Accessibility of Web Based GIS Applications: Enhancing Accessibility of Web Based GIS Applications through User Centered Design

Web Accessibility emerged as problem when disabled and elder people started interaction with web soon after the inception of WWW. When GIS applications appeared on the scene of web and users of these applications increased, the users faced the similar problem of accessibility. The intensity of web accessibility problems in GIS applications has increased during recent years due to extensive interaction of user with maps. The study report identifies the accessibility issues in Web GIS application by content evaluation and user interaction evaluation. Users are involved in identification of accessibility problems because guidelines and automated tools are not sufficient for that purpose. MapQuest, a web GIS application, is taken as a case study to identify the web accessibility problems in GIS applications. The study report looks at how accessibility of the web GIS applications can be enhanced by using UCD approach in development process of GIS applications. The analysis in this study report will help experts on web accessibility, designers and developers to more actively involve people with disabilities in development process and enhance accessibility.