3D geographic model vs street view panorama a cognitive study on navigation in different Google maps representations

Abstract

Throughout history, different tools have been invented to help people navigate in space. The different tools use different modes of representation as abstractions of 3-dimensional space. Two of the representations used in Google Maps, a modem wayfinding technology, are the 3D geographic model mode and the street view panorama mode. In this thesis, we explore the wayfinding behaviors of people in those two representations by performing experiments. We find that each representation mode is advantageous for a different type of city structure (e.g., regular grid vs. irregular streets). Each representation mode is also preferred by people according to their spatial processing type preference and the wayfinding task type they perform. After evaluating our findings from the experiments, we propose a design of a new representation with facade images augmenting a 2D satellite map. We believe this design incorporates the advantages of both representations studied.