Synonyms / Other Terms Used
Caves, Grotto, Cavern, Caving Area, Cave Exploration, Caving, Potholing, Spelunking, Speleology
Category
Tourism, Recreation, Nature, Natural Attractions, Activities, Land Based Activities, Sports, Adventure Sports, Sporting Activities
Message / Function
For notice in general, to indicate the location of caves and to signify the activity of caving
Source | Description | |
---|---|---|
SADC | Silhouette of bat inside irregularly shaped cave | |
SVI | Side view of human figure inside irregularly shaped cave | |
Slovenia 2015 | Front view of human figure inside irregularly shaped cave | |
Peru MST | Front view of human figure inside irregularly shaped cave with stalactites and stalagmites | |
DER | Front view of human figure inside irregularly shaped cave | |
GSR Portugal | Side view of human figure inside irregularly shaped cave with stalactites and stalagmites | |
BS 8501:2002 | Human figure pointing upwards inside irregularly shaped cave | |
BTA 1989 | Human figure with helmet pointing upwards inside irregularly shaped cave | |
Aragón | Human figure inside stalactite cave, lines indicating light from headlamp | |
BS 8501:2002 | Side view of crawling human figure with headlamp, inside irregular shape | |
Ecuador | Side view of human figure with helmet and backpack, light beam, irregular shapes above and below | |
PC | Side view of human figure with helmet and backpack, light beam, stalactites above | |
U.S. National Park Service |
Side view of human figure with helmet and backpack, light beam | |
NZS 8603 | Side view of crawling human figure with headlamp, triangle indicating light beam | |
BTA 1989 | Side view of head with helmet and headlamp | |
toura.eu | Curved shape indicating hill, with opening at bottom | |
CNIS | Irregularly shaped cave with stalactites at top | |
EJP | Bars with round ends placed at top and bottom indicating stalactites and stalagmites | |
Kapitzki | Irregular white poligon inside black square | |
swisstopo | 270° arc with opening on bottom side | |
swisstopo | 180° arc with opening on bottom side |
Note: Some of the examples shown above were mirrored horizontally to contrast differences.
Discussion
As there are completely different types of caves and user groups this referent should be split up into two separate referents:
This differentiation is demonstrated in the two corresponding pictograms of the British Standard 8501 shown in the table above: pictogram No 8062 - Caves can be found in the category Entertainment, Tourism and Heritage Attractions, while pictogram No 9042 - Potholing belongs to the category Sports and Recreation. Additionally more abstract symbols like the ones at the bottom of the table above might be applicable for both types of caves.
In our research we discovered that there is only very limited test data available. Fiori (2008) examined a map symbol similar to the traffic sign from Brazil shown in the table above (labeled DER) on basis of a Comprehension Test, where only 37.8 % of the responses could be classified as correct.
Recommendations
Due to the limited data available and insufficient knowledge of relevant factors, we recommend conducting an exact analysis of the communication needs and possible user groups of this information. On such a basis research using the Comprehensibility Estimation procedure and Comprehension Tests will deliver useful data for recommending one or several pictograms.
Tests of pictograms of referent Cave
Fiori, S. R. (2008): Mapas para o turismo e a interatividade - proposta teórica e prática. Tese de Doutorado - Depto. de Geografia, FFLCH-USP.
Updated 2023-12-12 by Ch.Brugger