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A conceptual model of wayfinding using multiple levels of abstraction

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Theories and Methods of Spatio-Temporal Reasoning in Geographic Space

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNCS,volume 639))

Abstract

Wayfinding is part of everyday life. This study concentrates on the development of a conceptual model of human navigation in the U.S. Interstate Highway Network. It proposes three different levels of conceptual understanding that constitute the cognitive map: the Planning Level, the Instructional Level, and the Driver Level. This paper formally defines these three levels and examines the conceptual objects that comprise them. The problem treated here is a simpler version of the open problem of planning and navigating a multi-mode trip. We expect the methods and preliminary results found here for the Interstate system to apply to other systems such as river transportation networks and railroad networks.

This work was partially funded by grants from Intergraph Corporation. Additional support from NSF for the NCGIA under grant number SES 88-10917 is gratefully acknowledged. Sabine Tirnpf acknowledges the support of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis, University of Maine, 04469, Orono, ME, USA

    Sabine Timpf, GARY S. Volta, David W. Pollock & Max J. Egenhofer

  2. Department of Surveying Engineering Boardman Hall, University of Maine, 04469, Orono, ME, USA

    Sabine Timpf, GARY S. Volta, David W. Pollock & Max J. Egenhofer

Authors
  1. Sabine Timpf
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  2. GARY S. Volta
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  3. David W. Pollock
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  4. Max J. Egenhofer
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Editor information

A. U. Frank I. Campari U. Formentini

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© 1992 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Timpf, S., Volta, G.S., Pollock, D.W., Egenhofer, M.J. (1992). A conceptual model of wayfinding using multiple levels of abstraction. In: Frank, A.U., Campari, I., Formentini, U. (eds) Theories and Methods of Spatio-Temporal Reasoning in Geographic Space. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 639. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-55966-3_21

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-55966-3_21

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-55966-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-47333-6

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