Corné van Elzakker's research interests

Being educated as a geographer / cartographer I have always been aiming at improving the role of map displays as tools in the communication of geographic information for particular uses (purposes) and users. My PhD research was into the use of maps in the exploration of geographic data. The dissertation is available through: http://www.itc.nl/library/Papers_2004/phd/vanelzakker.pdf But in the past decade, as a consequence of the growing integration of the various stages in the process of geo-data collection, processing and dissemination, my scope has been broadened from just map tools to the usability of GIS, interfaces, hardware (e.g. mobile devices), software, databases etc. as applied to the geo domain. I am interested in all use and user issues related to these elements, but particularly in the application and development of methods and techniques of use, user and usability research. A whole variety of research methods and techniques is already available, but the problem is that not much is known about their application in the geo domain. I am and may be involved in many use and user research projects in the University of Twente and beyond. Research projects may be executed in GIP's Usability Research Laboratory (1-066) which I am operating together with Willy Kock. In this laboratory various user research methods and techniques may be applied, alone or in combination: eye-tracking (Tobii X60 system and Tobii Pro Glasses 2), thinking aloud, video observation, screen logging, etc. There is also equipment available to do field observation (in a mixed methods approach including video, thinking aloud and screen logging) to test, for instance, the use of geographic information on mobile devices. In this kind of research I am cooperating in an international context with the members of the ICA Commission on Use and User Issues of which I am the past Chair. See Commission website at:http://cartogis.ugent.be/kooms/UUI/   My resume can found at: https://www.itc.nl/resumes/Elzakker