Wayfinding

wayfinding - 

(1) [geography] The mental activities engaged in by a person trying to reach a destination, usually an unfamiliar one, in real or virtual space. Wayfinding consists of acquiring information that is relevant to choosing a route, or a segment of a route, and of evaluating that information in the course of travel so the route can be changed as needed. Wayfinding is the cognitive component of navigation.

(2) [geography] The academic study of wayfinding behavior; also, the scientific art of designing real or virtual environments to make wayfinding easier.

(3) [navigation] Long-distance, open-sea navigation without instruments, as traditionally practiced by Pacific Islanders.

[Category=Geospatial ]

Source: esri, 04 October 2012 11:01:30, http://support.esri.com/en/knowledgebase/GISDictionary/term/abbreviation