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A Wayfinding Grammar Based on Reference System Transformations

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Spatial Information Theory (COSIT 2015)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNTCS,volume 9368))

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Abstract

Wayfinding models can be helpful in describing, understanding, and technologically supporting the processes involved in navigation. However, current models either lack a high degree of formalization, or they are not holistic and perceptually grounded, which impedes their use for cognitive engineering. In this paper, we propose a novel formalism that covers the core wayfinding processes, yet is modular in nature by allowing for open slots for those spatial cognitive processes that are modifiable, or not yet well understood. Our model is based on a formal grammar grounded in spatial reference systems and is both interpretable in terms of observable behavior and executable to allow for empirical testing as well as the simulation of wayfinding.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    These include: cognitive reference frames, mental survey representations as well as geographic reference systems (cf. [36]).

  2. 2.

    Note that we use this term in an intermodal sense, i.e., not restricted to vision and thus integrating different modalities of perception.

  3. 3.

    Note that survey simulation was deactivated with rule (8) by \(f_{\textit{Instr}}\) in Table 2.

  4. 4.

    In principle, route knowledge may also be removed (forgotten) or overwritten by new experience or simulations.

  5. 5.

    A complex sign can add more than one edge to \(Acc\).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Cartography and Geoinformation, ETH Zürich, Stefano-Franscini-Platz 5, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland

    Peter Kiefer, Simon Scheider, Ioannis Giannopoulos & Paul Weiser

Authors
  1. Peter Kiefer
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  2. Simon Scheider
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  3. Ioannis Giannopoulos
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  4. Paul Weiser
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peter Kiefer .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Sara Irina Fabrikant

  2. ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Martin Raubal

  3. School of Computer Science and Informatics, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

    Michela Bertolotto

  4. University of Winchester, Winchester, United Kingdom

    Clare Davies

  5. Dept. of Geography and Env. Studies, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

    Scott Freundschuh

  6. College of Arts and Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada

    Scott Bell

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Kiefer, P., Scheider, S., Giannopoulos, I., Weiser, P. (2015). A Wayfinding Grammar Based on Reference System Transformations. In: Fabrikant, S., Raubal, M., Bertolotto, M., Davies, C., Freundschuh, S., Bell, S. (eds) Spatial Information Theory. COSIT 2015. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 9368. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-23374-1_21

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-23374-1_21

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