The Impact of Visualizing Uncertainty on Train Trip Selection

Abstract

Train trip planning means deciding on one of several travel connections. Possible train delays lead to uncertainties in the schedule connections and may influence the planning decisions. Although several designs for the visualization of the available train trips exist, it is still unclear how these designs and the visualization of delay uncertainty influence the decision making. We let 86 people decide ten times on different train trips using one of four designs, (not) visualizing delay uncertainty and with(out) temporal constraints. The results show that planning decisions depend on whether the design is visual or textual and on the availability of trip uncertainty visualization. In case of a temporal constraint, non-critical train connections are preferred.