J.D. Bulens

The effects of web mapping applications on user satisfaction: an empirical study

This chapter describes an empirical study to develop a dynamic usability framework for spatial domain applications. The framework consists of five interrelated abstraction levels, which are hypothesis, typology, variables, elements, and measures. Each abstraction level has provided the theoretical basis for the design and implementation of a usability test to investigate the effects of map interactive displays on user satisfaction across two types of commercial web mapping applications. Data collected were analysed to test the hypothesis whether web mapping applications exhibiting a higher degree of usability can be associated with greater measured user satisfaction. The findings are especially useful for designers of web mapping applications and can aid in the maintenance phases of web mapping interfaces.

Enhancing the Experience of the Landscape: The Digital Dowsing Rod

This research presents the Digital Dowsing Rod (DIWI1) a framework of a Location Based Service (LBS) to explore the cultural heritage of a region. The DIWI consists of a service oriented architecture (SOA), a web-client, a content management system and a mobile client based on smart phones and windows mobile technology. The chosen set-up allows for an easy management of the content and allows for a relative easy extension of the system by additional data-sources.

Use of Geo-Information in Environmental Policy: Limitations, Advantages and Challenges

To date, use of the full potential of geo-information is not often applied in the daily practice of policy makers. The main questions explored by this research are: Why is geo-information not widely used in policy and how can this be improved? A conceptual framework was developed to evaluate the use of geo-information. For five cases, the use of geo-information was evaluated by means of this framework. The results of the evaluation, as well as the usefulness of the framework, are discussed. Recommendations on spatial thinking and practice, availability and quality of a spatial data infrastructure and implementation of new geo-applications in policy-making are also made.

Harmonizing Software Standards with a Semantic Model

The application of standards in the software development process supports interoperability between systems. Maintenance of standards must be guaranteed on the organisational and technical level. The use of semantic technologies can contribute to the standard maintenance process by providing a harmonizing bridge between standards of different knowledge domains and languages and by providing a single point of administration for standard domain concepts. This paper describes a case study of the creation of a semantic layer between software standards for water management systems in The Netherlands.