An study on wayfinding factors influencing movements of campus users

This study aims to analyze wayfinding systems in campus by investigating movements of campus users and the present status of user movements, and suggest ways of improving wayfinding in campus. For this study, an questionnaire was conducted targeting campus users from A University and B University to investigate primary movements of users, wayfinding methods and reasons why users have difficulty in figuring out locations in campus. Also, One-way ANOVA of respondents’ general characteristics and cross analysis depending on departure points extracted from movements of users and the total number of nodes that they passed through were conducted. For objective analysis of study results, an actual condition study was performed based on the survey results and wayfinding system rating criteria extracted from the previous studies. The study results obtained are as follows. First, respondents, who departed from the sub-entry in campus had a lower level of understanding of locations and a lower level of describability than those that departed from other points. When there was a bigger total number of nodes that campus users passed through, the understanding of locations and describability of ways were higher, and most users used internet maps to figure out locations. Direction signs that are less readable and building facades and numbers that are less visible made it hard to figure out locations. Second, according to analysis of campus at the two universities, users’ understanding of locations and describability of ways varied depending on the number of direction signs installed in campus and direction designs. Third, users’ understanding of locations and describability of ways varied depending on building facade and number visibility, and the number of buildings per campus area also influenced their understanding and describability. Fourth, both universities were not equipped with direction signs in the sub-entries of campus, and arrival points affected users’ understanding of locations and describability of ways.