Kristien Ooms

Study of the attentive behavior of novice and expert map users using eye tracking

The aim of this paper is to gain better understanding of the way map users read and interpret the visual stimuli presented to them and how this can be influenced. In particular, the difference between expert and novice map users is considered. In a user study, the participants studied four screen maps which had been manipulated to introduce deviations. The eye movements of 24 expert and novice participants were tracked, recorded, and analyzed (both visually and statistically) based on a grid of Areas of Interest. These visual analyses are essential for studying the spatial dimension of maps to identify problems in design. In this research, we used visualization of eye movement metrics (fixation count and duration) in a 2D and 3D grid and a statistical comparison of the grid cells. The results show that the users’ eye movements clearly reflect the main elements on the map. The users’ attentive behavior is influenced by deviating colors, as their attention is drawn to it. This could also influence the users’ interpretation process. Both user groups encountered difficulties when trying to interpret and store map objects that were mirrored. Insights into how different types of map users read and interpret map content are essential in this fast-evolving era of digital cartographic products.

Analysing the spatial dimension of eye movement data using a visual analytic approach

Conventional analyses on eye movement data only take into account eye movement metrics, such as the number or the duration of fixations and length of the scanpaths, on which statistical analysis is performed for detecting significant differences. However, the spatial dimension in the eye movements is neglected, which is an essential element when investigating the design of maps. The study described in this paper uses a visual analytics software package, the Visual Analytics Toolkit, to analyse the eye movement data. Selection, simplification and aggregation functions are applied to filter out meaningful subsets of the data to be able to recognise structures in the movement data. Visualising and analysing these patterns provides essential insights in the users search strategies while working on a (n interactive) map.

User studies in cartography : opportunities for empirical research on interactive maps and visualizations

ABSTRACT The possibility of digital interactivity requires us to reenvision the map reader as the map user, and to address the perceptual, cognitive, cultural, and practical considerations that influence the user’s experience with interactive maps and visualizations. In this article, we present an agenda for empirical research on this user and the interactive designs he or she employs. The research agenda is a result of a multi-stage discussion among international scholars facilitated by the International Cartographic Association that included an early round of position papers and two subsequent workshops to narrow into pressing themes and important research opportunities. The focus of our discussion is epistemological and reflects the wide interdisciplinary influences on user studies in cartography. The opportunities are presented as imperatives that cross basic research and user-centered design studies, and identify practical impediments to empirical research, emerging interdisciplinary recommendations to improve user studies, and key research needs specific to the study of interactive maps and visualizations.

Typography in the Eyes of Bertin, Gender and Expertise Variation

Abstract The main goal of this research is to set a group of typographic criteria to suit a wide array of map users. A group of Bertin’s visual variables were applied individually and associatively for the same set of labels. Two kinds of maps (with point and areal objects) were presented to expert and non-expert map users and analysed accordingly. Additionally, the effect of gender variation was taken into account. The data were aggregated and studied for each graphical variable. For some combinations of Bertin’s variables, statistically significant differences were detected in the preferences of the different map users (e.g. male versus female and expert versus non-expert). Consequently, we identified which graphical variables (individually or combined) were more preferred by specific user groups in relation to their application on text objects.

Bridging Archaeology and GIS: Influencing Factors for a 4D Archaeological GIS

In archaeology, the intensive application of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) with their specialized capabilities in analysing spatial objects and relations, is hampered by the data particularities. Consequently, the idea arises to develop a comprehensive four-dimensional (4D, i.e. 3D and time) GIS tailored to archaeology, which would facilitate simultaneously handling the spatial and temporal dimensions. This paper endeavours to propose a methodological framework for the development of such a 4D archaeological GIS. This methodology is centred on the usability of the system and therefore integrates a methodology based on human cognition and the approach of the user-centred design cycle. The proposed framework consists of three pillars: (i) the user-oriented, (ii) data-oriented and (iii) analysis-oriented pillar.

