Caravan

Synonyms / Other Terms Used

Caravaning, Caravan Park, Caravan Site, Trailer, Trailer Park, Trailer Site, Trailer Campground, Trailer Camp

Category

Travel, Traffic, Tourism, Concessions, Public Facilities, Management

Message / Function

For notice in general and to indicate the location of public caravan facilities
Note: This does not include messages like Campervan, Self Contained Trailer, Trailer Sanitary Station or Dump Station

	Source	Description
	UN 1968	Side view of caravan with door, window, and two supports, horizontal line below
	SWISSTRAFFIC	Side view of caravan with door, window, and two supports, horizontal line below
	ISO 7001	Side view of caravan with door and two windows, tree
	SVI	Side view of caravan with door and window
	StVO D	Side view of caravan with door and window
	DER	Side view of caravan with door and window
	SADC	Side view of caravan with door and window
	Tern	Side view of caravan with window and door
	MCH	Side view of caravan with door and window
	BTA	Side view of caravan with window and door
	W-RSN	Side view of caravan with two windows
	U.S. National Park Service	Side view of caravan with two windows
	Aragón	Side view of caravan with window and door
	SSRS	Side view of caravan with two windows above horizontal line
	STA	Side view of caravan with two windows above horizontal line
	Dreyfuss	Side view of caravan with two windows and two supports
	NPS	Side view of caravan with two windows and support
	NZS 8603	Side view of caravan with two windows and support
	Québec	Side view of caravan with two windows and support
	Parks Canada	Side view of caravan with two windows
	BS 8501:2002	Side view of caravan with two windows
	UKFC	Side view of caravan with two windows
	MUTCD	Side view of caravan with two windows
	Picto'grafics	Side view of caravan with two windows and support
	TAC	Side view of caravan with window and support
	Nova Scotia	Side view of caravan with window and door
	Aicher OAP	Side view of car and caravan with door and window, all in outline

Note: Some of the examples shown above were mirrored horizontally to contrast differences.

Discussion

Without exception all pictograms show some type of caravan in side view, in which this type of vehicle is identified easily in most cases, especially if some context information is provided. In a few cases, of which we present just one, a car pulling the caravan is shown, too.

In our research we discovered that there is only very limited test data available for the referent Caravan:

Fiori (2008) examined a map symbol almost identical to the pictogram labeled as DER in the table above. 60.2 % of the responses in a Comprehension Test were classified as correct. Some answers do not reveal whether the graphic symbol was correctly understood, and 23.3 % of the participants of this study did not provide any answer.

Recommendations

Regarding design aspects like simplicity and legibility we recommend using a pictogram like the version presented in the Tern symbol set: TS2510 Caravan. This pictogram keeps complexity at a minimum and all details are large enough to ensure larger viewing distance than most variants available. It is also well suited for small scale reproduction e.g. as map symbol.

Furthermore we recommend comparing several variants on basis of a Comprehension Test supplying sufficient context information.

Tests of pictograms of referent Caravan

Fiori, S. R. (2008): Mapas para o turismo e a interatividade - proposta teórica e prática. Tese de Doutorado - Depto. de Geografia, FFLCH-USP.