Usability assessment of a virtual globe-based 4D archaeological GIS

Abstract

Acquired using 3D technologies, archaeological data is increasingly represented via 3D visualizations. For analysing, interpreting and exchanging, these data are unfortunately mostly reduced to two dimensions. Therefore, a 4D archaeological GIS that integrates 3D representations and analytical functionalities will contribute to different parts of the archaeological workflow from fieldwork preparation over analysis to reporting. Such a 4D approach will facilitate better and more integrated insights and allow more complex analyses and interpretations. Incorporating such a 4D archaeological GIS in a web-based environment will even increase the benefits as this could function as a virtual workspace. Since virtual globes have proven their capabilities to manage and visualize 3D data in non-expert applications, a prototypical 4D archaeological GIS was developed based on the virtual globe Cesium. This paper demonstrates by means of a usability test with employees of a Flemish archaeological organization that the concept of such a low-threshold application is supported by the intended end-users. Although some usability problems were encountered and the functionalities of the prototype are rather limited, extending and further developing the system could result in a valuable research tool for archaeology.