Comparing Paper and Digital Topographic Maps Using Eye Tracking

Maps are not limited anymore to the paper medium, nowadays most of them are produced in a digital format. Since both media are still frequently used, a user study was set-up to investigate whether there is any difference in how map users read and search on maps presented on these two media. All participants had experience in the use of paper and digital maps. Each participant saw a topographic map on 1:10,000 of six different regions. The digital and paper stimuli were presented alternately to the participant and no participant saw the same region twice. On each of the six stimuli, the participants had to locate three labels. During this task, the participants’ eye movements were recorded using an eye tracker that was placed in front of a 50 in. TV screen. Because the eye tracker was not used in its standard set-up, the accuracy and suitability of the recorded data was verified extensively before conducting analyses. The cleaned-up data was analysed statistically and visually using a grid of Areas of Interests (AOIs) depicting the distributions of the fixations counts and durations across the twelve stimuli. Comparing the user’s attentive behaviour on the two media types indicates that significantly more fixations per second were found on the digital maps, but that the distributions were similar.

Investigating the visual exploration of the rural-urban gradient using eye-tracking

We analyze if the visual exploration of landscape photographs is influenced by the urbanization level of the landscape and whether this is correlated with visual landscape complexity. We determine if differences in viewing behavior are related to differences in complexity, expressed by the photographs spectral entropy. An eye-tracking experiment is conducted to measure visual behavior while observing the photographs. A more extensive and dispersed exploration is found in more urbanized landscapes. The fixation pattern is more restricted and clustered in weakly urbanized landscapes. When buildings are lacking, this trend cannot be extrapolated since these landscapes seem to elicit an unexpectedly extensive exploration. The urbanization level is positively correlated with the visual complexity, indicating its potential influence on the viewing behavior.

Patterns of US air transport across the economic unevenness of 2003-2013

ABSTRACT This map summarizes the relative change in activity at 379 airports during the tumultuous economic period that lasted from 2003 to 2013 in the conterminous USA. Rather than treating airports only as individual nodes, the work identifies relative regional spatial change in airport activity based upon the combination of the percentage changes in three factors: departures, passenger levels, and available seats. The geographic results, calculated by kriging, show that the outcome over the period is not spatially uniform. In particular, the map shows that parts of the Rust Belt, Appalachia, and the Intermountain West fared relatively worse while the plains and coasts did somewhat better. The analysis expresses the fact that while footloose in the short-run, long-term adjustments in the airline industry, like those experienced across 2003–2013, did so in a spatially coherent way.

Persistence of Mycobacterium ulcerans Disease (Buruli Ulcer) in the Historical Focus of Kasongo Territory, the Democratic Republic of Congo

Fifty years after the last report of Mycobacterium ulcerans infections (Buruli ulcer [BU]) in Kasongo Territory, Maniema Province, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), we conducted a small-scale cross-sectional survey to assess if this historical BU focus was still active and if so to explore the disease epidemiology. Seventy-five active and inactive BU cases were identified on clinical grounds of which two of 28 BU active cases were laboratory confirmed. We used a modified BU02 form to reconstruct the local disease dynamics and we believe that the horrific conflict in eastern DRC and exceptional flooding were the most likely causes of the re-emergence of the disease. There is a need in the DRC to decentralize and integrate surveillance and control activities at local level to increase the effectiveness of patient management.

Thinking aloud in search of landmark characteristics in an indoor environment

The last decade has seen an increase in the attention towards indoor space and its applications. Within this research topic, landmarks play an important role as these distinct objects exert important functions in the context of navigation and in the construction of a cognitive model of an environment. However, compared to outdoor research, little research has been conducted related to indoor landmarks and their specific characteristics with respect to their use and description. Therefore, the presented study aims to investigate when or where landmarks are mostly needed during a navigational task in a building and how they are verbally expressed. In order to examine these aspects, eleven test persons completed a route in a complex building. While navigating, they had to think out loud and their verbal descriptions were analyzed and compared. The results of this study show that landmarks were most needed on locations where a change of orientation took place. In addition, most referrals were made to objects near the observer. Furthermore, participants preferred to use common nouns to refer to a landmark and more detailing was given by specifying color and material. Finally, the results indicate that predominantly the same elements form the basis to identify an indoor landmark as an outdoor landmark namely visual, structural and semantic features.