Taxonomy of Human Wayfinding Tasks: A Knowledge-Based Approach
Abstract
Although the term “Wayfinding” has been defined by several authors, it subsumes a whole set of tasks that involve different cognitive processes, drawing on different cognitive components. Research on wayfinding has been conducted with different paradigms using a variety of wayfinding tasks. This makes it difficult to compare the results and implications of many studies. A systematic classification is needed in order to determine and investigate the cognitive processes and structural components of how humans solve wayfinding problems. Current classifications of wayfinding distinguish tasks on a rather coarse level or do not take the navigator's knowledge, a key factor in wayfinding, into account. We present an extended taxonomy of wayfinding that distinguishes tasks by external constraints as well as by the level of spatial knowledge that is available to the navigator. The taxonomy will help to decrease ambiguity of wayfinding tasks and it will facilitate understanding of the differentiated demands a navigator faces when solving wayfinding problems.
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Wayfinding, search and exploration in an unfamiliar urban environment are based on the human sense of sight as a generative feature for shaping spatial memory and behaviour.
“Especially, such tasks as wayfinding, search and exploration in an unfamiliar urban environment are based on the human sense of sight as a generative feature for shaping spatial memory and behaviour (Wiener et al., 2009).”
From POI VizNet: New QGIS Tool to construct Visibility Networks in Cities (2024) · cites this paper as Wiener et al., 2009
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References 32 · Cited by 360
- Authors
- Wiener, J. M., Büchner, S. J., & Hölscher, C.
- Affiliations
- University of Freiburg (DE)
- Venue
- Spatial Cognition & Computation
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2009-05-19
- Volume
- 9
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 152-165
- ISSN
- 1387-5868 (ISSN-L)
- 1542-7633
- OpenAlex
- W2082055953
- Cited by
- 360
- References
- 32
- Citations by year
- 2026: 35 · 2025: 32 · 2024: 28 · 2023: 31 · 2022: 30 · 2021: 27 · 2020: 28 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 23 · 2016: 29 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 14
- FWCI
- 17.64
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Spatial Cognition and Computation (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Automotive Engineering › Spatial Cognition and Navigation
- Social Sciences › Geography, Planning and Development › Geography Education and Pedagogy
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Building and Construction › Urban Design and Spatial Analysis
- Keywords
- wayfinding, spatial knowledge, external constraints, knowledge-based approach, task classification
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