Open AccessUnderstanding the Effects of Urban Form and Navigational Aids on Wayfinding Behaviour and Spatial Cognition
Author(s) -
Sima Vaez,
Matthew Burke,
Rongrong Yu
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
interdisciplinary journal of signage and wayfinding
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2470-9670
DOI - 10.15763/issn.2470-9670.2021.v5.i2.a86
Subject(s) - signage , legibility , cognitive map , destinations , landmark , spatial cognition , cognition , spatial contextual awareness , tourism , computer science , psychology , geography , applied psychology , human–computer interaction , cartography , advertising , artificial intelligence , archaeology , neuroscience , business
In an age in which navigators can simply follow the represented route on their smartphone to get to their desired destination, is there any need for signage and urban legibility? This study aims to explore the effects of urban form and different navigational aids on visitors’ spatial cognition and wayfinding behavior. Thirty-eight participants were placed in one of three groups: i) a paper map only; ii) smartphones with the Google Maps app; and, iii) no navigational aids (local signage only). Participants were asked to find six pre-determined tourist destinations in central Brisbane, Australia, while they were thinking aloud. Post-task tests showed that participants in the group without personal navigational aids were more successful in landmark recognition than map users. Those who used paper maps performed best in route accuracy and street-naming tests. However, across all the spatial recognition tests, the GPS group was systematically neither the best nor the worst in terms of acquired spatial knowledge. The findings have the potential to assist urban designers and navigational mapping producers to design more legible urban spaces and more effective wayfinding tools.