A visualization paradigm for 3D map-based mobile services

Abstract

Nowadays, there is a wide range of commercial LBMS (Location-Based Mobile Services) available in the market, and a trend towards the display of 3D maps can be clearly observed. Given the complete disparity of ideas and a visible commercial orientation in the industry, the study of the visualization aspects that influence user performance and experience in the exploration of urban environments, using 3D maps, becomes an important issue. Based on a proposed conceptual framework, an online questionnaire was developed and administered in order to measure the real impact of each element. Combining the experimental results with the current state-of-the-art, a new visualization paradigm is defined in a dual specification: "layers" providing relevant visual content to the map, and "functions" providing the necessary functionality. © 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.