A user-centric optimization of emergency map symbols to facilitate common operational picture

ABSTRACT

Common operational understanding among engaged emergency responders is facilitated through shared operational pictures during crisis situations. Sharing is typically achieved through interactive tools, either desktop or web-based, in which map displays play an essential role. That role can be further strengthened if (1) agreed emergency symbols that are used in map-based interactive tools are sufficient to encode multifaceted operational information visually; and (2) the symbols are legible and meaningful for the diverse users of those tools. The authors revisited official emergency map symbols in use in Norway and reconsidered them against current requirements. To this end, they first conducted several meetings with stakeholders to elicit adequate revision requirements. Next, the reconsideration included the extension of the symbol set, symbol modification, and grouping. After the reconsideration, emergency management officers and specialists were interviewed. The interviews confirmed the agreement with the symbol categorization, extension of the symbols, and their modifications. The interviewees also made numerous suggestions to be considered in a follow-up study. Moreover, two concepts – symbol standardization and symbol harmonization – were proposed.

KEYWORDS:

• Emergency map symbols
• cartographic symbolization
• symbol standardization
• symbol harmonization
• user study
• cartographic design

Acknowledgments

This study was conducted as part of the INSITU project that is funded by the Research Council of Norway (grant no 295848). Some parts of this article have been based on the work in progress paper published in the ISCRAM 2020 conference proceedings (Opach, T., Rød, J. K., Munkvold, B. E., Radianti, J., Steen-Tveit, K. & Grottenberg, L. O. (2020). Map-based interfaces for common operational picture. Proceedings of the International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, 506–516.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author, [T.O.]. Transcribed interviews used in our study are not publicly available due to their containing information that could compromise the privacy of interviewees.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed here.

Notes

1. https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/harmonize, access date 2021.06.17.

2. Federal Geographic Data Committee Homeland Security Working Group.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the project “Sharing incident and threat information for common situational understanding” (INSITU), funded by the Research Council of Norway’s SAMRISK program on societal security and safety [Grant number NRC 295848].