Identification of altitude profiles in 3D geovisualizations: the role of interaction and spatial abilities

et al. 2018

IJGI

Self Cite

Interactive 3D visualizations of geospatial data are currently available and popular through various applications such as Google EarthTM and others. Several studies have focused on user performance with 3D maps, but static 3D maps were mostly used as stimuli. The main objective of this paper was to identify differences between interactive and static 3D maps. We also explored the role of different tasks and inter-individual differences of map users. In the experimental study, we analyzed effectiveness, efficiency, and subjective preferences, when working with static and interactive 3D maps. The study included 76 participants and used a within-subjects design. Experimental testing was performed using our own testing tool 3DmoveR 2.0, which was based on a user logging method and open web technologies. We demonstrated statistically significant differences between interactive and static 3D maps in effectiveness, efficiency, and subjective preferences. Interactivity influenced the results mainly in ‘spatial understanding’ and ‘combined’ tasks. From the identified differences, we concluded that the results of the user studies with static 3D maps as stimuli could not be transferred to interactive 3D visualizations or virtual reality.

Section: Static Versus Interactive 3d Mapsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of User Performance in Interactive and Static 3D Maps

Heřman

Juřík

et al. 2018

IJGI

Self Cite

“…For this purpose, real-time engine software or web technologies can be used. The most commonly used real-time engines include Unreal Engine 4, Cry Engine (Germanchis et al, 2007;Shepherd and Bleasdale-Shepherd, 2009;Chądzyńska and Gotlib, 2015) and Unity (Kubíček et al, 2017;Stachoň et al, 2018). All three engines were primarily designed for creating computer games.…”

Section: Software Tools For Low-cost Vrmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These headsets, and VR in general, are currently used for many different purposes and in various applications, including archaeology (Chmelík and Jurda, 2017;Liarokapis et al, 2017), architecture (Portman et al, 2015), medicine (Li et al, 2017), engineering and design (Coburn et al, 2017), education (Kovalčík et al, 2012;Juřík et al, 2016;Moskal and Choate, 2017), the game industry (Shepherd and Bleasdale-Shepherd, 2009;Chądzyńska and Gotlib, 2015), etc. The use of VR has also increased in geosciences, for example in spatial and urban planning (Herbert and Chen, 2015;Portman et al, 2015), crisis management (Kubíček et al, 2011;Bandrova et al, 2012;Herman et al, 2017), noise mapping (Herman and Řezník, 2015), teaching geography (Stojšić et al, 2016;Carbonell and Saorín, 2017), cartography (Juřík et al, 2017;Kubíček et al, 2017) and geoinformatics (Řezník, 2013;Li et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cheap and Immersive Virtual Reality: Application in Cartography

Heřman

Kvarda

Int. Arch. Photogramm. Remote Sens. Spatial Inf. Sci.

2018

<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> In this paper, we analysed and tested the possibilities for the use of low-cost VR (Virtual Reality) headsets, with a focus on cartographic visualization. Low-cost devices were compared and classified into three categories (low-end, mid-range and high-end). We also created a pilot virtual environment, called “Carthoreality”, and conducted simple pilot user testing using this virtual environment and the three low-end headsets. Our pilot test shows a few drawbacks to these devices, including weight of the headset and penetrating light. Some problems in terms of user aspects were also identified, such as nausea while wearing headsets or disorientation after removing them, which occurred for all users.</p>

“…The cause of the problem was revealed to be related to "sessions", which are automatically created upon starting a test but did not always close as expected. After the error was resolved, the application was used by other research groups, for instance by Kubíček et al [82], who conducted a study concerning mental rotations where a maximum of 5 participants were tested simultaneously; Opach et al [83] (individual testing of 25 participants). No problem related to the Hypothesis platform was reported by any of the above research groups.…”

Section: Test Of Resourcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Hypothesis Platform: An Online Tool for Experimental Research into Work with Maps and Behavior in Electronic Environments

Šašinka

Morong

2017

IJGI

Self Cite

Abstract:The article presents a testing platform named Hypothesis. The software was developed primarily for the purposes of experimental research in cartography and psychological diagnostics. Hypothesis is an event-logger application which can be used for the recording of events and their real-time processing, if needed. The platform allows for the application of Computerized Adaptive Testing. The modularity of the platform makes it possible to integrate various Processing.js-based applications for creation and presentation of rich graphic material, interactive animations, and tasks involving manipulation with 3D objects. The Manager Module allows not only the administration of user accounts and tests but also serves as a data export tool. Raw data is exported from the central database in text format and then converted in the selection module into a format suitable for statistical analysis. The platform has many functions e.g., the creation and administration of tasks with real-time interaction between several participants ("multi-player function") and those where a single user completes several tests simultaneously ("multi-task function"). The platform may be useful e.g., for research in experimental economics or for studies involving collaborative tasks. In addition, connection of the platform to an eye-tracking system is also possible.