I. Delikostidis

Field-Based Usability Evaluation Methodology for Mobile Geo-Applications

Abstract An important aspect of a Dutch research project into usable (and well scaled) mobile maps for consumers is presented: the development of an appropriate field-based usability evaluation methodology for the prototype of a geo-mobile application that will be the result of a user centred design approach. Automatic generalisation, required for the users orientation in space, but also for progressive data transfer, will be an important aspect of the prototype. What is reported here is an effective and technically unique user research methodology, based on a combination of video observation, thinking aloud and semi-structured interviewing. The experiments that have led to this outcome revealed some interesting usability issues that deserve further investigation.

Overcoming challenges in developing more usable pedestrian navigation systems

ABSTRACT 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.

Increasing the usability of pedestrian navigation interfaces by means of landmark visibility analysis

Communicating location-specific information to pedestrians is a challenging task which can be aided by user-friendly digital technologies. In this paper, landmark visibility analysis, as a means for developing more usable pedestrian navigation systems, is discussed. Using an algorithmic framework for image-based 3D analysis, this method integrates a 3D city model with identified landmarks and produces raster visibility layers for each one. This output enables an Android phone prototype application to indicate the visibility of landmarks from the users actual position. Tested in the field, the method achieves sufficient accuracy for the context of use and improves navigation efficiency and effectiveness.

Bridging the Gap Between Field- and Lab-Based User Studies for Location-Based Services

There is a long-running debate about how to best evaluate mobile location-based services with users: in the lab or in the field? In this paper, we investigate how to combine benefits of both methods using an Immersive Video Environment (IVE), providing a convincing audio-visual simulation of real-world settings. We contrast three methods to evaluate mobile navigation systems: one in the field, one in the lab and one “hybrid” solution (IVE). We found that using the IVE allowed us to identify nearly the same number of major usability problems as the field test. We also observed similarities between the field study and the IVE study in terms of participants’ performance, which provides initial evidence that in some settings, an IVE study may yield results comparable to a field study.

Evaluating Mobile Applications in Virtual Environments: A Survey

Context plays a central role in mobile applications but is very difficult to control, and therefore, the evaluation of context-aware applications can be challenging. Traditionally, researchers had to choose either field-based or lab-based studies but recently, virtual environments have been proposed as a middle-ground between those two methods. In this paper, the authors review previous work on using virtual environments to evaluate mobile applications. the authors identify and classify different approaches to simulate specific aspects of the real world, and analyse their relative properties with respect to evaluating different facets of context-aware mobile applications. Based on this analysis, the authors derive criteria and selection strategies that can help researchers in picking specific evaluation approaches. The authors also point out a number of research challenges in this area as well as a number of promising areas for future research.

Seismic vulnerability assessment of residential buildings using logistic regression and geographic information system (GIS) in Pleret Sub District (Yogyakarta, Indonesia)

BackgroundThe Southeast of Yogyakarta City has had the heaviest damages to buildings in the 2006 of Yogyakarta Earthquake disaster. A moderate to strong earthquake of 6.3 Mw shook the 20 km southeast part of the Yogyakarta City early in the morning at 5:54 local time. On top of extensive damage in Yogyakarta and Central Java, more than 5700 people perished; 37,927 people were injured in the collapse of more than 240,396 residential buildings. Furthermore, the earthquake also affected the infrastructure and local economic activities. The total damages and losses because of the earthquake was 29.1 trillion rupiahs or equal to approximately 3.1 million US dollar. Two main factors that caused the severe damages were a dense population and the lack of seismic design of residential buildings. After reconstruction and rehabilitation, the area where the study was conducted grew into a densely populated area. This urbanistic change is feared to be potentially the lead to a great disaster if an earthquake occurs again. Thus, a comprehensive study about building vulnerability is absolutely needed in study area. Therefore, the main objective of this study has been the provision of a probabilistic model of seismic building vulnerability based on the damage data of the last big earthquake. By considering the relationship between building characteristics, site conditions, and the damage level based on probabilistic analysis, this study can offer a better understanding of earthquake damage estimation for residential building in Java.ResultsThe main findings of this study were as follows: The most vulnerable building type is the reinforced masonry structure with clay tile roof, it is located between 8.1-10 km of the epicentre and it is built on young Merapi volcanic deposits. On the contrary, the safest building type is the houses which has characteristics of reinforced masonry structure, asbestos or zinc roof type, and being located in Semilir Formation. The results showed that the building damage probability provided a high accuracy of prediction about 75.81%.ConclusionsThe results explain the prediction of building vulnerability based on the building damaged of the Yogyakarta earthquake 2006. This study is suitable for preliminary study at the region scale. Thus, the site investigation still needs to be conducted for the future research to determine the safety and vulnerability of residential building.

Use, user, and usability research for mobile geo-applications for personal orientation and navigation

This paper deals with the communication of a specific type of information: geographic information. Map displays are the major communication tool, but are nowadays embedded in more complex information systems in which for example, hard- and software, user interfaces, (connections to) databases and other means of communication also play a role. This is demonstrated by a research project directed towards the improvement of mobile geo-applications for pedestrian navigation. In this research a user-centered design methodology has been applied. This paper emphasizes the use, user and usability research that has been executed in the requirement analysis stage of the user-centered design process. So far, this stage has been neglected in the geographic and cartographic information domain. Another problem is that the required user research has not often been executed in the proper field context. Therefore, a unique technical solution for observing the users who are interacting with their pedestrian navigation system, and, at the same time, with their geographic environment, is presented in this paper as well. The current outcome is a conceptual design of a prototype of an improved pedestrian navigation system.