Geographic information system (GIS) Mapping UX Design
The Context
Geographic information system (GIS) is a data visualization tool designed to present spatial or geographic data pattern;
It is a powerful feature within our data analysis platform to help the user quickly grasp data insights. However, it was a underused feature because of the lack of user-centred workflow design, as well as the unattractive UI style.
I was the UX design lead of this project and responsible for the end-to-end experience from concept to launch, worked in close collaboration with our cross-functional team.
PROCESS
Understand the user and where the journey starts
There are 2 different kind of users that directly interact with this feature:
the Data Analyst who creates and manages the GIS map
the Business Analyst who reviews and interacts with the data points on map
this image explains how would a GIS map created and managed by the Data Analysts
Quant and Qual Research
The research goal was to understand the user goals, needs, pain points and identify what the most critical steps of the flow and the reason behind it are. Then with in-depth user research to further discover and map out the gaps between existing workflow and user behavior/expectation.
Methods:
Survey, Contextual inquiry, Empathy map, Heuristic evaluation, Usability test
iDentify problems:
Inefficient workflow caused bad user experience. It can take a mid-level analyst's couple hours to map the data point onto the "best layers" of the GIS map with presentable visual edits.
Main problem areas from the interface
IA analysis result: Lack of efficiency & Broken experience
Define Design focus
Simplify the action steps for the end-user on creating and managing a GIS map to improve the workflow efficiency.
Proposed design solution and rationale on improving workflow efficiency
Increase the workflow efficiency and accessibility to help the user to be able to edit the cross-layer GIS map with minimum effort.
Improved workflow
the current/problematic workflow
Left: component structure before design; Right: proposed solution on the flat layer component structure
Final Solution
in production view