Abstract
Informal settlements are a common occurrence in the South African landscape. These settlements are not planned and therefore lack conventional urban characteristics, such as street names and a regular grid or block structure, which are useful aids during wayfinding. As a result, it is difficult to navigate through such a settlement or to provide directions to a specific destination. The lack of street names also implies that directions provided by others play a more important role. In this paper, we present the results of a qualitative between-subjects study that assessed individuals’ wayfinding efficiency when using different types of directions in an informal settlement. Participants were divided into two groups of six participants each (3 males and 3 females). Two sets of directions were constructed for the same route, one based on left-right turn descriptors and landmarks, and the second based on cardinal directions and distances. The performance of participants was measured for each set of directions. Earlier studies reported that people preferred left-right directions but performed better when using cardinal directions. The results of our study show the opposite. We think that this is due to the lack of regular wayfinding aids in informal settlements, but further studies are required to confirm this. The results of our study are interesting for developers of navigational tools aimed at addressing the needs of people in informal settlements.
Highlights
Wayfinding is defined as the mental process of finding a path between two points; a point of origin and a destination (Golledge, 1999; Xia, et al, 2008)
We first present the results of the Santa Barbara Sense of Direction (SBSOD) scale
The aim of the qualitative study presented in this article was to investigate how different types of directions influence wayfinding efficiency in an informal settlement
Summary
Wayfinding is defined as the mental process of finding a path between two points; a point of origin and a destination (Golledge, 1999; Xia, et al, 2008). Wayfinding (commonly referred to as navigating) often involves the use of instructions (i.e. directions) provided to assist with locating the destination. These instructions can be provided by an individual, a map or various other means (Nothegger et al, 2004; Hund & Nazarczuk, 2009). When visiting a new city, one may ask for directions to a local tourist attraction or well-known restaurant These directions can be given using descriptive features, such as directions with reference to landmarks, street names, or cardinal directions and distances (Hund & Minarik, 2006; Hund & Padgitt, 2010; Hund & Gill, 2014). One can assume that an individual’s familiarity with an environment plays an important role when deciding on a wayfinding strategy
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
