Issues of user orientation in schematic maps - by Dr David Forrest, Glasgow University

1. The Power
of the
Image
2011
Which way is up?
Issues of orientation in
schematic public
transport maps
David Forrest PhD, FBCart.S
The Power
of the
Image
Orientation issues in
2011 schematic maps
In schematic maps direction may
become distorted
Scale varies so impossible to retain
true directions
– Often lines simplified to 8 directions
(e.g. Beck’s tube map), but may go
much further
• e.g. linear route diagrams
User orientation may also include
‘knowing where you are’
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2. The Power
of the
Image
Partick station, Eastbound
2011 platform
Train direction
^
N
<W E>
S
The Power
of the
Image Westbound platform
2011
Train direction
^
N
<E W>
S
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3. The Power
of the
Image Westbound platform - issues
2011
Will user appreciate orientation change
At junctions, lines diverge to wrong side of
forward direction
Does not match map shown on train /
timetable
The Power
of the
Image
2011
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4. The Power
of the
Image On a train …
2011
… should the destination
on a ‘strip map’ always be
towards the front of the train?
The Power
of the Paris Metro – line 1
Image
2011
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5. The Power
of the Paris RER – Line B
Image
2011
The Power
of the
On a train should the destination
Image on the ‘map’ always be towards the
2011
front of the train?
Assumes trains always run in same
orientation
– Single line with no loops
– Couldn’t work on
Piccadilly Line
Only works for single line ‘map’, not
network map
If both shown may not match
– Confusion of users?
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6. The Power
of the
Image
Stop specific bus maps
2011 (SSBM)
Maps designed for a particular stop
– Only shows forward portion of routes
calling at the bus stop
– Display panels often of limited size with
tall, narrow shape preferred
Is forward direction up or down?
How important is geographic reality?
The Power
of the
Image
2011
Existing SSBM
Designs
Dundee
All services shown
Reads upwards
Schematic design
Some geographic truth
Services truncated
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7. The Power
of the
Image
2011
Existing SSBM
Designs
London
All services shown
Reads downwards
Highly distorted
schematic design
Little geographic
truth
– shared parts of
routes indicated
The Power
of the Existing
Image
2011 SSBM Designs
Edinburgh
Lothian Buses
services only
– May be others
Reads upwards
Highly schematic
design
Little geographic truth
Will user realise parts
of routes are the
same?
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8. The Power
of the Geography vs topology
Image
2011 How do landmarks fit into a schematic map?
– Eg river Thames provides geographic context for
London Underground map
How important are geographic landmarks to user
orientation/positioning?
– How do you get know you are reaching your
destination?
• Easy with metro/rail map, less so with bus map
What geographical relationships should be
retained?
Circuit routing network must avoid obstacles. Is
there a similarity with geographic
features/landmarks?
– May need to avoid some (eg crossing river)
or be in close proximity to others
The Power
of the River Thames issue - 2009
Image
2011
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9. The Power
of the
Image Metro maps including a major river
2011
New York Kiev
Paris Lyon
Barcelona (coast and river) Newcastle
Boston Philadelphia
Budapest Prague
Hamburg Rome
Montreal Rotterdam
Munich Sao Paulo
San Francisco Vienna
St Petersburg Cairo
Washington Santiago
Amsterdam Warsaw
Bucharest Cologne/Bonn
Copenhagen Frankfurt
New Delhi
The Power
of the Interchange maps/diagrams
Image
2011
What happens when I get off the
train?
– Where do I find another train/bus/taxi?
– Need simple diagrammatic map
– How do we design a map of a
potentially complex area that can
easily be remembered?
• May be struggling
with luggage, etc
– Also needs to
tie in with signage
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10. The Power
of the Maps with varying detail
Image
2011 User of public transport requires varying
levels of detail at different stages of the
journey
Journey planning – what goes where?
At start, need to find appropriate service
During travel need to know when reaching
destination
– Don’t need much off-route information
• Key landmarks useful for confirmation
Need detail at interchange points
The Power
of the Map with varying detail:
Image
2011 Spider map
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11. The Power
of the
Image Research goal
2011
How to create a schematic map that is
somehow globally ‘correct’ and
preserves local detail (at decision
points), but in an overall simplified
and schematised form that easy to
understand and retain at a glance
– Unachievable dream!!!???
Lots of interesting discussion at
Dagstuhl Seminar, Nov 2010
(Thanks to Jason Dykes for organisation)
The Power
of the 5 issues / challenges
Image
2011 How to evaluate schematic map alternatives
Error correction / location confirmation
(disambiguate)
– Requirements for landmarks in schematic
maps
Learnable, faster (at a glance graphic)
– Especially at decision points
Smooth transformation between different
views
– Between true geographic & schematic
• Work by Jo Wood, City University
– Between levels of schematisation
Automated production of maps with varying
levels of detail for different points of
journey
• Work by William Mackaness, Edinburgh U
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12. The Power
of the
Image
2011
ICA Commission on Use & User Issues
User Issues in Geospatial Public
Transport Information
Pre-conference workshop, ICC 2011, Paris
July 1st & 2nd 2011
Paper & poster presentations;
Hands on assessment of public transport information;
Public transport map exhibition
www.univie.ac.at/icacomuse
www.icc2011.fr
Information from david.forrest@glasgow.ac.uk
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