Map preference for finding one's home and neighboring homes

• Published in: Applied geography (Sevenoaks) Vol. 159; p. 103083
• Main Authors: Nichols, Elizabeth, Holzberg, Jessica, Feuer, Shelley, Katz, Jonathan, Olmsted-Hawala, Erica, Wang, Lin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2023
• Subjects: Aerial map; Generalized map; Road map; Satellite map; Self-location; Self-location; Generalized map; Aerial map; Satellite map; Road map
• ISSN: 0143-6228; 1873-7730
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apgeog.2023.103083

This paper shares findings from two surveys suggesting that people in the U.S. prefer the online map type with the satellite image over the road map for a location task of finding their residential home and neighboring homes. While satellite images were preferred, adding more detail to the that map type, such as frontal views of neighboring homes or additional identifiers on those homes did not increase preference. For road maps, we found some indication that adding elements such as the front picture of homes was more preferred by younger adults than older adults. Respondent education level or the characteristics of the neighborhood where the respondent lived did not affect map preference for this self-location task in any meaningful pattern. This preference for satellite maps matches other research findings where these maps are preferred for self-location tasks. •In the U.S. in 2019, there was high reported usage of online maps.•There is slightly more familiarity with the satellite map than the road map.•For self-location tasks in a familiar residential location, satellite maps are preferred over road maps.•Map preference is not affected by individual or neighborhood characteristics.