ABSTRACT:The use of Geographic Information or GI, has grown rapidly in recent years. Previous research has identified the importance of usability and user centred design in enabling the proliferation and exploitation of GI. However, the design and development of usable GI is not simply a matter of applying the tried and tested usability methods that have been developed for software and web design. Dealing with data and specifically GI brings with it a number of issues that change the way usability and user centred design can be applied. This paper describes the outcomes of a workshop held in March 2010 exploring the core issues relating to GI usability. The workshop brought together an international group of twenty experts in both human factors and GI, from a wide range of academic and industrial backgrounds. These experts considered three key issues, the stakeholders in GI, key challenges applying usability to GI and the usability methods that can be successfully applied to GI. The result of this workshop was to identify some areas for future research, such as the production of meaningful metadata and the implications of blurring of the line between data producers and data consumers.
Background: A pilot cardiovascular disease prevention project was implemented in the inner-city West Midlands. It was evaluated by comparing its effectiveness to a control group where full implementation was delayed by a year.
ABSTRACT:This paper describes preliminary work to investigate what it means to manage data quality in a simple data integration and analysis prototype for research purposes, where input datasets are from a range of different sources. Consideration is given to how standard elements of spatial data quality (as in ISO 19115:2003) apply in the context of the prototype, which is based on a relatively straight forward 'house hunting' scenario. Based on initial findings the paper aims to position further work, identifying a series of research questions around needs for improved data quality management and communication in analytical processes involving geographic information. While not providing solutions or raising novel issues it is hoped the paper may serve to add support for more applied and user focused data quality research in the area of analytics.
At Ordnance Survey, GB, we have taken an incremental approach to creating our 3D geospatial database. Research at Ordnance Survey has focused not only on methods for deriving 3D data, but also on the needs of the user in terms of the actual tasks they perform. This provides insights into the type and quality of the data required and how its quality is conveyed. In 2007, using task analysis and user-centred design, we derived a set of geometric characteristics of building exteriors that are relevant to one or more use contexts. This work has been valuable for guiding which building data to collect and how to augment our products. In 2014, we began to supply building height attributes as an alpha-release enhancement to our 2D topography data, OS MasterMap R Topography Layer. This is the first in a series of enhancements of our 2D data that forms part of a road map that will ultimately lead to a full range of 3D products. This paper outlines our research journey from the understanding of the key 3D building characteristics to the development of geo-spatial products and the specification of research. There remains a rich seam of research into ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf. 2015, 4 2891 methods for capturing user-focused, geo-spatial data to enable visualisation and analysis in three dimensions. Because the process of informing and designing a product is necessarily focused on the practicalities of production, storage and distribution, this paper is presented as a case report, as we believe our journey will be of interest to others involved in the capture of 3D buildings at a national level.
As the use of Geographic Information (GI) is becoming more widespread, the usability of GI is being recognised as an important issue. However, exploring the usability of information products brings with it a range of problems that are not easily handled by traditional user centred design methods. This paper describes the Practical Evaluation of Geographic Information (PEGI) process, which consists of a series of usability research methods that have been modified for use with GI. Two case studies are also presented, describing the application of PEGI within a commercial product development process. The advantages and disadvantages of the PEGI process are discussed as well as plans for future research in this area. The potential value of this approach is also described in terms of Cost-Benefit, concluding that a £3,000 evaluation process could help produce benefits of over £40,000 a year in cost savings and increased sales.
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