Disaster learning through a map-based mobile application: An evaluation of its readability and user satisfaction

Abstract

Mobile technologies have become a key potential learning tool for the public in this digital era, particularly for young people. The Indonesian government, through its National Disaster Management Agency, has developed and launched a mobile application called InaRisk Personal to help citizens become more aware of disasters. This paper aims to assess whether this map-based application is effective and efficient as a disaster learning tool for senior high school students by evaluating its readability (efficiency and accuracy of map interpretation) and overall satisfaction with the application by surveying 361 students in West Java, Indonesia. This study also compared the application with printed disaster maps obtained from local governments to roughly examine its performance. The findings show that both measurements (readability and user satisfaction) were higher for the application. We also found that most students prefer to learn about disasters through cartographic visualization on the mobile application with suggestions for improvements compared to the printed maps.