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Experience KRKA - Interactive 3D Tourist Map of the KRKA National Park
Abstract
Interactive internet maps have been present and widely available in our society for thirty years. The interactivity of the maps is very popular because one of the most important goals of interactive maps is communication with the user. Their place is slowly being taken by cartographic applications that are becoming necessary in tourist cartography. Ease of use, completeness of information, and entertainment are what modern tourists are looking for. The paper describes the cartographic application Experience Krka intended for tourists and visitors to the Krka National Park. Existing applications and maps of the area have been analysed, but they were poor in content or were designed for other purposes. The basis for the development of the application was an interactive 3D tourist map of the national park, which, like the cartographic application itself, was created as part of a diploma thesis at the Faculty of Geodesy, University of Zagreb. The application is free of charge and available on the web.
... With a well-designed map, tourists can discover attractions beyond the most popular sites, navigate unfamiliar spaces with ease [8,9], and explore less-known areas, thereby contributing to the local economy. On the other hand, poorly designed maps can lead to confusion, causing tourists to miss out on important sites [8,10]. As global travel trends increasingly emphasize the exploration of nature areas outside one's home country, the role of touristic maps in shaping such experiences has become even more significant [11]. ...
This study examines the understanding of tourist maps in Croatian national parks, emphasizing a user-centered approach to enhancing cartographic design, the tourist experience, and map readability. Although tourist maps are widely used, there is limited research evaluating these cartographic products, particularly in terms of their comprehensibility and effectiveness in communicating spatial information. To address this gap, we examined existing cartographic materials published by Croatian national park authorities in line with recognized cartographic standards. An online questionnaire, completed by 132 participants of varying ages and educational backgrounds, was used to evaluate the understanding of Point of Interest (POI) pictograms. The results obtained within both gap analysis and needs assessment underscore the need for user-centered improvements in cartographic communication and provide a foundation for the development of more effective map designs tailored to user needs.
... On the other hand, some websites maintain static maps on their platforms, so including interactive maps to present the geosite maps and UGGp maps is relevant. Communication with user is one of the most important objectives of the interactivity of the maps (Poslončec-Petrić, Cibilić, Protega, & Frangeš, 2023). Expanding the use of this type of maps and the integration of virtual tours and 3D models in the websites can stimulate the desire to physically visit natural environments (Maiellaro et al., 2019). ...
This study proposes a semi-quantitative methodology for assessing the quality of the UNESCO Global Geopark (UGGp) websites. The study was based on mixed indicators (binary and ordinal) which were grouped into five dimensions (presentation, content, interactivity, usability, and special UNESCO information) and combined with multivariate assessment using Principal Component Analysis and the application of the focus group technique using Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis to propose geocommunication strategies. The evaluation matrix, comprising 36 indicators, defined three levels of development (“high”, “moderate”, and “emergent”) and was useful for monitoring website quality and enhancing its territorial value for geotourism, geoconservation, and geoeducation. The results from 156 websites showed a predominance of “moderate development” scores (52.56%) and highlighted positive indicators, such as contact information, geotourism details, mobile compatibility, news, and the UGGp logo. This study also presents the potential of immersive technologies, such as virtual reality and 3D tours, for disseminating geoeducational content. However, there is room for the improvement in interaction and information standardization on UGGp web platforms to ensure effective communication that enriches the user experience.
Hrvatska je članica Međunarodnoga kartografskog društva (International Cartographic Association − ICA) od 1995. godine, a jedna od njezinih obveza je podnošenje nacionalnih izvještaja o kartografskim aktivnostima generalnoj skupštini koja se održava svake četiri godine. Nositelj tih aktivnosti u Hrvatskoj je Hrvatsko kartografsko društvo.
Radi ubrzanog razvoja računalne tehnologije budućnost nam ne donosi samo izradu karata, već mnogo opsežniju izradu GIS-ova koji će moći vizualizirati prostorne baze podataka. To je moćno i efikasno sredstvo za priopćavanje najrazličitijih podataka, jer se pri oblikovanju karata, izrađenih u okviru GIS-a, najveća pozornost pridaje korisniku karte. U radu je prikazana izrada tematskih karata iz slojeva GIS-a Istarske županije, kako bi se jasnije prikazale spoznaje do kojih se došlo. Svi su prostorni podaci obrađeni u programskom paketu ArcGIS 10.1 tvrtke ESRI te naposljetku vizualizirani.
Interactive maps have found their application in hiking as well. More and more hikers use smart devices for orientation that contain topographic and/or other cartographic products adapted to moving around certain terrain. This trend has not been fully developed in Croatia, but the increased number of users of smart devices and applications adapted to them shall certainly lead to a larger number of interactive hiking maps.
The paper presents the Interactive Map of the National Park Paklenica that was produced within the frame of the diploma thesis at the Chair for Cartography of the Faculty of Geodesy, University in Zagreb.
