Impact of schematic representations of road maps on pedestrian route planning

Schematic maps are widely used to represent transportation networks. Researchers have applied this idea to road maps and investigated their effectiveness and performance. However, studies have focused on car navigation tasks, whereas research on the impact of schematic representations of road maps on pedestrian route planning is lacking. This study examined the effects of recognition of schematic representations of road maps and changes in the geometric characteristics of routes after schematization on pedestrian route-planning results. This study conducted a route planning experiment using real road maps and their schematic representations and used an eye-tracking device to record participants’ eye movements. Statistical methods were used to identify significant differences in recognition efficiency and effect between the schematic and original maps. A correlation analysis was used to analyze the influence of changes in various geometric characteristics on the route-planning results. The results demonstrated that (1) for schematic maps with significant shape simplification, the completion times of route planning and cognitive load were significantly less than the original maps; (2) there are no significant differences for the visual search patterns during route planning using the original and schematic maps; and (3) the changes of relative straightness of routes after schematization have significant influences on route-planning results of pedestrians, while the changes of deviation of initial orientation and relative distance have a weak influence on route-planning results. These findings could assist in developing design rules for the automated schematization of road networks for pedestrian route-planning tasks. Schematic representations of road maps with significant shape simplification improved the efficiency of route planning and reduced cognitive load.Schematic and original maps exhibited similar recognition during route planning.Changes in the relative straightness of routes after schematization significantly affected route-planning results.Changes in the deviation of the initial orientation and relative distance of routes had a weak influence on route-planning results.These results contribute to the literature on the applicability and usability of schematic road maps in route planning. They could help develop and optimize design rules for the automated schematization of road networks for pedestrian route planning. Schematic representations of road maps with significant shape simplification improved the efficiency of route planning and reduced cognitive load. Schematic and original maps exhibited similar recognition during route planning. Changes in the relative straightness of routes after schematization significantly affected route-planning results. Changes in the deviation of the initial orientation and relative distance of routes had a weak influence on route-planning results. These results contribute to the literature on the applicability and usability of schematic road maps in route planning. They could help develop and optimize design rules for the automated schematization of road networks for pedestrian route planning.