Enhancing Wetlands Data Accessibility
Design of an online tool to improve the accessibility and usability of wetlands research data for scientists, policymakers, and environmental professionals. The project aimed to simplify complex data visualization, streamline navigation, and create an intuitive interface that supports informed decision-making and environmental conservation efforts.
Based
Seattle, Washington
Apr 2024 - Aug 2024
Environmental Science
20-25
Challenge
Researchers and policymakers working with wetlands data often struggled with fragmented tools, confusing visualizations, and limited accessibility. The existing platforms made it difficult to interpret large datasets, compare changes over time, or apply findings to policy and conservation decisions. Our challenge was to design a tool that simplified complex data into clear, actionable insights while remaining flexible for different user needs.
Results
The redesigned TealWaters platform enabled users to explore wetlands data with greater ease and accuracy. Visualizations became more intuitive, allowing researchers to identify patterns quickly and policymakers to make informed decisions. Early user feedback showed a marked improvement in efficiency, with participants reporting that tasks took significantly less time to complete. The tool not only increased user confidence but also supported broader conservation efforts by making critical data more accessible.
45%
Increase in task completion
70%
Improvement in data visualization clarity
80%
Users reported greeater confidence when using this tool
Process
Interviews & Affinity Diagramming: I conducted 25 detailed interviews with a range of stakeholders, including environmental scientists, policy analysts, and conservation specialists, to understand their pain points and aspirations. These interviews revealed critical insights:
Users demanded clear and visually accessible data to make informed decisions.
There was a strong need for customizable data layers to tailor the analysis to specific projects.
Many stakeholders emphasized the importance of integrating data sources to provide a comprehensive overview of wetland ecosystems.
To organize the findings, I used affinity diagramming to identify recurring themes and patterns. This method helped pinpoint priorities such as simplicity, scalability across different geographic regions, and robust data accessibility. These themes became the foundation for my design decisions.
Personas: To humanize and anchor the design process, I developed two detailed personas based on stakeholder input:
Katie, a Government Ecologist: Katie works on community-focused projects and requires tools that allow her to extract relevant, localized data to address environmental and socio-economic concerns.
Bob, a Tech-Savvy Analyst: Bob monitors wetland changes over time, such as groundwater recharge and biodiversity impacts. He prefers tools with in-depth customization capabilities and options for advanced, independent analysis.
These personas allowed me to evaluate design decisions through the lens of user needs, ensuring the tool accommodated a wide range of expertise and objectives.
Wireframing & Prototyping:
Iteration 1: I started with low-fidelity wireframes to explore layout options and usability. These wireframes were presented to environmental experts and user researchers for feedback. Positive reception of the structure validated my initial design approach.
Iteration 2: In this phase, I incorporated project-specific visual elements, including logos, a custom color palette, and typography. Based on stakeholder feedback, I prioritized three key data layers: Wetland Extent, Stream Connectivity, and Water Quality. Secondary features, such as user-uploaded regions of interest and layers for Carbon Sequestration and Flooding Probability, were also explored.
Iteration 3: I created high-fidelity, interactive prototypes using Figma. Collaborating with GIS developers, I integrated nine data layers, ensuring each layer provided both a regional overview and a detailed, zoomed-in view. I refined interactions and debugged functionality to enhance the overall experience.
Usability Testing: I facilitated usability testing sessions with target users to assess the design’s practicality and functionality. Feedback emphasized the need for:
Improved visibility and toggling of data layers.
Enhanced responsiveness to zoom and map interactions.
Using this input, I optimized the tool to better align with user workflows and expectations, ensuring it delivered maximum value.
Visual Design & Style Guide:The visual design emphasized clarity and accessibility, using a clean color palette, modern typography, and intuitive iconography to support ease of navigation. We created a consistent design system with reusable components to maintain coherence across screens. A style guide was developed to document color usage, typography hierarchy, and interaction patterns, ensuring scalability and consistency in future updates.
Target Users pt.1
Statistics from our User Interviews
Target Users pt.2
Example of gathered data from the User Interviews
iteration phase 1
First few sketches of possible design layouts
Iteration phase 2
Design Iterations in progress
Solution
Design Process:
User Research: I began the project by conducting interviews with 20 environmental scientists, policy analysts, and other stakeholders to understand their specific needs for analyzing wetland data. Through these interviews, I discovered recurring pain points, such as the lack of user-friendly tools and the necessity for customizable data layers to support different types of research and decision-making. I used affinity diagramming to organize and synthesize these insights into actionable themes, which guided my design process. Key themes included prioritizing simplicity in the interface, integrating diverse data sources, and providing flexibility for in-depth analysis. These insights formed the foundation for the tool’s user experience strategy.
Wireframing: With the research findings in hand, I designed wireframes that emphasized simplicity, functionality, and intuitive navigation. My goal was to create a structure that allowed users to seamlessly access tools, visualize data, and interact with maps. I carefully laid out features such as predefined boundaries, overlays for data layers, and tools for drawing specific areas of interest. These initial wireframes were shared with stakeholders for feedback, ensuring that the proposed design aligned with their workflows and priorities.
Prototyping: Building on the validated wireframes, I developed high-fidelity, interactive prototypes using Figma. These prototypes showcased key features such as:
Predefined boundaries for streamlined analysis.
Tools to draw and analyze specific areas of interest.
Customizable data layers, including metrics for wetland functions like flood storage, carbon storage, and water quality.
User Testing: To validate the prototype, I conducted usability testing with stakeholders, focusing on the layout, responsiveness, and functionality of the tool. Feedback from these sessions revealed specific areas for improvement, such as enhancing the visibility of toggles for data layers and improving responsiveness when users interacted with the map. I iteratively refined the prototype based on this feedback, ensuring that the final design delivered a seamless and intuitive experience tailored to user workflows.
Final Design:
The final version of WetlandsEO is a robust platform tailored to the needs of wetland experts:
Welcome Screen: Provides an engaging introduction, familiarizing users with the tool's features and functionality.
Base Layer Interface: Enables users to choose from a variety of base maps, such as satellite imagery or topographic maps, to suit their analysis.
Data Layers Interface: Offers toggles for customizable data layers, including Wetland Intrinsic Potential (WIP), flood storage, water quality, and carbon storage.
Zoomed-In Layer View: Allows users to inspect specific areas of interest with detailed, high-resolution data, facilitating precision in analysis and decision-making.
Entry page
Welcome message for each user that enters the website
Base screen
Basemap screen before chosing the data layers
wip poly lAYer pt 1
WIP Poly layer (Wetland Intrinsic Potential) zoomed out
WIP poly layer pt. 2
Selected WIP Poly layer (Wetland Instrinsic Potential) screen zoomed in
Carbon storage + HUC layer pt. 1
Selected Carbon Storage Layer with H.U.C. Overlay (Street Basemap)
Carbon storage + HUc layer pt 2
Selected Carbon Storage Layer with H.U.C. Overlay (Satellite Basemap)
Conclusion
TealWaters transformed a complex and fragmented wetlands data system into a streamlined, accessible platform that empowers both researchers and policymakers. By prioritizing usability, clear visualizations, and efficient navigation, the tool made critical environmental data easier to interpret and apply to real-world decisions. Beyond improving workflows, TealWaters demonstrated how thoughtful design can bridge the gap between science and policy, ultimately supporting more informed conservation and sustainability efforts.