Detectable guidance markers for tactile navigation, including indicia of obstacle presence, type, dimensions, direction, and/or proximity

A method for deploying a detectable guidance marker (DGM) in a navigational environment, the method comprising:

• disposing a unitary, tactually-detectable DGM structure at a navigational substrate surface proximate to a navigational obstacle, the DGM structure comprising:
• an elongate base member;
• and
• an elongate directional member including a first end adjoining the base member, the elongate directional member extending from the base member at a relatively perpendicular angle and in a first direction relative thereto;
• and
• coupling the DGM securely with the navigational substrate in such manner that the navigational obstacle is found in the first direction relative to the DGM.

A system for providing navigational indicia using a detectable guidance marker (DGM), comprising:

• a base member disposed at a navigational substrate surface, proximate to and at a predetermined distance from a navigational obstacle;
• a plurality of directional members likewise disposed at the navigational substrate surface, each of the plurality of directional members adjoined at a first end thereof with the base member and terminating separately and spaced apart from the others of the one or more directional members at a second end thereof and extending relatively perpendicularly therefrom and toward the navigational obstacle over a defined length that is tactually-detectably indicative of the DGM's proximity to the navigational obstacle, wherein each of the base member and the plurality of directional members includes portions configured, when disposed at the navigational substrate surface, with a tactually-detectable profile relative the navigational substrate surface;
• and
• one or more navigational-obstacle-related indicia embodied in a structural configuration of one or more of the base member and the plurality of directional members according to a predetermined scheme.