Human-GIS interaction issues in crisis response

Abstract

Abstract. Geospatial information systems (GIS) provide a central infrastructure forcomputer supported crisis management in terms of database, analytical models and visualization tools, but the user interfaces of such systems are still hard to use, and do not address the special needs of crisis managers who often work in teams and make judgments and decisions under stress. This paper articulates the overall challenges for effective GIS interfaces to support crisis management in three dimensions: immediacy, relevancy, and sharing. These three requirements are addressed by an integrated approach, taking a human-GIS interaction perspective. To demonstrate the feasibility of this approach, we cite our prototype system, DAVE_G (Dialogue-Assisted Visual Environment for Geoinformaton), as an example. DAVE_G uses a large screen display to create a shared workspace among team members, and allows risk managers to interact with a GIS through natural multimodal (speech/gesture) dialogues. This work highlights the design challenges and the required technical innovations towards the goal of making geographical information accessible to crisis management teams.Keywords: geographical information systems, human-computer interaction, multimodal interface, speech and gesture, dialogue management, geovisualization Bibliographical notes: Guoray Cai is Assistant Professor of Information Sciences andTechnology with the school of Information Sciences and Technology at the Pennsylvania State University. He is the director of the Spatial Information and Intelligence Laboratory, and an affiliate faculty of GeoVISTA center at Penn State. His research interests include spatial information retrieval, multimodal interfaces for GIS, conversational dialogue systems, and map-mediated communication and collaboration. He is a member of ACM, IEEE, and AAG (American Association of Geographers). Representation, Visualization, and Design (New York, Guilford, 1995). Dr. MacEachren is currently Chair of the International Cartographic Association Commission on Visualization and Virtual Environments. Rajeev Sharma is an Associated Professor of Computer Science and Engineering atIsaac Brewer is a Ph.D. degree candidate at the Department of Geography and the GeoVISTA Center, Pennsylvania State University, University Park. His dissertation research is focused on the development of a cognitive systems engineering approach to guide design of advanced human-computer interfaces that support collaborative actions with a GIS in emergency management situations. His long-term research interests are in the modeling of human cognitive processes and visual systems as it relates to the design of new interface technologies for geographical information.

Challenges of the Sensor Web for disaster management

“…a complex and aggregate emergency map definitely plays a significant role to assist the end users (or nonexperts) to make the judgments in a short time or under press. In more detail, geospatial technology of Digital Earth has been proven crucial for effective disaster management, including traditional GIS-based technologies (Zerger andSmith 2003, McCarthy et al 2008), humanÁGIS interaction issues (Cai et al 2006), 3D GIS solutions (Zlatanova et al 2004, Kwan and, spatial data infrastructure considerations (Mansourian et al 2006, Zlatanova 2008, Mayer and Zipf 2009, and other GI science issues (Cutter 2003). Disaster management and Sensor Web are becoming important research issues in the Digital Earth concept.…”

Gaze and Feet as Additional Input Modalities for Interacting With Geospatial Interfaces

“…One approach to reducing the cognitive load of the user is paying close attention to the visualization and interface design (e.g., Brychtová & Çöltekin, 2016;Çöltekin, et al, 2009), and another is cognitive engineering, by employing intuitive multimodal interaction channels developed based on human cognitive abilities, thus, minimizing the gap between the system and the user (Raubal, 2009). The need for effective, efficient, and intuitive interaction between the user and GIS becomes even more evident when looking at domains such as crisis management (Cai, et al, 2006) where functionality and the efficient interplay between the GIS and the user is crucial.…”

Toward Open Source Kenya: Creating and Sharing a GIS Database of Nairobi

“…P-GIS literature looks at how GIS might improve knowledge transmission from participants to experts (e.g., Hopfer and MacEachran 2007). It also looks at how the use of GIS might affect organizational culture through its adoption and systemic use (Cai et al 2006). Other P-GIS research looks at how groups can experiment with new uses of GIS that allow for collaboration (Nyerges, Jankowski, and Drew 2002;Voss et al 2004;Jankowski et al 2006).…”