POI Symbol Design in Web Cartography—A Comparative Study

Abstract

This paper studies the design of point symbols on widely used online maps and apps that portray tourist points of interest (POIs). Tourist maps are among the most commonly used types of maps nowadays. The ease of travel leads to an ever-increasing demand for tourist maps. Therefore, appropriate map design, content and technical means are necessary for better information transfer and communication between the map and the user. Online maps and apps were selected according to specific criteria (e.g., language, geographic area, pictographic symbols, interactivity). Pictographic point symbols for POIs related to tourism activities were collected and described by variables. The frame and the pictogram of the point symbols were the two main directions for choosing the descriptive variables. Description is based on the cognitive scheme for interpretation of cartographic symbols with some improvements. The study reveals the characteristics of the point symbols and constitutes a documentation of the applied practices. The main trends prevalent in the design of these symbols are highlighted and commented on in relation to traditional cartographic practices and guidelines for the design of point symbols.

رصد البصمة الرقمية السياحية ومراكز الأنشطة السياحية من خلال بيانات التوسيم الجغرافي والبيانات المحددة للموقع: مدينة الإسكندرية كدراسة حالة

“…The more frequently users use a map, the more that map seems to meet their needs (Konstantinou et al, 2023).…”

Comprehension of City Map Pictograms Designed for Specific Tourists’ Needs

“…Participants viewed an image where the target pictogram was centrally positioned, flanked by two other pictograms, to assess its noticeability in a comparative visual setting. The selection of these two pictograms was mostly based on a recent study [38]. Around each pictogram, a minimum spacing that amounts to at least 70% of the pictogram's largest dimension was maintained.…”