A study of a path guiding system using maps and photographs

Abstract

Traditional map views are produced from a perspective high above ground. However the views of navigators are usually at ground level. The vertical view of maps does not conform to the horizontal view of navigators. Such a difference in viewing perspective creates some difficulties for some navigators. Sometimes they might not be able to relocate the traditional map views to the horizontal view of navigators. Street networks in Hong Kong are quite complex. Some people may still get lost in a city even if they have a traditional view map in hand. A solution proposed in this study to guide navigators to their destinations is to use landmark photographs superimposed on perspective view maps. This proposed solution particularly helps those people who have difficulties in using traditional view maps. This project aims to investigate a technique of landmark photographing, and amend the landmark photographs in the geometry as in the reality. This will then to find a desirable method to superimpose landmark photographs on perspective view maps, and then to find out under what circumstances the display of landmark photographs superimposed on perspective view maps would not be applicable in the compact metropolitan of Hong Kong. In order to provide a foundation to support this solution, a functional customized application program has been developed to provide a platform to integrate the proposed idea with different visual aids. This study focuses on using perspective view maps and photographs. The idea can further be applied to car navigation, electronic street guides, hand-held computers, etc, for on the ground orientation. The research described in this study paves an interesting way to investigate the use of visual aids, particularly landmark photographs superimposed on perspective view maps for path guiding and navigation.