Citation: Huang, C. 2008 Jul 08. Effects of using a portable navigation system and paper map in real driving. Mobile medical computing reviews. [Online]
Do portable navigation systems (PNSs) improve driver performance and efficiency compared to paper maps in real urban and rural driving situations? Drivers using PNSs traveled more efficiently and with greater stability and control compared to drivers using a paper map in both urban and rural environments. PNSs appear to provide an advantage over paper map use in complex driving environments (i.e. urban settings), but particular placement of the PNS device is necessary for optimal viewing.
Effects of using a portable navigation system and paper map in real driving
Lee WC, Cheng BW. Accid Anal Prev. 2008;40(1):303-8.
Research design/methodology
TYPE: Quantitative evaluation employing a 2 x 2 mixed factorial research design with the following factors:
The outcome measures were defined in terms of driving performance and efficiency as outlined below.
Eligibility criteria
Research participants were 32 paid university students who met the following criteria:
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Held a valid driver's license
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Passed a formal vision test and an informal hearing test
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Provided a self-reported measure of resistance to motion sickness
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Did not have previous navigation system experience
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Unfamiliar with the roads of the test area
- Acclimated to the test car after a 10 km-plus test drive
Analysis
Analysis of variance of the repeated measurements of the between-subjects and within-subjects factors.
Assessment of methodological quality
Participant bias:
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Research participants were paid
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Unequal number of male (19) and female (13) participants; however, authors reported they checked for gender bias, and reported no significant effects
Testing environment bias (factors not strictly controlled):
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Time of day and day of week
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Number of traffic lights and obedience to traffic regulations
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Paper map route planning time
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Time till participant felt "ready to embark"
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Route environments were not randomized for different test subjects
Optimal placement of the PNS was not standardized.
Research question
To determine whether driver performance and efficiency is improved when using a portable navigation device as compared to a paper map in real driving environments.
Intervention
Two groups were compared:
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Group 1 was asked to follow the PNSs (Mio-tech A700) route guidance information after the predetermined starting point and destination were programmed into the unit.
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Group 2 received the starting point and destination marked on a detailed paper map (60 cm x 45 cm at 1:20,000 scale) and was allowed an unspecified amount of time to plan their route. Group 2 drivers were able to refer to the printed map whilst en route.
Technologies
Portable Navigation System: Mio-tech A700 GPS PDA phone (the GPS function was enabled, while other functions were disabled)
- Uses Windows Mobile 5.0
- GPRS: 20 channel SiRFstarIII
- 4.2 cm wide x 5.5 cm high
- 240 x 320 pixel display at 1:2000 scale
Driving performance data collection tool: Racelogic DriftBox
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High performance 10 Hz GPS performance meter coupled to motion sensors
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Real Time Kinematic (RTK) system allows measurement of speed, position, acceleration and drift at 10 times per second with an accuracy of 0.1 km/h, 0.25 degrees and 0.01g
- Objective measurements: average speed (km/h); standard deviation of speed (km/h); variance in longitudinal acceleration (g); variance in lateral acceleration (g); mean yaw rate (degrees/s); standard deviation of yaw rate (degree); trip duration (s) and driving pass through distance (m).
Outcome
HIGHLIGHTS:
Driving Efficiency
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Trip duration was shorter for PNS versus paper map for urban (606.6 s vs. 703.4 s) and rural driving (739.9 s vs. 794.1 s)
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Trip distance was shorter for PNS versus paper map for urban (6276.5 m vs. 6734.7 m) and rural driving (10388.0 m vs. 10588.0 m)
Driving Performance
- Average speed was statistically significantly faster for PNS versus paper map for urban (37.5 km/h vs. 34.8 km/h) and rural driving (50.8 km/h vs. 48.2 km/h)
- PNS users had a statistically significantly better average yaw rate and standard deviation versus paper map users (The yaw rate and its standard deviation were the main performance measures for vehicle control.)
- However, statistical significance was not observed between the navigation tools for comparisons of the standard deviation of mean speed, variance in lateral acceleration and variance in longitudinal acceleration.
IMPLICATIONS: Drivers using PNSs appear to have an advantage over users of paper maps in regards to the following:
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Driving efficiency - PNS drivers required less time to go shorter distances with fewer course corrections in both urban and rural environments
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Driving performance - PNS drivers exhibited better car stability and control
Therefore, using PNSs may lead to potentially safer driving and may offer savings in gas and time.
Further areas for research
Future research may draw comparisons among portable navigation systems with various advanced features such as 3-D street level rendering, real-time traffic updates and heads-up displays.
