Navigation software for the college students

Project goals

The main objective of the College Navigator project was to create a virtual navigation system that allows new students to explore the college’s coastal campus remotely, simulating the on-campus experience on any device.

Result

The College Navigator enhanced the virtual campus experience and expanded the college's reach to prospective students around the world by significantly increasing user engagement and global accessibility.

About the client

A private educational institution located near Boston, offering a range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs.

Project goals

The primary goal of this project was to develop a virtual navigation system, College Navigator, that would allow new students to explore the college's landscaped coastal campus from anywhere using a desktop, tablet, or mobile device. This digital transformation aimed to virtually replicate the on-campus experience and provide a deep dive into campus life.

Key challenge

The primary challenge was to create a user-friendly virtual navigation system that would allow new students to interactively explore the college's picturesque coastal campus. Integrating 360° photography with interactive hotspots within the panoramic views required innovative solutions to ensure a seamless user experience.

Our solutions

To meet the challenge of integrating 360° photography and interactive hotspots, BitsOrchestra developed a robust web-based service using advanced technologies such as React and the JavaScript 3D library three.js. Our comprehensive solution included several innovative elements

Interactive panoramic views: We created spherical panoramic images that seamlessly wrapped around a 3D sphere. This allowed us to simulate a realistic and immersive virtual tour experience. Users can navigate through these panoramas to get a 360-degree view of the college's beautiful oceanside campus and its various facilities.
360° Product Photography Integration: Drawing on techniques commonly used in e-commerce, we adapted 360° photography to showcase the campus in a dynamic and engaging way. This approach not only highlighted the aesthetic appeal of the campus, but also made the virtual tour more interactive. Users can explore the campus in detail, stopping at points of interest that are enhanced with clickable hotspots for more information.
Custom interactive map with pins: To make navigation intuitive, we developed a custom map of the campus with pins marking key buildings and facilities. Each pin, when clicked, reveals detailed information about the location, including photos, videos, and descriptions of the academic programs and student life facilities housed within. This feature is especially helpful for new students and their families who want to gain a comprehensive understanding of the campus layout and its resources.
Improved user interface design: Recognizing the importance of a user-friendly interface, our team designed a clean, accessible interface that increases user engagement without overwhelming them. The interface includes easy-to-use navigation tools, zoom capabilities, and a responsive design that adapts seamlessly across devices.
Advanced backend integration: On the technical side, our developers ensured that the system was robust, with fast load times and smooth transitions between different areas of the campus. We implemented backend solutions that efficiently manage the high-resolution images and data to ensure a smooth and fast user experience.

Together, these solutions enabled us to create a highly interactive and easy to use virtual navigation tool. The College Navigator has become an essential tool for prospective students, providing them with a comprehensive and engaging way to explore the college from a distance.

Result

The College Navigator transformed the way prospective students and their families interact with the College, delivering a number of significant improvements:

Increased user engagement: Engagement metrics such as time spent on the site and interaction rates with tour features have increased significantly. Students report a greater sense of connection to the campus, similar to an in-person visit, which has been instrumental in their decision-making process.
Increased accessibility: The virtual tour has successfully broken down geographic barriers, providing access to the College's offerings globally. Analytics show a significant increase in international traffic, with users from over 50 countries exploring the campus online. This widespread accessibility has opened up new recruitment opportunities for the college, and has been especially beneficial during times when travel to campus has been limited.
Informative and interactive experience: The integration of informational hotspots within the 360-degree panoramas has provided prospective students with a rich, detailed understanding of the College's academic and co-curricular offerings. Surveys indicate that the quality and depth of the information available has significantly increased user knowledge and satisfaction.

Impact

The implementation of College Navigator has significantly increased web traffic and user engagement:

Increased web traffic: The college's website traffic has increased by 40%, with virtual tour pages showing the highest engagement and a 30% decrease in bounce rates.
Broader reach: The tool has expanded the college's reach, resulting in a 50% increase in inquiries, particularly from international prospects.

These results demonstrate the College Navigator's effectiveness in enhancing the college's digital presence and engaging a global audience, setting a new standard for virtual campus tours in higher education.