Abstract
AbstractWorldMap is an open source online mapping application which aims to lower barriers for scholars who wish to visualize, analyze, organize, present, and publish mapped information. In late 2013, 290 respondents among the 8,000 registered users participated in an online survey in which they described their activities, purposes, experiences, and preferences regarding the system. Participants also described their professional background, GIS skill level, age, gender, and country of work. This study analyzes the results of the survey, by summarizing the responses to each question independently and by examining the relationships and dependencies of these answers across the different questions to try to better understand why users responded the way they did. The study is based on the user‐centered design (UCD) approach. We aim to use the survey results to improve our understanding of user demographics and needs. Findings from this study will be used to guide WorldMap improvements, and we hope the findings will also shed light on the broader requirements of online GIS users.
Highlights
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have flourished in the online environment in recent years, expanding the availability of GIS tools from being the domain of small number of trained professionals to being accessible by anyone with access to the internet
The survey results show that WorldMap users make up a diverse group by age, gender, profession, discipline, and nationality
The system serves a broad range of disciplines and professions, as it was originally intended to do by the project team from the beginning
Summary
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have flourished in the online environment in recent years, expanding the availability of GIS tools from being the domain of small number of trained professionals to being accessible by anyone with access to the internet. Many GIS platforms have come online in recent years including ArcGIS Online, Google Maps Engine, GeoCommons, MapBox, OpenStreetMap, WorldMap, etc. These and other systems have made creating, interpreting, and mapping locational data easier and more intuitive, enabling people from all walks of life to create their own datasets and maps online. Most users expect to come to a browser and get meaningful mapping work done without much training. Online GIS systems are pulled to two directions: the professionals needing a rich set of functions, and novice users who want simplicity and ease of use.
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