3D-Geo-Vis: A Web-Based Environment for Interactive 3D Thematic Geovisualisation and Its Usability Evaluation
TL;DR
A usability study with 54 participants that combines eye-tracking, interaction logging, and subjective feedback reveals key usability issues and yields concrete recommendations for improving onboarding, feedback, and control discoverability in interactive 3D visualisation environments.
Abstract
3D geovisualisation is increasingly used to represent spatial phenomena in engaging and interactive ways. However, 3D thematic methods and their user-centred evaluation remain challenging due to issues such as view distortion, variable scale, and complex interactions. Previous research emphasises that effective 3D thematic design requires careful treatment of visual variables and interactive camera control to mitigate overlap and occlusion. Building on this foundation, we present 3D-Geo-Vis, a web-based application with open-source code. The application visualises air temperature using seven methods of 3D geovisualisation and supports real-time adjustment of method-specific visual variables through a dedicated side panel. We report a usability study with 54 participants that combines (i) eye-tracking (Tobii Pro Spark, 60 Hz), (ii) interaction logging using our MapLogger tool, and (iii) a post-test questionnaire including the User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ) and open-ended feedback. Participants completed a structured scenario comprising free exploration and targeted analytical tasks. Across all sessions, MapLogger captured 15,457 interactions. The success rate of fully completed tasks was generally high for tasks involving the search for a specific value or modification of interface parameters (Task 2: 87.0%; Task 3: 85.2%), while the voxel-based analytical task showed slightly lower completion (Task 4: 77.8%), reflecting higher cognitive and interaction demands. UEQ results indicate a slightly positive overall user experience, with speed-related items rated most negatively. Triangulating gaze behaviour, interaction logs, and subjective feedback reveals key usability issues (e.g., insufficient salience of method switching, attention concentration on the side panel, and performance limitations of voxel rendering) and yields concrete recommendations for improving onboarding, feedback, and control discoverability in interactive 3D visualisation environments. These findings and resulting recommendations informed the development of the revised 3D-Geo-Vis 2.0 application.