Overcoming challenges in developing more usable pedestrian navigation systems

This article presents an overview of a research project focusing on improving the usability of pedestrian navigation systems by following a User-Centered Design (UCD) approach. One of the main problems with those systems is how to adequately support and enhance the spatial interactions of a traveler to new urban areas, which is crucial for successful self-orienting and wayfinding. The methodology employed allows for conceptualizing, implementing and evaluating research prototypes that aim to satisfy the special user requirements. Outlined in this article are the techniques designed and integrated in the developed prototype, the methods used for their evaluation through field-based studies and the challenges encountered during this process. New techniques with a measurable impact on the effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction of navigation were tested and found to dramatically enhance the sense of personal geo-identification in new places. Examples of those techniques are landmark visibility indication, multi-path routing based on time availability, multi-perspective landmark photos and reverse overview + detail maps. Overall, the outcomes of this research verify the capacity of UCD to help overcoming current usability issues with pedestrian navigation systems. By demonstrating an effective UCD methodology and discussing the lessons learned, we intend to aid the development of next generation navigation appliances.     

Testing the Usability of OpenStreetMap's iD Tool

The objective of this study is to investigate the usability of the iD editor of OpenStreetMap (OSM). To this end a usability test with 18 participants has been conducted. The participants were given mapping tasks to complete using iD and observed with the thinking aloud method as well as screen recording and mouse/keyboard logging. Additionally, the test persons were interviewed after each test. The data gathered were analysed with regard to key usability criteria such as learnability, efficiency, error tolerance, and subjective user satisfaction. The outcome of this study is the identification of usability issues from which possible improvements of the tool have been derived. The study shows that iD is an overall usable tool for novice users, but still shows opportunities for improvement especially in terms of learnability and error handling.     

Cartographic Design and the Space–Time Cube

This paper reports on the results of an empirical evaluation that aimed to define the effectiveness and efficiency of different visual variables in depicting the Space–Time Cube’s (STC) content. Existing STC applications demonstrate that the most used visual variables are size and colour hue. Less is known, however, about their usability metrics. The research sets design criteria for STC contents, such as space–time paths, based on the cartographic design theory. The visual variables colour hue, colour value, colour saturation, size and orientation have been applied in two different use case studies. Besides, to support the three-dimensional visual environment, depth cues such as shading and transparency were considered too. User tests have been executed based on real-world problems with particular attention for the visualization strategy and data complexity. The outcomes revealed the most efficient and effective visual variables to represent data of various complexities in the STC.     

Web-based 4D visualization of marine geo-data using WebGL

For marine logistics and maintenance of extensive and expensive marine engineering projects in the coastal zone, it is essential that institutions provide the public with relevant information in an easily understandable yet comprehensive manner over the web. A perennial challenge, however, has been the development of spatio-temporal (four-dimensional (4D)) geo-visualization algorithms to enable the integration of time-varying geo-information in map-based visualizations on the Internet. In this paper, we address the challenge of visualizing marine spatial data in web-based applications through a 4D visualization concept, focusing on usability criteria, performance parameters, the required implementation effort, and delivering a breath of spatial information that supports decision-making on multiple levels. We used Web Graphic Library (WebGL) to validate our concept through a prototypical implementation. In our technology evaluation, WebGL proved highly suitable for the development of interactive, responsive, efficient, and mobile web-based Geographic Information applications, including 2D, 3D, and 4D (spatiotemporal) content. During our research, we identified a number of open research questions, including mapping graphic variables to thematic expressivity, representation of the time dimension in 4D systems, generic temporal generalization, and integration of (pseudo-)photorealistic illustrations in web-based geo-visualization systems.     

多源矢量空间数据可用性评估的可视分析

本文将可视分析引入到多源矢量空间数据可用性评估中,为用户提供探索发现数据可用性的环境。在论证可行性的基础上,制定了多源矢量空间数据可用性评估可视分析应遵循的基本原则。在反映多源空间数据的同时,根据用户需求确定评估内容,触发相应模型计算并可视化表达,将用户需求、人脑认知通过交互界面和计算机算法模型相结合,允许用户按照自身需求了解不同数据的各种信息,帮助用户发现隐藏在数据中的知识,进而制定科学合理的数据使用方案。     

Mapping the Results of Geographically Weighted Regression

Abstract

Geographically weighted regression (GWR) is a local spatial statistical technique for exploring spatial nonstationarity. Previous approaches to mapping the results of GWR have primarily employed an equal step classification and sequential no-hue colour scheme for choropleth mapping of parameter estimates. This cartographic approach may hinder the exploration of spatial nonstationarity by inadequately illustrating the spatial distribution of the sign, magnitude, and significance of the influence of each explanatory variable on the dependent variable. Approaches for improving mapping of the results of GWR are illustrated using a case study analysis of population density–median home value relationships in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. These approaches employ data classification schemes informed by the (nonspatial) data distribution, diverging colour schemes, and bivariate choropleth mapping.     

