Introduction

Welcome to the Floodlight case study, a project developed as part of the Google UX Design course for social causes. In this case study, we will delve into the research, design, and development process of Floodlight, a flood preparedness platform designed to address the needs of both community managers and residents.

By uncovering insights into the pain points, challenges, and behaviours of these stakeholders, we have created a user-centred solution that aims to empower communities to effectively prepare for and respond to floods. Join us as we explore how Floodlight was conceptualized and developed, focusing on improving flood resilience and safety for all.

Index

Problem Statement Research
User Research
Existing Solutions
Insights
User persona
New problem statement
Solution
Low fidelity
Post usability testing
Hi-fidelity Design
Futurescope
Limitations
Other tool essentials

Problem Statement

Source: Google Professional UX Design

Problem statement research

To understand the problem statement it has to be broken down into 3 parts

Need

• Flood events create challenges and risks for communities, impacting the safety and well-being of residents.
• Conditions during floods, such as loss of network connectivity, power outages, and limited access to communication devices, can worsen the difficulties faced by community members and authorities.
• Sources of floods can vary, but they often result from heavy rainfall, overflowing rivers or dams, storm surges, or a combination of these factors, posing significant risks and challenges to communities.
• Communities of various sizes and locations, including urban, suburban, and rural areas, can be affected by the challenges outlined in the problem statement, requiring effective flood management solutions to ensure the safety and resilience of their residents.

Users research

Community managers (Primary Users)

• Community managers, whether politically elected or formally appointed, are key figures responsible for the welfare of their communities, including during times of crisis like floods
• Community managers play a vital role in disaster management and response, acting as the primary point of contact for residents during emergencies.
• Their responsibilities include creating awareness, prompting residents to take necessary actions, providing assistance, and collaborating with emergency services.

Residents (End users)

• Residents may vary in their level of training and preparedness for flood situations, with some being trained and knowledgeable while others may lack awareness and readiness.
• Residents must be aware of safe zones or evacuation routes specific to their community, ensuring they can navigate to designated areas for safety during flood events.
• Some residents may have pre-existing medical conditions that require special attention and support during flood situations, emphasizing the need for tailored assistance and accommodations.
• Two-way communication channels are essential for residents, enabling them to effectively communicate their status, report emergencies, or request assistance if they are unable to evacuate or find themselves in unsafe conditions.

Existing solutions

Insights

Confusion and inadequate response

The absence of a comprehensive flood management tool contributes to confusion among community managers and residents, leading to delayed or inadequate responses to flood events.

Limited resources and tools

Community managers and residents lack access to adequate resources and tools for effective flood management, resulting in challenges during preparedness, response, and recovery.

The critical role of community managers

Community managers play a vital role in disaster management and response, being the first point of contact for residents during emergencies. Their responsibilities include creating awareness, prompting actions, providing assistance, and collaborating with emergency services.

Need for proactive preparedness

Communities need a solution that empowers them to proactively prepare for flood events, including real-time monitoring of flood conditions, personalized alerts, evacuation planning, and access to relevant resources and guidance.

Collaborative communication

Effective communication and coordination among community managers, residents, and emergency services are crucial for a successful flood management strategy. A platform that facilitates seamless communication and information sharing is essential.

User persona

New problem statement

Sara, a community manager, needs a solution to effectively create awareness and manage communication during floods due to the manual organization of communications,

which hinders her ability to ensure timely and coordinated information dissemination among community members for efficient flood preparedness and response.

Solution

Approach: Managers first, residents next: Effective flood management design.

It was crucial to prioritize community managers in the case study. By understanding their unique needs and designing a solution tailored to them, we can then extend those design principles to cater to the resident users.

This approach allows us to create a comprehensive flood management tool that supports community managers in their roles while providing a user-centred experience for residents, resulting in an effective and inclusive solution.

Use cases considered

Internet Available, Phone Available

When there is internet and phone connectivity, the flood management tool uses real-time updates, alerts, and messaging to keep users informed. It helps them access information, report incidents, and collaborate with others during floods.

Internet Not Available, Phone Available

In case there is no internet and users still have a phone, the tool can have a feature that makes it easy to print user-friendly maps. These maps show important places, like safe areas and evacuation routes so that users can have them on hand even without the internet.

No Internet, No Phone

If there is neither Internet nor phone, it’s important to be prepared in advance. The tool can help community managers organize training camps or sessions to teach people about flood safety and what to do. They can also provide printed guides and materials with step-by-step instructions and important contacts

Essential components for effective flood alerts:

1. SOS alert

2. Regular alert

Subject and Message

• In emergencies, it’s important to quickly convey the urgency and importance of a message by highlighting the subject line.
• Using pre-saved subject templates with editable messages and attached resources helps community managers send alerts faster and more accurately.

