Waylosing and wayfinding in the outdoors: a typology of wayfinding approaches to problem-solving when temporarily lost

Abstract

Abstract This paper presents the findings from a survey conducted in Norway to study the process of recovering from temporary disorientation in outdoor environments. The survey, with 693 respondents, investigated how individuals navigate and regain their bearings after getting disoriented for a short period of time. By collecting data on duration of disorientation and descriptions of participants' recovery experiences, we conducted both qualitative and quantitative analyses to establish a typology of spatial problem-solving [Downs, R. M. and Stea, D. (1977). Maps in Minds: Reflections on Cognitive Mapping. New York: Harper & Row, p. 55] approaches employed in wayfinding after becoming temporarily lost in outdoor settings. The research systematically explores the use of materials and approaches described by respondents when re-establishing their bearings. The existing research literature lacks comprehensive reporting on people's strategies for solving the problem of being disoriented in the outdoors, which motivated us to conduct this study. The resulting typology gives an overview of approaches employed to solve the problem of being lost in the outdoors and contribute additional details and insights to the understanding of individuals' wayfinding behaviours and reorientation processes.