Where do we go from here? An assessment of navigation performance using a compass versus a GPS unit
Where do we go from here? An assessment of navigation performance using a compass versus a GPS unit
The Global Positioning System (GPS) looks set to replace the traditional map and compass for navigation tasks in military and civil domains. However, we may ask whether GPS has a real performance advantage over traditional methods. We present an exploratory study using a waypoint-plotting task to compare the standard magnetic compass against a military GPS unit, for both expert and non-expert navigators. Whilst performance times were generally longer in setting up the GPS unit, once navigation was underway the GPS was more efficient than the compass. For medium- to long-term missions, this means that GPS could offer significant performance benefits, although the compass remains superior for shorter missions. Notwithstanding the performance times, significantly more errors, and more serious errors, occurred when using the compass. Overall, then, the GPS offers some clear advantages, especially for non-expert users. Nonetheless, concerns over the development of cognitive maps remain when using GPS technologies.
navigation performance, wayfinding, map, compass, gps
231-236
Young, Mark S.
3f79589e-2000-4cb0-832a-6eba54f50130
Stanton, Neville A.
351a44ab-09a0-422a-a738-01df1fe0fadd
Walker, Guy H.
6439272c-58bb-4463-84d3-61357d91b2b6
Jenkins, Daniel P.
b970d85d-651e-41a5-8a5f-fee336df848c
Smart, Wes
bcd0c3b5-6ba1-454a-9bfb-eeccbb3cad61
8 August 2007
Young, Mark S.
3f79589e-2000-4cb0-832a-6eba54f50130
Stanton, Neville A.
351a44ab-09a0-422a-a738-01df1fe0fadd
Walker, Guy H.
6439272c-58bb-4463-84d3-61357d91b2b6
Jenkins, Daniel P.
b970d85d-651e-41a5-8a5f-fee336df848c
Smart, Wes
bcd0c3b5-6ba1-454a-9bfb-eeccbb3cad61
Young, Mark S., Stanton, Neville A., Walker, Guy H., Jenkins, Daniel P. and Smart, Wes
(2007)
Where do we go from here? An assessment of navigation performance using a compass versus a GPS unit.
Cognition, Technology & Work, 10 (3), .
(doi:10.1007/s10111-007-0095-7).
Abstract
The Global Positioning System (GPS) looks set to replace the traditional map and compass for navigation tasks in military and civil domains. However, we may ask whether GPS has a real performance advantage over traditional methods. We present an exploratory study using a waypoint-plotting task to compare the standard magnetic compass against a military GPS unit, for both expert and non-expert navigators. Whilst performance times were generally longer in setting up the GPS unit, once navigation was underway the GPS was more efficient than the compass. For medium- to long-term missions, this means that GPS could offer significant performance benefits, although the compass remains superior for shorter missions. Notwithstanding the performance times, significantly more errors, and more serious errors, occurred when using the compass. Overall, then, the GPS offers some clear advantages, especially for non-expert users. Nonetheless, concerns over the development of cognitive maps remain when using GPS technologies.
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Published date: 8 August 2007
Keywords:
navigation performance, wayfinding, map, compass, gps
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 73909
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/73909
ISSN: 1435-5566
PURE UUID: 1dd62356-f48f-4ff2-9fbf-c730ebcfe82e
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Date deposited: 11 Mar 2010
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 03:27
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Contributors
Author:
Mark S. Young
Author:
Guy H. Walker
Author:
Daniel P. Jenkins
Author:
Wes Smart
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