CHALLENGE: Our team was given full creative freedom to develop a product or application of our choosing to apply the study of Human Computer Interaction. Through a collaborative effort, we decided to develop a mobile application for enhancing flood risk information delivery among underserved communities and individuals to empower them with capabilities to comprehend their exposure to future flood risks and take proactive measures to prepare for them.

TIMELINE

January 2024 - April 2024

TEAM

2 Undergraduate Computer Science Students, Civil Engineering Ph.D. Student and Graphic Communications Master’s student

ROLE

Team Lead, Designer, Researcher

SOFTWARE

Adobe Illustrator, Figma, Notion

PROJECT PLANNING

WHY: Due to climate change, communities are exposed to ever-increasing flooding risks, especially the underserved ones. Current resource allocation for flood risk mitigation and adaptation tends to prioritize areas based on assessments regarding physical asset losses induced by floods.

This results in wealthier communities receiving a disproportionate share of attention and resources to cope with flood risks. However, there is an urgent need to understand how to safeguard underserved communities effectively, enhancing their comprehension of flood risks and access to adaptation resources.

Our project aimed to address this by examining how flood risk information can be better delivered to underserved people and communities through their interactions with our mobile phone application and how it can influence people’s attitudes and promote proactive behaviors in response to those risks.

HOW: Following relevant Human Computer Interaction theory, we moved forward with our project by developing a conceptual model, completing user research, developing functional and non-functional requirements, and completing a task analysis that informed our user flow.

If interested, you are welcomed to read the detailed assignments linked below each section. Each paper includes a Teamwork Section that details the specific areas I worked on.

USER RESEARCH

RESEARCH METHODS: Semi Structured Interviews + Questionnaire

of users would be willing to download app for accessing flood risk information

71%

of users would seek out flood risks
before a relocation

85%

of users consider themselves familiar with flood precautions

57%

of users are unaware of flood risks specific to their neighborhood

86%

DESIGNING THE SOLUTION

PERSONAS

REQUIREMENTS

We created a list of requirements based on a combination of our initial user research and informed personas. This list was created to provide a structured guide to create a design that accurately supported the needs of our users.

  1. User Registration and Home

  2. Location Information

  3. Flood Risk Map

  4. Flood risk map updates in a timely manner

  5. Notification/Alert System

  6. Notification/Alert System delivers in a timely manner

  7. IOS and Android compatibility

  8. Emergency Tab

  9. Store and pull data from authentication database

  10. Flood risk education

  11. Safety Precautions

DESIGNING THE SOLUTION

POSITIVE RESPONSE

  • Participants responded positively to the prototype.

  • Enthusiasm was shown for the application’s design and aesthetics.

COLOR SCHEMES

  • Suggestions to improve notification colors for better distinction.

  • Importance of using different tones to differentiate notifications.

CONCEPT & DESIGN

  • User research validated the design and met all requirements.

  • Prototype received a SUS score of 86, indicating high usability.

NAVIGATION

  • Navigation across the app was intuitive.

  • Users suggested enhancing the visibility of the home icon.

MAP FUNCTIONALITY

  • Users were confused by the map and its zoom functionality.

  • Highlighted the need for clear titles and better visual indicators.

DESIGN PREFERENCES

  • Some users appreciated the minimalistic design.

  • Others suggested the need for functional richness, reflecting UX debates.

EASE OF USE

  • The interface was found easy and intuitive.

  • Sign-up process was simple for all users.

CONCLUSION

WHAT’S NEXT: The project team is actively pursuing grants to bring this application to life. Our goal is to develop a beta version of the app, incorporating the valuable feedback received from initial user evaluations. We plan to expand our user research to include communities that are directly impacted by flooding, ensuring the app meets their specific needs and enhances their resilience.

WHAT’S I’D DO DIFFERENTLY:

Focus on Map Interpretation & Readability

The current map is currently being used a filler until additional resources are available. The current map is does not offer user readability and address the need for the map to display information that is easily understood by the common U.S. citizen.

Enhance Educational Content Design

Our current design lacks informed research regarding instructional design. Moving forward, I aim to conduct comprehensive research to significantly enhance the educational content and instructional design of the application. This will ensure that users receive clear, effective, and engaging guidance on navigating flood risks and taking protective actions.