Usability Evaluation of a PPGIS Interactive Map Application

Geoweb-enabled Public Participatory GIS (PPGIS) methodologies incorporate interactive map applications as the main driver for public engagement and data collection. However, little is known about exactly how the public interact with these applications to produce spatial data, a fact that contributes to criticisms of final data quality. Usability evaluation offers a solution for developing better PPGIS data production systems by identifying problems in the application interface with which the public engage.

Drawing on a case study example of a PPGIS application developed to collect socio-spatial data from members of the public, this project evaluates usability using two analysis techniques. The first technique uses controlled experimentation methods to capture performance, preference, and data production metrics. The second technique employs verbal protocol analysis (VPA) and structured interviews with map application users to explore the nuances of how these participants use the tool. Taken together, these analyses allow us to critically assess the application interface and suggest design changes to mitigate future usability problems with similar PPGIS applications.