Evaluating the usefulness of web-delivered mapping products

The Internet, accessed via the Web, is now usually the 'first stop' that users access when they require maps with currency. These maps are published on the Web by governmental and non-governmental organisations and private mapping companies. Utilising the Web as a publishing conduit now means that maps are available and deliverable. However, are they usable? For maps to be usable, they first must be designed to accord to certain criteria. The criterium are many, and they range from elements that can be tested subjectively and objectively. However, in most cases, subjective evaluation of map designs are undertaken. This paper reports on the results of a project undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness, from a usability perspective, of a suite of maps published on the Web. They range from topographic and thematic maps produced entirely in-house to maps published as mashups. What was evaluated firstly was whether the maps worked for colour-blind users. Then, the maps were further evaluated with respect to 'usable design'.