Abstract: The current schematic map representation is mainly for public transportation networks, and there is a lack of research on the usability evaluation of road map schematic representation. This study selects two typical road scenes: scenic spots and streets, and uses the latest automatic schematic method to generate schematic maps, and uses subjective questionnaire surveys combined with objective eye-tracking experiments to evaluate the usability of schematic representations of road maps. The experimental results indicate: ①The schematic representation can improve the simplification, clarity and user satisfaction of the road map, especially for the situation where the original road shape is more complicated. ②The shape simplification of roads may result in the changes of perceived lengths of different routes so as to influence the human decision-making for route planning. ③If the path schematic result increases the density of road network, the cognitive efficiency of schematic map is reduced. This study can be helpful for the improvements of design rules of automated schematization for road maps and enhances the practicability of schematic representations of maps.

Key words: road map, schematic map, usability, evaluation, eye-tracking experiments