Transport Canada TDIH

The Problem

Finding information was hard for city planners. The unstructured website and overwhelmed dashboard weaken the user experience, leading to a frustrating and inefficient browsing experience.

User Research

The website was tailored for city planners, acting as a valuable resource to inform and enhance their decision-making processes. Understanding their daily life and responsibilities is important in the design process.

Insights

Transportation planners spend a significant amount of time preparing research, conducting policy studies, and writing reports. Therefore:

• ‍Intuitive Experience: They need an intuitive interface that allows them to easily find the information they need on the dashboard, streamlining their workflow.

• Familiar Terminology: While transportation terminology may seem complex to the average person, it's essential for city planners. These technical terms act as shortcuts, helping them quickly locate and interpret the information they are searching for, given their familiarity with the subject matter.

Conceptualization & Solution

Dashboard - Enhance Data Visualization and Interactivity

• Present different data with different visualization methods to help users interpret and find relevant information quickly.
• Prioritize the readability of transportation data by incorporating familiar transportation terminology (such as TTI, PTI) for planners, while eliminating redundant content to simplify the interface.
• Implement collapsible search & statistic panel to free up space, enhancing the map's visibility and overall usability.
• Make the map interactive with clickable elements like circles and corridors, allowing users to intuitively navigate and explore data directly from the map.

Website - Improve Information Hierarchy

• Position the dashboard at the top of the page to allow users to access key information quickly.
• Organize the text into clearly defined categories and utilize tab and accordion components to neatly structure the content, making navigation intuitive and ensuring the page remains clean and user-friendly.

Usability Test

The usability test results show that 74% of users successfully completed the task of retrieving information for a corridor, with an average completion time of 35 seconds.

These results suggest that the redesigned dashboard enhances user experience by improving navigation and accessibility, allowing users to locate and interact with information more efficiently.

Impact

Enhanced Information Access

By streamlining the layout and prioritizing the map, city planners are able to locate and analyze relevant data faster and with fewer clicks, reducing the time spent navigating complex systems and improving decision-making efficiency. This leads to increased productivity and more effective planning.

Improved Data Visualization

The redesign of charts and interactive elements enhances data comprehension, allowing planners to make quicker, data-driven decisions. This fosters more informed policy development and helps in tackling urban transportation challenges more effectively. Improved access to actionable data also reduces errors, leading to better outcomes for city infrastructure projects.