Road to efficient Map Creation - How to improve Map Editing of the Driving Simulation BeamNG using Usability Methods from a HCI Perspective

Understanding the needs and behaviors of users is a fundamental aspect of Humancomputer
interaction research. This bachelor thesis investigates the usability of the
BeamNG World Editor, with a focus on the Road Architect Tool, and identifies the
target user group for instructional support. Mixed-methods surveys of both users and
developers revealed that the primary users are novice hobbyists and modders who
often face challenges in learning procedural workflows and navigating the interface
of the World Editor. Building on these insights, a structured multimedia tutorial
was designed and implemented, grounded in cognitive load theory and evidence-based
instructional design principles. A user study evaluated the tutorial’s usability, task
performance support, and user experience. Results indicate that the tutorial was
well-received, easy to follow, and supported participants in completing tasks accurately
while addressing common difficulties faced by novice users. This work contributes to
HCI research by providing an empirically grounded understanding of the BeamNG user
base and offering practical guidelines for designing tutorials that align with real-world
user needs, bridging the gap between developer assumptions and novice workflows.