. For a department-based pilot, use the hospital wayfinding checklist.

Common questions