###### Abstract  
This work presents the first steps toward developing specific technology for voice user interfaces for geographic information systems. Despite having many general elements, such as voice recognition libraries, the current technology still lacks the ability to fully understand and process the semantics that real users apply to command geographic information systems. This paper presents the results of three connected experiments, following a mixed-methods approach. The first experiment focused on identifying the most common words used when working with maps in a web browser. The second experiment developed an understanding of the chain of commands used for map management for a specific objective. Finally, the third experiment involved the development of a prototype to validate this understanding. Using data and fieldwork, we created a minimum corpus of terms in Spanish. In addition, we identified the particularities of use and user profiles to consider in a voice user interface for geographic information systems, involving the user's proprioception concerning the world and technology. These user profiles can be considered in future designs of human-technology interaction products. All the data collected and the source code of the prototype are provided as additional material, free to use and modify. voice user interface; geographic information systems; human-computer interaction; user-centered design; web accessibility; methodology; semantics +
Footnote †: journal: Applied Sciences  
1
Footnote †: journal: Applied Sciences  
1 GeoSPatum Lab S.L., 50015 Zaragoza, Spain 1  
Footnote 1: GeoSPatum Lab S.L. with the help of the GUIs, GISs are inherently complex, and their interactions are often complicated [4]. Therefore, interest has been sustained over recent decades in creating new interaction models, including voice control [5; 6]. However, this has not directly translated into practice. The poor involvement of geographic-based systems in virtual assistance was illustrated in [9]. In 2021, the authors reviewed the state of geospatial applications regarding the use of intelligent virtual assistants. The study emphasized that the use of geographic-based data was built around providing access to gazetteers. Furthermore, [10] presented a dialogue-based mobile virtual assistant that guided tourists to points of interest. It used geographic-based data to present the routes, but the interaction was based on searching for places and providing instructions to find them. These systems are linked to a smartphone-based GIS, and the devices use voice input and output channels in conjunction with precise positioning abilities, mainly through global navigation satellite systems. Nevertheless, these approaches do not provide any kind of interaction with the data presentation (mainly maps). Google Assistant currently has the highest level of integration with maps and navigation, implementing search options for specific places nearby (e.g., \"What street is this?\" or \"Where are nearby petrol stations?\") and managing navigation (\"How far am I from...?\", \"How is the traffic?\", or \"I want to go to..., tell me the next step.\"). The operating system executes these functions in associated apps such as Google Maps. However, it does not reach levels that emulate a truly natural interaction, unlike interaction models from traditional software, and it has limited functionalities (relying on the quoted questions mentioned above). Meanwhile, the current integration effort in vehicles for hands-free operation of mobile devices is noteworthy [11]. Nevertheless, we found no work in the literature related to using virtual assistants with systems that operate with geographic information beyond browsers. Another pending issue in the field of GISs is the problem of accessibility regulations and standards, which has been always burdensome in this realm. For example, the public administration's services available to citizens meet very high accessibility standards; how  
Figure 1: Example of user interfaces for GIS before GUIs.