Ergonomic principles and map design

Ergonomic principles have seldom been applied to the design of maps for use in aviation. Maps are not usually evaluated as displays of information, and the contents of maps often do not match the needs of the user. Most maps are visually so complex that it is not immediately apparent whether standard recommendations for the coding and display of information apply to them. Methods for evaluating maps have to be devised, and comparisons made between subjective and objective measures. A series of experiments has considered the content of maps in relation to the needs of the users, and has examined new methods for presenting information on maps, with a view to increasing the efficiency of map communication.