Why Wayfinding Signs and Airfield Signs Are Vital

An understanding of the process of wayfinding is prerequisite to making wayfinding signs. Wayfinding is a technique used by travellers over land, sea and air to find their orientation and route toward desired destinations. Wayfinding signs can be as simple as written words in one’s language, but due to different languages around the world, they have been designed with symbols that can be understood by everyone. These symbols communicate same meaning to everyone irrespective of language or geography.

Everyday Signs

They are ubiquitous indoors and outdoors. Outdoor wayfinding signs work by assisting road vehicle drivers and pilots. On highways, some of them are signs that tell whether you are entering or leaving a city. They help drivers know which direction or lane to take on a crossroad to avoid confusion, and consequently enhancing smooth traffic flow.

There are some ways in which one can identify his location or route if no signs are available. A more recent and modern wayfinding tool is the GPS, the global positioning. Nonetheless, traditional wayfinding methods such as dead reckoning, map and compass, and astrological are relatively popular and have been used for quite a long time.

Wayfinding signs on runways and taxiways.

Wayfinding signs at airports play a vital role and are called Airfield signs. There are important tools that assist the ground crew, onboard crew, most importantly the pilot in differentiating between the beginning and the end of runways. During nights aircraft cannot land without these airfield signs. Airfield signs are given different colors, patterns, letters and numbers on their meaning and purpose.

Airfield signs, colors and meaning.

Wayfinding signs are made of different symbols and colors depending on what they represent. At night, usually LED signs are used to flash green and white light to differentiate between airports: as to whether it’s a domestic or an international airport. Moreover, to assist pilots in differentiating between airport runways and freeways rotating beacon lights are used. Beacon lights are airfield signs that are visible from the sky; when flashing green lights it indicates the beginning of a runway while the red ones is used to indicate the end of a runway or obstructions. Blue lights are used on taxiways while runways have white or yellow lights marking their edges. All airfield signs either in the form of arrows or lights with different colors serve to set a safety standard for all pilots to follow.