Understanding Spatial Data Usability

Authors

Gary J Hunter Department of Geomatics, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
Monica Wachowicz Centre for Geo-Information, Wageningen UR, PO Box 339, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands
Arnold K Bregt Centre for Geo-Information, Wageningen UR, PO Box 339, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2481/dsj.2.79

Keywords:

Spatial data, Usability, Usability elements, Research questions

Abstract

In recent geographical information science literature, a number of researchers have made passing reference to an apparently new characteristic of spatial data known as 'usability'. While this attribute is well-known to professionals engaged in software engineering and computer interface design and testing, extension of the concept to embrace information would seem to be a new development. Furthermore, while notions such as the use and value of spatial information, and the diffusion of spatial information systems, have been the subject of research since the late-1980s, the current references to usability clearly represent something which extends well beyond that initial research. Accordingly, the purposes of this paper are: (1) to understand what is meant by spatial data usability; (2) to identify the elements that might comprise usability; and (3) to consider what the related research questions might be.

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Published

2003-02-26

Issue

Vol. 2 (2003): Special Issue

Section

Proceedings Papers

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