Route guidance using a 3D city model on a mobile device

When a three-dimensional (3D) model of a city is used for route guidance, the user can see the buildings and the landscape from a pedestrian's perspective. The 3D model can be equipped with additional information to further guide the user. This paper describes a study where a 3D city model in the form of series of pictures of the intended route was used as route guidance on a PDA. The user evaluation results show that key issues in 3D route guidance are modelling details of buildings and the environment to support the users' traditional way of navigation, appropriate additional information like street names, routes and directions, good modelling of critical points like crossings, as well as consistent and well-selected viewpoints. The users could easily use the route guidance on a PDA but it was difficult to get an overview of the planned route on the small device.