Appearances can be deceiving: The usability of photorealistic 3D geovisualisation in participatory urban planning
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2025 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Geografie |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| web | online verze článku |
| Doi | http://dx.doi.org/10.37040/geografie.2025.002 |
| Keywords | 3D geovisualisation; participative mapping; questionnaire; urban planning; user evaluation |
| Description | This study investigates the usability and effectiveness of photorealistic and non-photorealistic (symbolized) 3D geovisualizations in participatory urban planning, with a particular focus on differences among user groups. In an experimental study conducted in the city of Brno, respondents from diverse backgrounds – distinguished by expertise, familiarity with the study area, age, and gender – were tasked with evaluating both visualization types for identifying land use and changes. The results revealed significant variations in preferences and task performance across user groups. Experts and men demonstrated higher task accuracy with symbolized models, which were widely regarded as more informative. On the contrary, photorealistic models were favored for fostering spatial understanding and aesthetic appeal, particularly among women and laypeople. These findings underline the importance of considering user group differences when designing visualizations, as subjective satisfaction does not always align with objective effectiveness. The study underscores the complementary roles of these visualization types and provides actionable insights into optimizing 3D geovisualizations for democratic and inclusive urban planning processes. |
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