News
Terrain Maps: When Less is More
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At the recently completed 116th Annual American Psychological Association convention in Boston, Pacific Science & Engineering scientists Harvey S. Smallman and Maia B. Cook presented research that could lead to changes in the way terrain is displayed for purposes of route-planning by military ground forces.
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"Terrain Simplification for Route Laying: When Less is More" expands on research contradicting the intuitive “feeling” that 3-D views are the best way of viewing spatial information (Naïve Realism: Smallman & St. John, 2005).
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Using sharp, highly detailed terrain maps and smoother, more simplified maps, test subjects were asked to predict which would support laying concealed routes through the terrain, and then perform the task. Subjects consistently showed improved speed and accuracy when using the simplified terrain maps yet they predicted the highly detailed ones would be best. Less can be more.
