Mouse-Sensitive Following Path Suggestion for Drawing Travel Routes in Web Map Systems

Pablo Martinez Lerin, Daisuke Yamamoto, Naohisa Takahashi

Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Nagoya, Japan.

DOI: 10.4236/jgis.2012.45045                

Abstract

This paper proposes a web map system for drawing an arbitrary travel route using a mouse-sensitive following path suggestion. The interaction model of the system allows users to intuitively understand the sequence of user actions needed to draw a conceived route and reduces the number of user actions required. Moreover, the system allows users to understand at a glance several drawing alternatives (static suggestion) and also consider a particular drawing alternative (dynamic suggestion) without making any commitment. The proposed architecture of the system reduces the influence caused by communication delay between a map server and a web client by delivering in advance road network data from a map server to a web client. Experimental evaluations on a prototype we developed demonstrated that the proposed system enables users to draw arbitrary routes within noticeably less clicks, in less time, and with less stress than previous systems.

Keywords

Computer-Aided Route Drawing; Following Path; Web Map System, GIS

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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