Cabin

Synonyms / Other Terms Used

Hut, Lodge, Mountain Hut, Shelter, Sleeping Shelter, Refuge, Mountain Refuge, Winter Warming Hut

Category

Commercial Facilities, Services, Public Services, Concessions, Travel, Tourism

Message / Function

To indicate the location of a cabin, hut, or shelter

	Source	Description
	CNIS	Cross section of building with gable roof, human figure sitting inside, two peaks behind
	Ecuador	Cross section of building with gable roof and human figure in bed inside
	Ecuador	Side view of building with gable roof next to two trees and bench
	Slovenia 2015	Side view of building with gable roof next to tree
	BS 8501:2002	Side view of building with gable roof next to tree, horizontal line at bottom
	SSRS	Side view of building with window, door, and chimney with smoke, horizontal line at bottom
	GSR Portugal	Side view of building with shallow gable roof, window, door, and chimney with smoke, horizontal line at bottom
	Ecuador	Side view of building with gable roof, door, and chimney with smoke
	ÖNORM A 3011	Side view of building with shallow gable roof, chimney in outline
	Québec	Side view of building with shallow gable roof in outline, chimney
	Aragón	Side view of building with gable roof, window, and chimney
	Iceland 2024	Side view of building with gable roof, door, and chimney, tilted line at bottom
	SSRS	Side view of building with shallow gable roof, window, horizontal line at bottom
	FMTK 1986	Side view of building with gable roof and large opening
	NZS 8603	Side view of building with gable roof and door
	Nova Scotia	Side view of building with shallow gable roof, window, and door
	Fiori	Side view of building with gable roof, window, and door, horizontal line at bottom
	SADC	Side view of building with gable roof, door, and window, horizontal line at bottom
	U.S. National Park Service	Side view of building with shallow gable roof and door, made of horizontal rectangles
	Québec	Cross section of building with gable roof
	SIS	View of log shelter or windshield with opening on one side
	U.S. National Park Service	Cross section of building detail, lying human figure with cover inside
	NPS	Cross section of building detail with human figure lying on the floor
	Parks Canada	Cross section of building with gable roof, containment with two crossed logs forming X-like shape, flames above
	Argentina SSTN	Pattern of dots, inverted V below indicating a roof, above fire in center
	Kapitzki	Five slashes at top, horizontal line and standing human figure below
	Bolivia	Side view of building with gable roof, letters Rm on wall

Discussion

In the table above we also included pictograms of different referents, like Youth Hostel for example, which have an identical image content regarding some pictogram versions for Cabin. This fact already highlights a problem regarding representations of different types of accommodation on basis of images of buildings.

Another problem arising is related to the services offered in cabins at hiking routes, for example in the Alpine region: while some offer a place to sleep or to warm-up, others just offer an array of eatables. Furthermore a differentiation between pure rain or wind shelters and cabins should be made, as the level of protection offered is significant.

In our research we discovered that there is almost no specific test data available:

When Fiori (2008) examined the map symbol labeled Fiori in the table above, analysis was made for a referent named Pousada, a type of accommodation not corresponding with the referent reviewed here. Only 15.3 % answered correctly and 33.2 % of the participants did not respond. Wrong answers varied significantly and results indicate that this variant is neither understood well enough nor clearly associated with a specific idea when no or insufficient context information is provided.

Some information is available concerning the comprehensibility of Parks Canada pictogram No 6-4-301: Winter Warming Hut, displaying a cross section of building with gable roof plus containment with two crossed logs forming X-like shape and flames above inside: since all pictograms that failed comprehension testing in Canada have been retired from use there, the Parks Canada pictogram displayed above must have reached a comprehension rate of 80 % or higher, as this variant does not have the status Retired and does not have to be accompanied by a supportive text message (Parks Canada, 2007).

Furthermore the Parks Canada pictogram 6-4-016 Overnight Shelter, which is almost identical to the U.S. National Park Service symbol for Sleeping Shelter shown above, did not pass the required comprehension rate of 60% or higher, as this variant is marked as 'Retired – failed comprehension testing'. Again no information is available concerning wrong answers registered in the studies that were basis for this classification (Parks Canada, 2007).

Recommendations

ÖNORM A 3011 Public Information Symbol No 159: Cabin (Hütte)

Based on information available right now, we recommend using public information symbol No 159 of ÖNORM A 3011 to indicate the location of a cabin, hut, or shelter near a hiking trail.

In the long term we suggest to investigate if a differentiation between pure rain or wind shelters and cabins is necessary and if, we propose to develop additional pictogram variants for rain or wind shelters. Then studies comparing several or all concepts should be conducted. The study design should also include a Comprehension Test to identify possible misinterpretations and to improve designs. Only on such a basis a clear decision concerning a specific recommendation can be reached.

Tests of pictograms of referent Cabin

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

Gebhardt, E. (1972): Überprüfung eines visuellen Zeichensystems. Experimentelle Diplomarbeit, Technische Universität Braunschweig.

Parks Canada (2007): Parks Canada Identity Program: Exterior Signage; Standards and Guidelines - Version 1. March 2007.