https://doi.org/10.4081/gh.2009.206

Evaluating web-based static, animated and interactive maps for injury prevention

Vol. 4 No. 1 (2009)
Submitted: 22 December 2014
Accepted: 22 December 2014
Published: 1 November 2009
injury, web mapping, geographical information system, public health, user-centred design, usability-testing.
Abstract Views: 2464
PDF: 1043
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Authors

Jonathan Cinnamon
jca80@sfu.ca
Department of Geography, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada.
Claus Rinner
Department of Geography, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Michael D. Cusimano
Injury Prevention Research Office, Keenan Research Centre, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Sean Marshall
Injury Prevention Research Office, Keenan Research Centre, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Tsegaye Bekele
Injury Prevention Research Office, Keenan Research Centre, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Tony Hernandez
Department of Geography, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Richard H. Glazier
Centre for Research on Inner City Health, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Mary L. Chipman
Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Public health planning can benefit from visual exploration and analysis of geospatial data. Maps and geovisualization tools must be developed with the user-group in mind. User-needs assessment and usability testing are crucial elements in the iterative process of map design and implementation. This study presents the results of a usability test of static, animated and interactive maps of injury rates and socio-demographic determinants of injury by a sample of potential end-users in Toronto, Canada. The results of the user-testing suggest that different map types are useful for different purposes and for satisfying the varying skill level of the individual user. The static maps were deemed to be easy to use and versatile, while the animated maps could be made more useful if animation controls were provided. The split-screen concept of the interactive maps was highlighted as particularly effective for map comparison. Overall, interactive maps were identified as the preferred map type for comparing patterns of injury and related socio-demographic risk factors. Information collected from the user-tests is being used to expand and refine the injury web maps for Toronto, and could inform other public health-related geo-visualization projects.

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How to Cite

Cinnamon, J., Rinner, C., Cusimano, M. D., Marshall, S., Bekele, T., Hernandez, T., Glazier, R. H., & Chipman, M. L. (2009). Evaluating web-based static, animated and interactive maps for injury prevention. Geospatial Health, 4(1), 3–16. https://doi.org/10.4081/gh.2009.206

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