Cave

Synonyms / Other Terms Used

Caves, Grotto, Cavern, Caving Area, Cave Exploration, Caving, Potholing, Spelunking, Speleology

Category

Tourism, Recreation, Nature, Natural Attractions, Activities, Land Based Activities, Sports, Adventure Sports, Sporting Activities

Message / Function

For notice in general, to indicate the location of caves and to signify the activity of caving

	Source	Description
	SADC	Silhouette of bat inside irregularly shaped cave
	SVI	Side view of human figure inside irregularly shaped cave
	Slovenia 2015	Front view of human figure inside irregularly shaped cave
	Peru MST	Front view of human figure inside irregularly shaped cave with stalactites and stalagmites
	DER	Front view of human figure inside irregularly shaped cave
	GSR Portugal	Side view of human figure inside irregularly shaped cave with stalactites and stalagmites
	BS 8501:2002	Human figure pointing upwards inside irregularly shaped cave
	BTA 1989	Human figure with helmet pointing upwards inside irregularly shaped cave
	Aragón	Human figure inside stalactite cave, lines indicating light from headlamp
	BS 8501:2002	Side view of crawling human figure with headlamp, inside irregular shape
	Ecuador	Side view of human figure with helmet and backpack, light beam, irregular shapes above and below
	Québec	Human figure standing below ceiling with stalactites, triangle indicating light from headlamp
	PC	Side view of human figure with helmet and backpack, light beam, stalactites above
	U.S. National Park Service	Side view of human figure with helmet and backpack, light beam
	NZS 8603	Side view of crawling human figure with headlamp, triangle indicating light beam
	BTA 1989	Side view of head with helmet and headlamp
	toura.eu	Curved shape indicating hill, with opening at bottom
	CNIS	Irregularly shaped cave with stalactites at top
	EJP	Bars with round ends placed at top and bottom indicating stalactites and stalagmites
	Kapitzki	Irregular white poligon inside black square
	freizeitkarte osm.de	Imperfectly formed arc above similar smaller filled arc, area between filled in light gray
	swisstopo	270° arc with opening on bottom side
	swisstopo	180° arc with opening on bottom side

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

Discussion

As there are completely different types of caves and user groups this referent should be split up into two separate referents:

Caves that have been made accessible to the public for guided visits. As exploring these public, tourist, or show caves usually does not pose any physical challenges, the general public is addressed.
Wild cave systems without lighting which can be visited only by persons meeting specific physical preconditions and possible special training.

This differentiation is demonstrated in the two corresponding pictograms of the British Standard 8501 shown in the table above: pictogram No 8062 - Caves can be found in the category Entertainment, Tourism and Heritage Attractions, while pictogram No 9042 - Potholing belongs to the category Sports and Recreation. Additionally more abstract symbols like the ones at the bottom of the table above might be applicable for both types of caves.

In our research we discovered that there is only very limited test data available:

Fiori (2008) examined a map symbol similar to the traffic sign from Brazil shown in the table above (labeled DER) on basis of a Comprehension Test, where only 37.8 % of the answers could be classified as correct. 27.5 % of the persons participating in this study did not respond at all. Besides the wrong answer Tunnel no further detailed information is available about the 34.7 % wrong answers to derive hints on how to improve available pictograms.

Recommendations

Due to the limited data available and insufficient knowledge of relevant factors, we recommend conducting an exact analysis of the communication needs and possible user groups of this information. On such a basis research using the Comprehensibility Estimation procedure and Comprehension Tests will deliver useful data for recommending one or several pictograms. Detailed information about the most frequent responses given in each of the response categories must be supplied for each pictogram variant tested to correctly judge comprehensibility and improve designs, if necessary.

Tests of pictograms of referent Cave

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