Web Map of Buildings of the University of West Bohemia for Disadvantaged Users
ISBN 978-85-88783-11-9
Authors
1čerba, O.; 2Jedlička, K.
1UNIVERSITY OF WEST BOHEMIA Email: ota.cerba@gmail.com
2UNIVERSITY OF WEST BOHEMIA Email: smrcek@kma.zcu.cz
Abstract
Web maps are very useful assistants nowadays and in combination with smartphones and other portable devices they often replace traditional paper maps. They are able not only to visualize areas or points of interest, but also to navigate or recommend appropriate objects or routes (including indoor space). The help of a map is even more important for disadvantaged people, because contrariwise ordinary paths and entrances, entrance paths for disadvantaged people are much less readable in the field and furthermore these paths can vary according to disadvantage type. Therefore the project introduced in this article aims to create a web map of the university buildings particularly for disadvantaged students. Such a map was constructed for providing as disadvantage specific information in a clear, easily readable form. The first step in the map creation process was data collecting. It consisted of gathering data mainly about building facilities (using a survey) and their interconnection to existing spatial data. Subsequently the combined data sets were validated. After the data validation, the data were processed (using XML based technologies) according rules of data transformation to assign appropriate map shape and style to the data. Finally, there was a stress put to adjust design of the map to the need of it users, particularly the map easy readability, interactivity and suitable management. As a result, the methodology of data processing as well as the map of university buildings spread in the Plzen city centre, university campus and also in the town Cheb (100 km northwest of Plzen) was created.