Mapxus COO Ocean Ng Featured in Walking Space DX: Discussing Hardware-Free Indoor Mapping and Sustainable Digital Transformation in Japan

Mapxus, a global leader in indoor mapping and navigation technology, is pleased to share that its Co-founder and COO, Ocean Ng, was recently featured in an exclusive interview with Walking Space DX, an initiative led by Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) focused on the digitalization of pedestrian spaces.  

In the interview, Ocean discussed the company’s expansion strategy in Japan, its hardware-free technology, and the importance of building a sustainable business model for social impact.

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Rapid Deployment with Kawasaki Heavy Industries

Ocean highlighted the strategic partnership with Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd., branded as "mapxus Driven by Kawasaki™". He explained that the collaboration aligns with Kawasaki’s vision of a society where "people, things, and robots coexist".

The interview cited Mapxus's proven track record in Japan, specifically the deployment for the Mitsui Shopping Park App. Ocean noted that Mapxus successfully mapped approximately 60 commercial facilities across the country in just 9 months. This speed demonstrates the scalability of Mapxus’s technology, which utilizes Wi-Fi fingerprinting and sensor fusion instead of expensive hardware beacons. Other key deployments mentioned include Narita International Airport, Kobe Suma Sea World, and Fujita Health University Hospital.

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Tech for Social Good: A Sustainable Model

Ocean shared the personal story behind Mapxus’s founding: a tragic incident involving a firefighter who lost his life due to a lack of accurate indoor location data. This drove the mission to digitize "black box" buildings to improve public safety.

However, Ocean emphasized that relying solely on charity or temporary grants is not enough to maintain such infrastructure long-term. To ensure longevity, Mapxus adopts a "Social Enterprise" model where accessibility is supported by commercial viability. Ocean explained that while a map built only for barrier-free use is difficult to monetize, the same digital twin can be leveraged for marketing, customer attraction, and facility management. By serving these business needs, the platform generates the revenue necessary to sustain its social and safety functions permanently.

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Readiness for National Open Data Initiatives

When asked about the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s (MLIT) initiatives on open data for pedestrian spaces, Ocean expressed Mapxus's readiness to collaborate. He confirmed that Mapxus’s data is GIS-compatible and can seamlessly integrate with government open data, drawing on the company's experience in Hong Kong where they combine indoor data with government outdoor networks to support wheelchair users.

Ocean also expressed a strong willingness to provide feedback to MLIT projects based on Mapxus’s experience in registering barrier-free Points of Interest (POIs) to create safer navigation routes.

Looking Ahead: A Universal Digital Infrastructure

Ocean concluded the interview by reaffirming Mapxus's ultimate mission: "to digitize every building". He emphasized that achieving this scale requires collaboration, not just individual effort. By adopting open standards like IMDF (Indoor Mapping Data Format) , Mapxus is building a universal ecosystem where governments, architects, and companies can easily contribute to and benefit from a shared digital foundation—paving the way for smarter, safer cities.

Read the full discussion on Mapxus’s technology and vision (Article in Japanese)

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