道路地图示意性表达的可用性评估

当前示意性地图表达主要针对公共交通网络,缺乏对道路地图示意性表达可用性评估研究。本文选取景区和街道两个典型道路场景,采用最新的自动示意化方法生成示意地图,以主观问卷调查结合客观眼动试验的方式,评估道路地图示意性表达的可用性。试验结果表明:①示意性表达能够提升道路地图的简化度、清晰度及用户满意度,尤其对于原始道路形状较为复杂的情况;②示意地图中路径形状简化会造成不同路径感知长度差异的改变,从而影响到人们路径抉择行为;③对于路径示意性结果增加了道路网密集程度的情况,会降低示意地图认知效率。本文研究成果有助于道路地图自动示意性表达规则完善和方法优化,能够进一步提升地图示意性表达的实用性。     

Developing an optimized texture mapping for photorealistic 3D buildings

Texture mapping generates photorealistic representations of three‐dimensional (3D) geometric objects and enhances the spatial perception of areas of interest. Over the past two decades, even though various approaches for 3D urban models have been investigated, their use has been limited because of the lack of spatial accuracy, details, and the complex processes. It is difficult to maintain highly detailed texture information without using a hybrid of aerial image and ground‐based imaging techniques, which are costly. Furthermore, it is hard to develop a fully automated process for 3D urban mapping that achieves high spatial accuracy. With regard to the issues, this research aims to develop a semi‐automated process for 3D building models that would help image‐based approaches. It helps acquire qualified texture information and improve the appearance of building façades in a large city. In particular, this research first investigates an optimal overlap of consecutive aerial images that generates sufficient information to texture each façade, thus making this process more cost‐effective. Second, this research develops an application to semi‐automatically build 3D buildings and textured 3D buildings. The application is developed in C++. The textured 3D building models are quantitatively and qualitatively assessed to determine the usability of the semi‐automated process.     

Evaluation of noise annotation lines: using noise to represent thematic uncertainty in maps

Noise annotation lines are a promising technique to visualize thematic uncertainty in maps. However, their potential has not yet been evaluated in user studies. In two experiments, we assessed the usability of this technique with respect to a different number of uncertainty levels as well as the influence of two design aspects of noise annotation lines: the grain and the width of the noise grid. We conducted a web-based study utilizing a qualitative comparison of 2 areas in 150 different maps. We recruited participants from Amazon Mechanical Turk with the majority being nonexperts with respect to the use of maps. Our findings suggest that for qualitative comparisons of “constant uncertainty” (i.e., constant uncertainty per area) in thematic maps, noise annotation lines can be used for up to six uncertainty levels. During comparison of four, six, and eight levels, the different designs of the technique yielded significantly different accuracies. We propose to use the “large noise width, coarse grain” design that was most successful. For “mixed uncertainty” (i.e., uncertainty is not constant per area) we observed a significant decrease in accuracy, but for four levels the technique can still be recommended. This article is a follow-up to our conference paper reporting on preliminary results of the first of the two experiments.     

数字制图软件的可用性测试研究

简要阐述了针对数字制图软件进行可用性测试的理论研究,以及可用性测试研究中的几个热点问题;并对可用性测试方法进行了归类:提出了可用性测试研究中存在的主要问题.     

地学信息可视化系统的可用性辅助评估工具设计研究

针对传统可用性评估方法中存在的主要问题,提出要设计地学信息可视化系统的可用性辅助评估工具。本文首先分析传统常用的可用性评估方法及其存在的主要不足,提出解决这些问题的基本想法。然后提出地学信息可视化系统可用性辅助评估工具的总体设计思路及系统的工作流程,并详细阐述了系统的功能模块与关键技术实现。该工具可以减少测试过程中的主观影响,节省开支,更加有效地利用有限的样本,提高可用性评估结果的科学性。     

基于集对分析的电子地图可用性评价研究

本文针对电子地图可用性中存在的不确定性,应用集对分析理论对电子地图可用性评价问题进行研究。在研究中首先介绍了集对分析理论的主要内容,然后描述了建立基于联系度的电子地图可用性评价模型的过程,最后以两幅电子地图为例,运用可用性评价模型进行了具体评价研究,以验证该方法的可行性。研究结果表明该方法不仅可以找出电子地图可用性方面存在的主要问题,而且可以对地图进行可用性排序,是一种有效而简便的可用性评价方法。     

基于可用性电子地图符号测试系统的设计与实现

电子地图符号测试系统对提高电子地图符号的信息传输效率,与用户达成认知的一致性、准确性,促进电子地图符号的发展等都有重要的理论研究意义和实际应用价值。本文分析了现有电子地图符号测试系统中存在的问题,探讨了可用性理论在电子地图符号测试系统中的应用。最后,分别从功能设计、界面设计、测试项目设计、测试环境设计等四个方面研究了电子地图符号测试系统的设计方法,并用VC++语言对其编程实现。     

