Apple Quietly Launches Survey App That Creates Indoor Venue Maps

Last week, several websites spotted a new iOS app that allows Apple users to map out the interiors of a particular space using their iPhones. Mac Rumors said the first-party app was initially spotted by a developer yesterday evening. 

The description on the App Store read, "Enable indoor positioning within a venue using the Indoor Survey App by dropping 'points' on a map within the Survey App, you indicate your position within the venue as you walk through.” 

Apple Insider said that the survey app utilizes radio frequency signals along with the iPhone’s various sensor data, including wi-fi, in order to map a particular space’s interiors. However, it was observed that the app is not functional despite being briefly mentioned on one banner of the Apple Maps Connect after sign up. According to Mac Rumors, once a user gets prompted to the Indoor Survey home menu after keyeing in the user ID and password, an Authorization Failed message would pop up, essentially barring the user from exploring and using the app’s mapping abilities. 

The Verge said that this is not the first indoor mapping tool Apple has built. It has since introduced iBeacons, which delivers location-specific alerts and notifications in 2013, and the iPhone motion coprocessor, which provides developers access to more detailed location data.