The Use of Local and Global Landmarks across Scales and Modes of Transportation in Verbal Route Instructions

Schwering A, Li R, Anacta VJA

Abstract

Landmarks are acknowledged as means to making wayfinding instructions simpler and intuitive. Research endeavors have showed that landmarks are frequently used in human-given instructions for wayfinding. In the presented study, we further explore the use of landmarks in verbal descriptions for routes that cover different scales and require different modes of transportation. Twenty-one participants from the authors' university participated in this study to give verbal descriptions of three different routes which are different in length as well as in mode of transportation. Results show that previously identified local and global landmarks are predominantly used in verbal descriptions regardless of scales. Furthermore, the use of local and global landmarks changes with the mode of transportation and scale. That is, when the length of route is very long, this requires transportation mode to be driving in a car, the use of global landmarks increases. This study sheds light on future work of providing landmarks in wayfinding instructions that facilitate not only the ease of wayfinding but also spatial orientation.