Award · May 2026
Dean's Award: 1st Place
First place, poster section, Faculty of Science, Palacký University Olomouc (UPOL).
Diploma Thesis · Copernicus Master in Digital Earth
Tactile Atlas of Nigeria
Development of Educational Cartographic Material about Nigeria for Students with Vision Impairment
By Bamidele Clement Oke · Salzburg & Olomouc · July 2026
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Maps & charts
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Geographic sections
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Thematic areas covered
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Rounds of user-testing
Overview
Bridging a critical gap in inclusive education
Visually impaired students in Nigeria are largely excluded from geography education: a baseline survey found almost no tactile maps in use, against near-universal demand for them. This thesis responds with the maiden Tactile Atlas of Nigeria: 40 microcapsule (swell-paper) maps and charts, co-designed with visually impaired students in Prague and Nigeria.
The problem
Geography is visually reliant, and specialised tactile instructional material is nearly absent in Nigerian schools.
The solution
A three-tier atlas (World, Africa, Nigeria) built to national-curriculum themes, in braille, tactile texture, and audio.
The outcome
Every tested student improved their geographic comprehension, validating the atlas as an effective tool.
Institutions
Paris Lodron University Salzburg (PLUS), Dept. of Geoinformatics
Palacký University Olomouc (UPOL), Dept. of Geoinformatics
PLUS Supervisor
Dr. Keskin Merve, Ph.D.
UPOL Supervisor
RNDr. Alena Vondráková, Ph.D., LL.M.
Methodology
From baseline survey to validated atlas
Seven stages, run with authoritative Nigerian datasets and refined through two rounds of user testing.
Why microcapsule (swell) paper
Among the production methods evaluated (thermoforming, Braille embossing, 3D printing, UV printing, and microcapsule/swell-paper printing), microcapsule printing was selected as the atlas's production medium for its affordability, speed, and ease of reproducibility in classroom settings.
Microcapsule (swell paper) · selected
Thermoforming
Braille embossing
3D printing
UV printing
User Testing
Tested with real students, in two countries
Each round of testing directly shaped the next round of design.
Phase 1 · Prague
4 students
Tactile parameters isolated and fixed
Phase 2 · Nigeria
11 students
Every participant's score went up
Expert review
2 iterations
Cartography and pedagogy aspects
Results & Discussion
A measurable improvement in geographic learning
Despite no prior map-reading experience, every tested student improved, and the barriers ahead are systemic, not technical.
71%
of surveyed schools had no tactile maps
92.9%
of students found tactile maps valuable
6 / 10
knowledge-check questions improved after testing
90%+
agreement on positive usability
Showcase
Recognition & conferences
Milestones from sharing this thesis with the wider academic and cartographic community.
Conference · July 2026
AGIT Symposium, Salzburg
Thesis poster presented at the AGIT Symposium for Applied Geoinformatics.
Upcoming · September 2026
Eurocarto, Brno
Poster presentation scheduled at the Eurocarto conference.
