The Role of Maps and Signage in Interior Wayfinding An Exploratory Qualitative Study
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Finding one’s way around complex and large buildings, such as hospitals, airports, and educational facilities, can be challenging. Using maps and signage to address wayfinding issues in such buildings is one of the most common solutions. Despite extensive research on maps and signage, few studies have systematically explored how and when people use maps and signage in real-world situations during interior wayfinding. To address this gap, an exploratory, qualitative approach was adopted. Eleven participants were tasked with finding 12 targets within two university buildings. Participants were asked to voice out their thoughts (think-aloud protocol) while carrying out the tasks. Their think-aloud protocol and behavior were recorded and analyzed. The results revealed that the type of initial information available about the target could influence participants’ preferences for maps over signage or vice versa. Maps were not often used as the first strategy during wayfinding. Participants were perplexed when they consulted maps in different corridors because each map rotated differently to align with the adjacent corridor. Design issues regarding maps and signage were identified and discussed.
Article Details
References
Arthur, P., & Passini, R. (1992). Wayfinding: People, signs, and architecture. McGraw-Hill Book Co.
Birks, M., Chapman, Y., & Francis, K. (2008). Memoing in qualitative research: Probing data and processes. Journal of Research in Nursing, 13(1), 68–75. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1744987107081254
Butler, D. L., Acquino, A. L., Hissong, A. A., & Scott, P. A. (1993). Wayfinding by newcomers in a complex building. Human Factors, 35(1), 159–173. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/001872089303500109
Charmaz, K. (2014). Constructing grounded theory (2nd ed.). Sage.
Chen, C.-H., Chang, W.-C., & Chang, W.-T. (2009). Gender differences in relation to wayfinding strategies, navigational support design, and wayfinding task difficulty. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 29(2), 220–226. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2008.07.003
Cope, J., Lutz, J., Ironsmith, M., & Elbert, E. (1999). Use of signs to enhance way-finding in a university bookstore. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 88(3), 1271–1279. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2466/pms.1999.88.3c.1271
Golledge, R. G., & Stimson, R. J. (1997). Spatial behavior: A geographic perspective. Guilford Press.
Haq, S., & Zimring, C. (2003). Just down the road a piece: The development of topological knowledge of building layouts. Environment and Behavior, 35(1), 132–160. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0013916502238868
Hashim, M. J., Alkaabi, M. S. K. M., & Bharwani, S. (2014). Interpretation of way-finding healthcare symbols by a multicultural population: Navigation signage design for global health. Applied Ergonomics, 45(3), 503–509. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2013.07.002
Hölscher, C., Büchner, S. J., Meilinger, T., & Strube, G. (2009). Adaptivity of wayfinding strategies in a multi-building ensemble: The effects of spatial structure, task requirements, and metric information. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 29(2), 208–219. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2008.05.010
Jamshidi, S. (2021). Identifying elements of the interior environment that contribute to wayfinding cognitive processes [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Texas Tech University.
Jamshidi, S., Ensafi, M., & Pati, D. (2020). Wayfinding in interior environments: An integrative review. Frontiers in Psychology, 11. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.549628
Jamshidi, S., & Hashemi, S. (2020, October 9). Interior wayfinding: Two different approaches in addressing wayfinding problems within interior environments [Conference presentation]. IDEC Virtual Symposium.
Jamshidi, S., & Pati, D. (2020). A Narrative review of theories of wayfinding within the interior environment. HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal, 14(1) 290–303. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1937586720932276
Jamshidi, S., & Pati, D. (2024). Identifying environmental elements and attributes that contribute to indoor wayfinding: An exploratory study utilizing think-aloud protocol. Journal of Interior Design, 49(2), 117–138. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/10717641231207031
Joy Lo, C.-W., Yien, H.-W., & Chen, I.-P. (2016). How universal are universal symbols? An estimation of cross-cultural adoption of universal healthcare symbols. HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal, 9(3), 116–134. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1937586715616360
Levine, M., Marchon, I., & Hanley, G. (1984). The placement and misplacement of you-are-here maps. Environment and Behavior, 16(2), 139–157. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0013916584162001
Li, R., & Klippel, A. (2016). Wayfinding behaviors in complex buildings: The impact of environmental legibility and familiarity. Environment and Behavior, 48(3), 482–510. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0013916514550243
Lu, Y., & Ye, Y. (2019). Can people memorize multilevel building as volumetric map? A study of multilevel atrium building. Environment and Planning B: Urban Analytics and City Science, 46(2), 225–242. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/2399808317705659
Meilinger, T., Hölscher, C., Büchner, S. J., & Brösamle, M. (2006). How much information do you need? Schematic maps in wayfinding and self localisation. In T. Barkowsky, M. Knauff, G. Ligozat, & D. R. Montello (Eds.), Spatial Cognition V Reasoning, Action, Interaction (pp. 381–400). Springer Berlin Heidelberg. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-75666-8_22
Montello, D. R., & Sas, C. (2006). Human Factors of Wayfinding in Navigation. In W. Karwowski W. (Ed.), International Encyclopedia of Ergonomics and Human Factors (pp. 2003–2008). CRC Press/Taylor & Francis, Ltd. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1201/9780849375477.ch394
O’Neill, M. J. (1991a). A biologically based model of spatial cognition and wayfinding. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 11(4), 299–320. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0272-4944(05)80104-5
O’Neill, M. J. (1991b). Effects of signage and floor plan configuration on wayfinding accuracy. Environment and Behavior, 23(5), 553–574. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0013916591235002
Pati, D., Harvey, T. E., Willis, D. A., & Pati, S. (2015). Identifying elements of the health care environment that contribute to wayfinding. HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal, 8(3), 44–67. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1937586714568864
Richardson, A. E., Montello, D. R., & Hegarty, M. (1999). Spatial knowledge acquisition from maps and from navigation in real and virtual environments. Memory & Cognition, 27(4), 741–750. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3758/bf03211566
Thorndyke, P. W., & Hayes-Roth, B. (1982). Differences in spatial knowledge acquired from maps and navigation. Cognitive Psychology, 14(4), 560–589. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0010-0285(82)90019-6
Vilar, E., Rebelo, F., & Noriega, P. (2014). Indoor human wayfinding performance using vertical and horizontal signage in virtual reality. Human Factors and Ergonomics in Manufacturing & Service Industries, 24(6), 601–615. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hfm.20503
Vilar, E., Rebelo, F., Noriega, P., Duarte, E., & Mayhorn, C. B. (2014). Effects of competing environmental variables and signage on route-choices in simulated everyday and emergency wayfinding situations. Ergonomics, 57(4), 511–524. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2014.895054
Wright, P., Hull, A. J., & Lickorish, A. (1993). Navigating in a hospital outpatients’ department: The merits of maps and wall signs. Journal of Architectural and Planning Research, 10(1), 76–89. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43029277