Presentation from Third InDOG Doctoral Conference in Olomouc, Czech Republic. 13. - 16. October 2014

1. Characteristic of the Cognition of
Military Pilots: A Geographic
Perspective
Jana Merickova
www.geoinformatics.upol.cz

2. Outline
• Introduction
• Challenges for geographers
• Military pilots
• Quantitative research
• Results
• Conclusion
www.geoinformatics.upol.cz

3. Introduction
• Military Geography and Hydrometeorology Office
• Users of maps
• Spatial abilities
• Differences between individuals
www.geoinformatics.upol.cz

4. Challenges for geographers
• Reginald George Golledge at all
• Spatial Behaviour: A Geographic Perspective
• Decision-making process VS geographers
• Description of the external world
www.geoinformatics.upol.cz

5. Military pilots
• Helicopter pilots
• Slower speed of a flight
• More time for decision – making process
• Fighter pilots
• Very little time for decision – making process
• Skilled in a spatial cognition
• Transport pilots
• Important part is landing and take-off
www.geoinformatics.upol.cz

6. Military pilots
• Geographic disorientation
• Crowden’s (2012) research involving military pilots
revealed that pilots subconsciously overestimate
their dexterity in navigation
www.geoinformatics.upol.cz

7. Military pilots
• Geographic disorientation
• Crowden’s (2012) research involving military pilots
revealed that pilots subconsciously overestimate
their dexterity in navigation
www.geoinformatics.upol.cz

8. Quantitative research
• September 2013
• Different requirements for maps
• 64 military pilots
• Inconsistent ideas
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9. Results
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10. Results
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11. Conclusion
• Good navigators?
• Training about aeronautical charts
• Navigation is often neglected
• What they want?
• What they should ask for?
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12. Thank you for your attention..
www.geoinformatics.upol.cz
Jana Merickova
merickovajana@gmail.com