Introducing a usability framework to support urban information discovery and analytics

Abstract

One of the significant challenges facing the development of web portals is optimising the usability of such e-infrastructures for diverse, yet specialised, uses. This paper presents a usability framework for supporting the iterative testing and development of the Australian Urban Research Infrastructure Network (AURIN) portal. The portal serves as a securitised environment for data sharing, and as a repository of open-source analytical routines to support urban decision-making. Harmonisation, security, accessibility and discoverability are critical concerns at the data level as many different kinds of federated data are being referenced by the portal. Furthermore, urban researchers are accessing this portal across Australia as an advanced spatial decision support system. A further design consideration for the portal is that it needs to be able to be usable by non-experts to discover and access a broad spectrum of digital data and analytical tools relevant to human settlements. Managing the complexity across many areas and supporting a spectrum of naïve to expert users are significant challenges. In this research we present an overview of a usability framework, developed for the AURIN project, which elicits feedback from naïve users through to domain experts. This feedback is captured through hands-on workshops with participants and one-on-one user testing sessions. In this paper we report the findings from initial workshops with end-users and one-on-one testing sessions. We analyse this feedback to understand the current strengths and weaknesses of the system. The end-user feedback provides a dual purpose. Firstly, it is fed back to the technical development team as part of a cycle of continuous improvement. Secondly, the workshops also provide a vehicle for engaging end-users and raising awareness of the AURIN data search, interrogation and visualisation capabilities. We conclude the paper by discussing the next steps in developing and implementing the usability framework in relation to the AURIN portal.

Keywords::

• SDSS
• SDI
• Geoportal
• useability
• urban
• user testing

Notes

^1. A full list of datasets and data custodians in the beta 4 version of the AURIN portal is viewable here: https://docs.aurin.org.au/datasets-beta4.

^2. See: https://docs.aurin.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/131201_survey.pdf.

^3. See: http://design4use.com.au/. Last accessed: 13 August 2014.