The Possibilities for Functionality Research on Interactive Internet Maps

Abstract

While the need of interactive Internet maps to solve geographical tasks in society is urgently growing and the technologies are constantly improving, research on user interfaces is one tool that can ensure the application of effective functionality, and thus improve the quality of communication. This article introduces and analyses four classic functionality research techniques (monitoring, examination, feedback registration, and experiment) drawn from the scientific literature and suggests two new research techniques (qualimetry and conversion) based on the author's research. The author suggests distinguishing four main indicators that in general would describe the weak and strong features of research techniques: length of research, costs of research organization, objective of research, and applicability of results. The principal aim of the analysis is to help define the most important advantages and disadvantages of functionality research techniques. The article first describes types of interactive maps and their function groups, then proceeds to the analysis of the six suggested functionality research techniques.

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“…The FreshWater Watch program is based on the continuous monitoring of freshwater bodies, which began in 2012(FreshWater Watch, 2021. She works with local groups and scientists who have scientific questions about their specific surface water bodies.…”

“…Although they were developed for the CS in general, without emphasizing EA, the classifications of functions (Persson et al, 2006) and (Balciunas, 2011) are worth considering in detail. These works, in our opinion, occupy an intermediate position between studies of the functionality or interactivity of the CS (emphasis primarily on IFs and characteristics of the CS) and studies of interaction with the CIS (emphasis shifted to user tasks and interaction operators).…”

“…Functional studies with the participation of A. Balciunas deserve special attention (Balciunas & Dumbliauskiene, 2011;Balciunas, 2011;Balciunas, 2012;Balciunas & Beconyte, 2015). So, eight criteria (image review, data review, data visualization, composition of map layout, measuring of map elements, management of information resources, using the information (publishing), data selection and analysis) and 30 indicators were chosen to assess the quality of web maps functionality, where indicators correspond to the specific functions of interactive web maps (Balciunas & Dumbliauskiene, 2011).…”

“…So, eight criteria (image review, data review, data visualization, composition of map layout, measuring of map elements, management of information resources, using the information (publishing), data selection and analysis) and 30 indicators were chosen to assess the quality of web maps functionality, where indicators correspond to the specific functions of interactive web maps (Balciunas & Dumbliauskiene, 2011). In the following paper (Balciunas, 2011), 8 of the above criteria are equated to groups of functions and divided into three types of interactivity: review, modification, management. One year later, the same 8 groups of functions were proposed to evaluate the functionality of national atlas web maps (Balciunas, 2012).…”

“…In the following paper (Balciunas, 2011), 8 of the above criteria are equated to groups of functions and divided into three types of interactivity: review, modification, management. One year later, the same 8 groups of functions were proposed to evaluate the functionality of national atlas web maps (Balciunas, 2012). The grouping of functions was carried out on the basis of their purpose (which was the classification feature).…”