How the project started
How the project started
Embedded Files
A brief background
A brief background
This project originated from students' feedback in my earlier Geog 198: Cognitive and Behavioral Geography courses regarding their wayfinding experiences with some buildings on the UP Diliman campus.
In this Geog 198 class, I incorporated a service-learning component into the course design through the You-Are-Here (YAH) map project, which aims to assist the users of the Palma Hall Complex as an application of real world wayfinding. The students enrolled this 1st Sem AY2025-2026 is tasked to design a YAH map to facilitate efficient indoor wayfinding.
This initiative is a combined effort of my Geog 198 and Geog 211 students to apply the knowledge they have acquired in class.
GEOG 198 course (Cognitive and Behavioral Geography: wayfinding) examines the complexities of human wayfinding from a geographic perspective and considers its relationship with other disciplines, evaluating various tools used to represent space and place.
GEOG 211 course (Spatial Cognition) covers the concepts and theories of human spatial cognition, which involves how people understand and interact with their environment, combining insights from multiple fields, including geography, psychology, neuroscience, computer science, among others.
-VJAA
The YAH Map design process
The YAH Map design process
Creating the YAH maps involved several steps drawing inspiration from empirical studies. Recommendations and contributions from faculty, staff, and students were considered during its development.
1. Geog 198 students presented different preliminary versions of YAH Maps to the CSSP OADEA, OSA, and Coordinator of OSLO-Pahinungod to get feedback and suggestions to improve the map.
2. The maps were shown to the faculty of the Geography Department, as well as to staff, and students to find a shared map layout and identify information from all YAH Maps that could be integrated into the final output.
3. Geog 198 students surveyed the complex and modified the maps based on the suggestions as well as to create a common YAH Map design.
4. Geog 211 students evaluated the maps of the Palma Hall Complex and identified the suitable placement for the YAH map. They also made suggestions to improve the map.
5. Following recommendations, Geog 198 students made some changes in the design to finalize the YAH Map.
6. Geog 198 students presented the final YAH maps to the public.
Geog 198 class together with CSSP OSA Coordinator (Aaron Viernes), Palma Hall Complex BAs (Marlon Sison, Roberto "Boyet" delos Santos and Dan Acdan), and guests during the public presentation. (photo taken by: Deciniv dela Cruz Santos from CSSP-OSLO Pahinungod, 28 Nov. 2025, Palma Hall 408-410)
What's next?
What's next?
YAH Maps must be properly mounted at designated locations, correctly aligned with the environment within the building for an efficient wayfinding experience. The top portion of the map corresponds to the immediate surroundings as directly observed from the users' facing direction.
References:
Klippel, A., Freksa, C., & Winter, S. (2006). You‐are‐here maps in emergencies–the danger of getting lost. Journal of spatial science, 51(1), 117-131.
Montello, D. R. (2010). You are where? The function and frustration of you-are-here (YAH) maps. Spatial Cognition & Computation, 10(2-3), 94-104.
Klippel, A., Hirtle, S., & Davies, C. (2010). You-are-here maps: Creating spatial awareness through map-like representations. Spatial Cognition & Computation, 10(2-3), 83-93.
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