Gasoline Station

Synonyms / Other Terms Used

Petrol Station, Filling Station

Category

Commercial Facilities, Services, Transportation, Travel

Message / Function

To indicate the location of fuel for vehicles, boats, etc.

	Source	Description
	González	Front view of human figure wearing cap and fuel pump with hose
	SADC	Front view of fuel pump on a base, with display and hose
	France IISR	Front view of fuel pump on a base, with display and hose
	UN 1968	Front view of fuel pump on a base, with display and hose
	NPS	Front view of fuel pump on a base, with display and hose
	Bolivia	Front view of fuel pump on a base, with display and hose
	Catalunya	Front view of fuel pump on a base, with display and hose
	CMST	Front view of fuel pump on a base, with display and hose
	CNIS	Front view of fuel pump on a base, with display and hose
	Düsseldorf Airport	Front view of fuel pump on a base, with display and hose
	O'72	Front view of fuel pump with display and hose
	Tern	Front view of fuel pump with display and hose
	ISO 7001	Front view of fuel pump with display and hose
	ÖNORM A 3011	Front view of fuel pump with display and hose
	Eco-Mo Foundation	Front view of fuel pump with display and hose
	BTA 1989	Front view of fuel pump with display and hose
	SSRS	Front view of fuel pump with display and hose
	U.S. National Park Service	Front view of fuel pump with display and hose
	KSA	Front view of fuel pump with display and hose
	DER	Front view of fuel pump with display and hose
	Argentina MSV	Front view of fuel pump with display and hose
	Picto'grafics	Front view of fuel pump with display and detached hose
	Skone	Front view of fuel pump with hose
	VectorStock	Side view of gas nozzle with hose
	Aicher & Krampen	Side view of hand holding gas nozzle
	Kapitzki	Side view of hand in outline holding gas nozzle

Discussion

Gehringer (1979) explored which mental images or visual stereotypes exist concerning the message Gasoline Station or Filling Station using the Production Method. More than 90 % of the responses were covered by three concepts: a fuel pump with hose (80 %), a fuel pump plus car (15 %), and gas nozzle with end of hose (3 %). The pictograms and vector illustrations available for this referent and reproduced in the collection above resemble these results: most show a front view of fuel pump with hose. Renderings of a gas nozzle with hose as presented in the VectorStock example may appear ambiguous and vague without the relevant context.

In a Japanese study to propose domestically unified graphical symbols based on scientific methods, the pictogram variant labeled as Eco-Mo Foundation proved to be well comprehensible with a comprehension score of 86.5 (Eco-Mo Foundation, 2001). When Fiori (2008) examined a small size map symbol similar to the traffic sign labeled DER on basis of a Comprehension Test, 70.7 % of the responses were classified as correct.

In her dissertation concerning optimization of pictograms, Skone (1977) could not find significant differences in reaction times comparing renderings of front views of a fuel pump with hose and display and without display.

Recommendations

Symbol No. 12: Gasoline Station

Based on the test results known and regarding design aspects we recommend the use of public information symbol No 12 of ÖNORM A 3011 part 2.

Tests of pictograms of referent Gasoline Station

Eco-Mo Foundation (2001): Test data of public information symbols in Japan - Procedure for the testing of public information symbols by the Study Committee. ISO: ISO/TC 145/SC 1 N 329.

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

Gehringer, J. (1979): Untersuchung über die zeichnerische Gestaltung von Pictogrammen in Abhängigkeit von einigen Persönlichkeitsmerkmalen, sowie Überprüfung einiger Bildzeichen auf ihre Erkennbarkeit. Dissertation, Psychology Department, University of Vienna.

Skone, K. (1977): Erkennbarkeit von Symbolvarianten. Dissertation, Psychology Department, University of Vienna.

Vukelich, M. & Whitaker, L. (1993): Effects of context on the comprehension of graphic symbols. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. 1. 511-515. 10.1177/154193129303700804.