基于可用性的多媒体电子地图集界面设计研究

针对多媒体电子地图集界面设计中可用性方面存在的主要问题,引入了可用性理论对多媒体电子地图集界面设计问题进行了分析研究。在研究中首先介绍了可用性及其在电子地图领域中的应用情况,分析了影响多媒体电子地图集界面设计的因素,然后运用可用性实验的方法找出了多媒体电子地图集在界面布局、色彩设计和工具图标方面出现的主要问题,最后提出了相应的设计原则。本研究为多媒体电子地图集界面设计提供了理论参考依据。     

无人机倾斜摄影测量在三维模型测图中的应用

针对传统大比例尺测图存在人工成本高、外业工作量大、效率低等问题，本文提出了通过无人机倾斜摄影测量，利用ContextCapture进行实景三维建模，运用PSG软件实现裸眼三维测图的方法。以湖南省桂阳县欧阳海镇为例，进行了1：500大比例尺地籍测图，并对精度进行了验证。结果表明，检测点平面位置中误差为0.046 m，检测点高程中误差为0.048 m，小于规范要求的0.05 m。综上所述，成果满足1：500地籍测图精度要求，该方法能够提高测图作业的效率。     

RGB-D SLAM在室内高精度三维测图中的应用

高精度三维测图是室内三维制图的重要支撑,基于三维激光雷达扫描技术的三维测图成本高,需要提前布置标靶,在室内复杂环境中易导致数据不完整;基于图像序列的三维重建建模时间长,易受多种因素影响。针对以上问题,本文将RGB-D SLAM技术应用于室内高精度三维测图中。通过将深度相机与SLAM技术相结合,计算相机位姿并恢复三维空间信息,获取室内三维点云模型,并以目标物实际量测为基准评价密集点云精度。试验结果表明,该方法可快速获取精度较高的三维点云模型,成本低且效率高,能够较好地满足应用需求。     

Engaging indigenous people as geo-crowdsourcing sensors for ecotourism mapping via mobile data collection: a case study of the Royal Belum State Park

ABSTRACT

Web 2.0 and the proliferation of built-in Global Positioning System (GPS) on smartphones have influenced the increase of geo-crowdsourcing activities in a number of different contexts. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the performance of indigenous people’s use of mobile collection applications that are embedded in a smartphone to facilitate ecotourism asset mapping. In order to achieve this, field usability testing was conducted where structured observational method was used to assess the performance. The findings indicate majority of them can complete the data entry tasks using mobile data collection. The performance of data entries using radio button, icons, camera and audio methods were identified as better than free text and drop-down list methods. There was a correlation between the level of education with the ability of using radio button, drop-down list and image icon as data entry methods. The paper also discusses the extent of local knowledge relating to ecotourism within the community. The findings should be useful in the understanding of the design of mobile geo-crowdsourcing tools for use within other contexts that focus on data collection by semiliterate and indigenous groups.     

国家测绘档案目录数据库升级迁移技术研究及实践北大核心CSCD

针对国家测绘档案目录数据分类多及历史原因造成的数据库欠缺整体规范性、无规范化空间定位索引等问题,为提高测绘档案的管理和服务效率,通过深入分析国家测绘档案目录数据特点、选取试验数据,规范化处理测绘档案目录数据、制作空间定位索引数据,采取渐进式测绘档案目录升级技术方案,在测绘档案业务管理系统开发建设的同时,顺利地实现了历史测绘档案目录数据的迁移和升级,避免了以往系统先建成而目录数据尚未完成迁移改造对测绘档案业务工作的影响。     

Using Eye-tracking and Mouse Metrics to Test Usability of Web Mapping Navigation

The growth of web-based mapping is transforming geovisualization. Use of web mapping has become ubiquitous throughout much of the world and has sparked greater public interest in GIS and mapping. Despite the rapid growth of web mapping, there has been relatively little study of the design and usability of web maps. Moreover, the design and function of popular web mapping programs are sometimes at odds with standard GIS and cartographic practices for even the simplest of functions such as zooming into a feature of interest. This study advances understanding of web mapping design via web usability testing based on mouse metrics and eye tracking technology to assess the utility of four different web map navigation schemes: pan zoom; double clicking; zoom by rectangle; and wheel zoom. We found significant differences among the various interfaces, with marked preference for the standard GIS approach of rectangle zoom, followed closely by wheel zoom. Far fewer users preferred the web mapping standard of pan zoom or click zoom. In addition to finding significant differences in usability among these approaches, this work illustrates the broader utility of usability testing and eye tracking technology for creating a better web mapping experience for users.