[Sigia-l] Interactive mapping research

[sgp]

Debbie,
An interface design student of mine looked into this problem last semester.
He dug up these references:
http://www.thetube.com/cgi-bin/tpquery3.exe?EntryType=Stations
http://www.subwaynavigator.com/subway_site/eng/accueil/fset_subway.htm
Hope this is helpful.
[sgp]

ps: For others on this list, I believe Debbie is part of an interesting
organization, TriMet, that was recently published in Metropolis magazine for
their GPS enabled bus tracking system. Really interesting stuff. On that
note has anyone tried the new GPS enabled rental car service being provided
in the NY metro area called ZipCar?
www.metropolismag.com/ (article is not online, must buy print version)
www.zipcar.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Debbie Huntington" <dl.huntington at verizon.net>
To: <sigia-l at asis.org>
Sent: Saturday, March 01, 2003 12:08 PM
Subject: [Sigia-l] Interactive mapping research


> I'm beginning implementation of a user interface for interactive mapping.
> The purpose of providing this kind of map is to provide public transit
users
> an easy way of "seeing" the trip they've planned and to provide the
transit
> user the ability to find transit related amenities like bus stops nearest
> their destination or origin. Our map would be similar to MapQuest.com or
> Yahoo.com maps, yet limited to our transit agency's service area and would
> have the bus and light rail routes and stops available.
>
> We currently provide schematic static maps (with no stops) and the ability
> to plan your trip. Planning your trip generates itinerary options with
links
> to the schematic static maps for each route called out on the trip plan.
> What the static maps don't provide are the visual demonstration of
> interconnections of a multi-route trip, true map scale or adjacent street
> detail (only major intersections along the route.) The new interactive map
> will be able to do this. In addition we have a simple interface that
allows
> you to type in a destination (address, intersection or landmark) to find a
> route or stop nearest you, which generates a text list (no visuals here).
>
> We have two basic user types: the experienced transit rider who will use
> maps and schedule tables to figure out their trip (just like they've done
> pre-internet days) and the novice infrequent rider who find maps and bus
> schedules difficult to use and will call for assistance or use our trip
> planner interface online, which figures out the trip itinerary for you.
>
> The questions I have for the group are:
>
> Where can I find usability research that's been done that would validate
the
> need to show the visual connection of the best trip option between the
> origin and destination points versus only showing the points with no
> highlighted route connecting the two.
>
> I'd like to consider eliminating online availability of static maps and
> schedules and direct folks to use the trip planning tool for itinerary and
> map info. I may be ahead of my time here, and over simplifying the
process,
> not sure if the paradigm shift would be acceptable to users, internet
access
> to public transit info has not been around very long.  I'd like to know
how
> to best go about testing this concept.
>
>
> Thanks,
> Debbie Huntington
> http://www.trimet.org
> See where it takes you.
>
>
>
>
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