Necessary conditions for cartographic communication and navigation with guide maps

The aim of this study was to examine necessary conditions for communication of geographic information and navigation with guide maps by conducting two experiments. The result of the first experiment showed that not only local landmarks but well-known place names were necessary to identify the location indicated by the map. Spatial abilities of the subject also affected the performance of the identification task when the map indicated unfamiliar places. The second experiment concerning the navigation with guide maps revealed that the performance level of the navigation was affected by map user’s wayfinding ability rather than the style of the guide maps.