Abstract
As demonstrated by the Atlas of Canada, the successfulness and usability of atlas products
can be greatly improved through the application of a user-centred design approach. In
following such an approach in the realization of a digital atlas the first stage in the design is
an extensive analysis of the requirements, starting with the establishment of the proposed
atlas purpose and contents as well as the business requirements. The next step would be the
definition of the atlas users’ requirements, consisting of descriptions of the use contexts,
user characteristics, the tasks to be performed by these users and their preferences. These
user requirements give an indication of the level of complexity and detail envisaged, the
level of expertise needed to be able to derive information from the map, and the kind of
operations needed to do so. These user requirements are established to serve as a basis for
defining atlas use scenarios on which, in turn, the necessary digital atlas functionality can
be based. Other design solutions (e.g. map and database design) can be derived from this
definition as well, but that is outside the scope of this paper.The main objective of this
paper is to propose a way of working in the first (requirement analysis) stage of the usercentred
design of a digital atlas. This approach is, first of all, based on the formulation of
the geographical questions users would like to have answered by a digital atlas and its
constituent elements. Use scenarios may be constructed based on these questions and on
the atlas and map use activities that can be executed to answer them.
First we will define the atlas concept, and the steps needed to realize an atlas (purpose,
contents and business requirements; section 2). Then we will look into the atlas users’
requirements, the use circumstances and context and the kind of geographical information
needed (section 3). Based on them an example of an atlas use scenario will be developed
(section 4), that may help deciding what atlas functionality is required.
can be greatly improved through the application of a user-centred design approach. In
following such an approach in the realization of a digital atlas the first stage in the design is
an extensive analysis of the requirements, starting with the establishment of the proposed
atlas purpose and contents as well as the business requirements. The next step would be the
definition of the atlas users’ requirements, consisting of descriptions of the use contexts,
user characteristics, the tasks to be performed by these users and their preferences. These
user requirements give an indication of the level of complexity and detail envisaged, the
level of expertise needed to be able to derive information from the map, and the kind of
operations needed to do so. These user requirements are established to serve as a basis for
defining atlas use scenarios on which, in turn, the necessary digital atlas functionality can
be based. Other design solutions (e.g. map and database design) can be derived from this
definition as well, but that is outside the scope of this paper.The main objective of this
paper is to propose a way of working in the first (requirement analysis) stage of the usercentred
design of a digital atlas. This approach is, first of all, based on the formulation of
the geographical questions users would like to have answered by a digital atlas and its
constituent elements. Use scenarios may be constructed based on these questions and on
the atlas and map use activities that can be executed to answer them.
First we will define the atlas concept, and the steps needed to realize an atlas (purpose,
contents and business requirements; section 2). Then we will look into the atlas users’
requirements, the use circumstances and context and the kind of geographical information
needed (section 3). Based on them an example of an atlas use scenario will be developed
(section 4), that may help deciding what atlas functionality is required.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | ICC 2009 |
| Subtitle of host publication | Proceedings of the 24th International Cartographic Conference - The world's geo-spatial solutions, 15-21 November, 2009 Santiago, Chile |
| Publisher | International Cartographic Association |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| ISBN (Print) | 978-1-907075-02-5 |
| Publication status | Published - 2009 |
| Event | 24th International Cartographic Conference, ICC 2009: The world's geo-spatial solutions - Santiago, Chile Duration: 15 Nov 2009 → 21 Nov 2009 Conference number: 24 |
Conference
| Conference | 24th International Cartographic Conference, ICC 2009 |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | ICC |
| Country/Territory | Chile |
| City | Santiago |
| Period | 15/11/09 → 21/11/09 |
Keywords
- GIP
- ADLIB-ART-1700