How 2.5D Maps Design Improve the Wayfinding Performance and Spatial Ability of Map Users

Useful information can be provided by 2.5D maps that can take advantage of the additional dimension. However, aside from stereoscopic landmarks, optimal methods for presenting other essential information is unclear. Two experiments were conducted to explore how the presentation of 2.5D maps can effectively increase wayfinding performance. First, analysis was performed to understand the effects of 2.5D maps on wayfinding behavior and map reading. Then, a 2.5D map design was proposed and verified to optimize the 2.5D map presentation of urban environments. The results showed that compared with users of low view angle maps, those using high view angle maps orientated more easily with elements of the map during wayfinding tasks. High view angle maps allowed superior performance, and including transparency and lines improved wayfinding performance. The participants using maps that were opaque and with lines exhibited the most confusion and hesitation. The participants who used maps that were transparent and had lines exhibited the least confusion and hesitation. Highlighting buildings at intersections can help map users use the intersections as references and increase their intuitive spatial ability.

A Visual Attention Model Based on Eye Tracking in 3D Scene Maps

Visual attention plays a crucial role in the map-reading process and is closely related to the map cognitive process. Eye-tracking data contains a wealth of visual information that can be used to identify cognitive behavior during map reading. Nevertheless, few researchers have applied these data to quantifying visual attention. This study proposes a method for quantitatively calculating visual attention based on eye-tracking data for 3D scene maps. First, eye-tracking technology was used to obtain the differences in the participants’ gaze behavior when browsing a street view map in the desktop environment, and to establish a quantitative relationship between eye movement indexes and visual saliency. Then, experiments were carried out to determine the quantitative relationship between visual saliency and visual factors, using vector 3D scene maps as stimulus material. Finally, a visual attention model was obtained by fitting the data. It was shown that a combination of three visual factors can represent the visual attention value of a 3D scene map: color, shape, and size, with a goodness of fit (R2) greater than 0.699. The current research helps to determine and quantify the visual attention allocation during map reading, laying the foundation for automated machine mapping.

Arduino Sensor Integrated Drone for Weather Indices: A Prototype for Pre-flight Preparation

Commercial weather stations can effectively collect weather data for a specified area. However, their ground sensors limit the amount of data that can be logged, thus failing to collect precise meteorological data in a local area such as a micro-scale region. This happens because weather conditions at a micro-scale region can vary greatly even with small altitude changes. For now, drone operators must check the local weather conditions to ensure a safe and successful flight. This task is often a part of pre-flight preparations. Since flight conditions (and most important flight safety) are greatly affected by weather, drone operators need a more accurate localized weather map reading for the flight area. In this paper, we present the Arduino Sensor Integrated Drone (ASID) with a built-in meteorological station that logs the weather conditions in the vertical area where the drone will be deployed. ASID is an autonomous drone-based system that monitors weather conditions for pre-flight preparation. The operation of the ASID system is based on the Arduino microcontroller running automatic flight profiles to record meteorological data such as temperature, barometric pressure, humidity, etc. The Arduino microcontroller also takes photos of the horizon for an objective assessment of the visibility, the base, and the number of clouds.

Measuring Navigational Map Reading Competencies: A Pilot Study with a location-based GeoGame

Navigational map reading (NMR) is relevant to people’s everyday life, in professional contexts, and in school education. Being interested in fostering children’s NMR competencies implies a test instrument for measuring potential learning progress. Related literature lacks an evaluated test for children that is focused on the spatial aspects of NMR and applicable at different locations. This paper fills this gap by presenting OriGami NMR Test – a test for measuring NMR competencies in children that is implemented in a digital geogame and played with a mobile device in the real-world. In order to enable a transfer of the test to different locations, we offer the reader the general concept of the test, the geogame, as well as a script that automatically scores the participants’ test performances and evaluates the test items for the specific location. In a pilot study, we successfully realized and evaluated the test for two different locations.

Role of geography teacher in forming the pupils’ cartographic competence

Cartographiccompetence has been determined as a very important one in the list of subject geographical competencies recorded in the State Standard of Secondary Basic Education of Ukraine. Since a geographic map is a system of landmarks with specific information based on field studies, aerial photographs and satellite images, and other cartographic sources, statistics and literature, the task of a geography teacher is to instil in pupils the necessary skills, which will result in cartographic competencies. Since it is impossible to study geography without a geographic map as a forming factor for spatial thinking, the authors of the article conducted an empirical research. The research and comparative analysis were conducted among the pupils, their parents and geography teachers in order to identify their cartographic knowledge, concepts and cartographic skills of the pupils. The aim of the article was to determine the role of the geography teacher as a consultant who forms the cartographic competence, the content of which consists of cartographic knowledge and map reading skills. The objectives of the paper includes evaluation of the pupils’ levels of cartographic competence, and determination of the correlation between the levels of the pupils’ cartographic competence and factors influencing its development. The theoretical analysis and empirical study resulted in developing the updated methodology for working with the maps on geography classes, and determining the role of a teacher who guarantees the formation of subject competence in cartography among pupils with the use of proper and relevant methodological instruments for teaching pupils’ cartographic competence. The results of the correlations that we received highlighted the important role of a geography teacher in forming the average and high level of the pupils’ cartographic competence.

Modeling Patterns in Map Use Contexts and Mobile Map Design Usability

Mobile map applications are increasingly used in various aspects of our lives, leading to an increase in different map use situations and, therefore, map use contexts. Several empirical usability studies have identified how map design is associated with and impacted by selected map use context attributes. This research seeks to expand on these studies and analyzes combinations of map use contexts to identify relevant contextual factors that influence mobile map design usability. In a study with 50 participants from Colombia, we assessed in an online survey the usability of 27 map design variations (consisting of three map-reading tasks, three base map styles, and three interactivity variants). We found that the overall map design is critical in supporting map-reading activities (e.g., identifying a location on a map was supported by a simplified base map, whereas selecting points on the map was supported by a more detailed base map). We then evaluated user patterns in the collected data with archetypal analysis. It was possible to create archetypal representations of the participants with a corresponding map design profile and establish a workflow for modeling patterns in usability and context data. We recommend that future research continues assessing archetypal analysis as it provides a means for context-based decision-making on map design adaptation and transferability.