-------- Original Message --------
Subject:        Re: Query: map and GIS user needs
Date:   Thu, 12 Apr 2007 19:05:11 -0700
From:   Duane Marble <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To:       [log in to unmask]
To:     maps-l
CC:
References:


There has been a very substantial amount of work done on the design and
implementation of
geographic information systems. Much of this is directed toward
requirements engineering and
definition of user needs, goals, constraints, desired products, etc. I
have worked in this area for
a number of years myself. If you are looking for a good overview, check
out Roger Tomlinson's
book "Thinking About GIS" that is available in paperback form from the
ESRI Press or at a discount
(about $14) from Amazon.com
There are a significant number of problems in using Google maps in
making what I prefer to
call "messups" since most of the ones I have seen demonstrate a sad lack
of knowledge of the
basics of effectively displaying and using spatial data.
Duane Marble

Matthew Gilmore wrote:
> This is a MapHist list message (when you hit 'reply' you're replying
> to the whole list)
> o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o
> + o +
> I'm familiar with literature in information/library science on "user
> needs/information seeking" of scholars in different
> disciplines--historians, for example (see something like:
> http://www.infoethics.org/503syl.html)
>
> Has anyone done similar research on user needs/information
> seeking/interaction of users with maps and/or GIS?
>
> I am interested in the larger research issue, but also for a
> particular situation. We're discussing the utility of Googlemaps
> versus a web-based GIS application. We are debating "use cases" and
> I'd like to draw on the literature (if any). What does a user expect
> from a GIS application?
>
> Matthew Gilmore
>

>
>
>
>

--
Dr. Duane F. Marble     [log in to unmask]
2226 Primrose Lane
Florence, OR  97439     541.902.8837  (voice & fax)