1. Pepijn Viaene, Ann Vanclooster, Philippe De Maeyer
Faculty of sciences
THE IDENTIFICATION OF LANDMARKS FOR WAYFINDING IN AN INDOOR ENVIRONMENT
Pepijn Viaene, Ann Vanclooster, Philippe De Maeyer

2. LANDMARK FEATURES WAYFINDING Persistent Informative Salient
OBJECT/PLACE
Prominent
Identifiable
Memorable
Visual
Semantic
Structural
WAYFINDING
Orientationpoint
Checkpoint
Cognitive model of the environment
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3. OBJECTIVES INDOOR = OUTDOOR ?
Hypothesis 1: Landmarks are primarily used as orientation point and to a lesser extent as checkpoints.
Hypothesis 2: The landmark-theory (Sorrows & Hirtle, 1999) is applicable indoor as well.
Hypothesis 3: Individual characteristics of the test person have an impact on the selection of landmarks.
Indoor navigation systems using landmark-based route instructions
How are landmarks described?
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4. METHODS Concurrent Thinking Aloud (TA) Experiment
1. Introduction to TA
2. Completion 1 of the route: following (TA)
3. Completion 2 of the route: independant (TA)
4. Questionnaire
location and identification
description
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5. METHODS LOCATION ANALYSIS WORD ANALYSIS SENTENCE ANALYSIS
22 verbal protocol
transcription
WORD ANALYSIS
SENTENCE ANALYSIS
11 test persons
3 groups
Experts
Geographical Information (GI)
Novices
Gender
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6. RESULTS
Hypothesis 1: Landmarks are primarily used as orientation point and to a lesser extent as checkpoints.
Outdoor research:
View-action-couple
(possible) changes in direction
≤ 50 % = checkpoint
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7. LOCATION ANALYSIS Noticed by … men women men and women everybody
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8. RESULTS Outdoor research:
Hypothesis 2: The landmark-theory (Sorrows & Hirtle, 1999) is applicable indoor as well.
Outdoor research:
“object landmarks”
“structural landmarks”
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9. Visual features Structural features Semantic features WORD ANALYSIS
Material
Age
Presence
Colours
Closets (objects)
Structural features
Stairs
Floors
Large open spaces
Semantic features
VTK
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10. Odours, sounds, temperature ? Persistence ?
SENTENCE ANALYSIS
Semantic component: 23 %
Odours, sounds, temperature ?
Persistence ?
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11. SENTENCE ANALYSIS
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12. FAMILIARITY WITH ENVIRONMENT
RESULTS
Hypothesis 3: Individual characteristics of the test person have an impact on the selection of landmarks.
Outdoor research:
GENDER
FAMILIARITY WITH ENVIRONMENT
FAMILIARITY WITH GI
(Caduff & Timpf, 2008)
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13. Familiarity with the enviroment
WORD ANALYSIS
Familiarity with the enviroment
Less additional information
Signs
Details: colours and materials (?)
Gender
Women refer more to colours and material GI
Use of signs (?)
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14. Familiarity with the environment
SENTENCE ANALYSIS
Familiarity with the environment
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15. Familiarity with the environment
SENTENCE ANALYSIS
Familiarity with the environment
DURATION
Mean [m:s]
SD [m:s]
Total
6:42
0:33
Experts
6:27
0:42 GI
6:50
0:25
Novices
6:52
0:20
Men
6:39
Women
6:47
0:18
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16. SENTENCE ANALYSIS Gender GI Very limited or even no influence
Preference for maps
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17. CONCLUSION
Hypothesis 1: Landmarks function primarily as orientation points
Hypothesis 2:
Landmark theory is not refuted
Further research: odours, sound, temperature
Hypothesis 3: Individual characteristics of the test person have an impact on the selection of landmarks.
Familiarity with the environment facilitates navigation and wayfinding
Gender: same landmarks, colour and material
Familiarity with Geographical Information: no effect
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18. Thank you for your attention
THE IDENTIFICATION OF LANDMARKS FOR WAYFINDING IN AN INDOOR ENVIRONMENT
12/12/2013
INDOOR 3D - CAPE TOWN