Resources as standard/preset attachments

• Community managers can attach important documents like maps or contact lists to the alert message for residents to access.
• They can use pre-saved templates with all the necessary resources, making it easier during emergencies.

Poll with preset options

• The poll feature allows residents to respond quickly to alerts by selecting “safe” or “unsafe.”
• This helps community managers understand the situation and take the right actions, especially for SOS alerts.

Social Share

• The social share feature allows users to share alert messages on platforms like WhatsApp or Twitter.
• By using pre-saved channels, it’s easier to share information during emergencies and reach a wider audience for prompt action.

Alert Feedback

Metrics

Safe
The metrics feature allows community managers to track and analyze residents who have successfully reached designated safe zones during flood events. This information helps assess the effectiveness of evacuation plans and identify areas of improvement.

Unsafe
By monitoring the “unsafe” metrics, community managers can quickly identify residents who are in hazardous situations during floods. This enables them to prioritize immediate assistance and coordinate rescue efforts to ensure the safety of those at risk.

Inactive
The “inactive” metrics provide insights into resident engagement and activity levels during flood events. By monitoring this data, community managers can proactively reach out to unresponsive residents, ensuring their well-being and providing additional support if needed.

Resident Profiling

1. Name, age, resident registered number
   These details provide important information about the resident in case of an emergency. It helps the community manager quickly identify the resident and assess their needs
2. Live Location/address
   Providing the resident’s live location & address is crucial for assisting responders to quickly locate the person in need of help.
3. Responded Time
   The response time provides a record of when the resident first signalled for help. This information is useful for tracking and analyzing response times.
4. Last active time for inactive residents
   This helps the community manager to understand how long it has been since the resident last used the app. This information is particularly useful in identifying residents who may need additional support during emergencies.
5. Medical Condition
   Knowing the resident’s medical condition is important for responders to provide the appropriate assistance.
6. Message Text for residents
   The option to send a message text is essential for responders to communicate with the resident in need of help and gather additional information.
7. Option to Share the Case
   Sharing the case with other responders or volunteers can help coordinate a more effective response and increase the chances of providing timely assistance.
8. Assign Volunteer
   Assigning a volunteer to respond to the case can help expedite the response time and ensure the resident receives the necessary help.
9. Call or Text the User
   The option to call or text the user is essential for direct communication with the resident and for providing timely assistance.

Feature: SOS alert creation & feedback

Assumptions

1. The app has been successfully launched and residents have registered on the platform.

2. The residents have provided personal information, such as medical conditions, during the registration process.

3. Residents are willing to share their location during emergencies.

4. The app can access residents’ location data during emergencies.

5. The app has access to real-time flood data from reliable sources.

6. Residents have access to smartphones and internet connectivity during emergencies.

7. The app can effectively communicate with residents through push notifications and in-app alerts.

8. The community manager is trained and equipped to handle emergencies using the Floodlight app.

Low fidelity Wireframes

Usability testing
Participants completed the task, with feedback suggesting the need for an inbox feature and a more prominent “Create Alert” button.

Specific feedback
Participants found the “SOS alert” button easily, suggested improvements for the “Assign Volunteer” feature, and recommended automatic SOS triggers and a clearer “Also share on” option.
Make a shorter text for the preview

Conclusion
Participants found the wireframes user-friendly, highlighting the need for an inbox feature. Feedback will inform future design iterations.

Feedback Considered

Scannable text body
- added subject to the text for quick readability

SOS Poll redesigned
- Poll feature redesigned

Low-fidelity wireframes (post-testing)

Hi-fidelity design

Future Scope for Floodlight:

Enhanced communication channels:

Explore additional communication channels for reaching residents without smartphones or internet access during emergencies, such as email or SMS integration.

Advanced alert customization

Provide residents with the ability to personalize their alert preferences for more relevant and tailored notifications.

Integration with emergency services

Collaborate with local emergency services to provide real-time updates on evacuation routes, emergency shelters, and critical information.

AI-powered risk assessment

Implement machine learning algorithms to analyze flood data and weather patterns for predictive risk assessments and early warning alerts.

Community collaboration features

Enable residents and community managers to share experiences, resources, and best practices through a community forum or social features.

Real-time location tracking

Develop a feature for tracking the location of residents needing assistance, improving response time and coordination.

Integration with external databases

Incorporate external databases, such as healthcare or emergency contact information, to maintain accurate resident profiles and enhance emergency response efforts.

Multi-language support

Expand language options to cater to diverse communities, ensuring accessibility of alerts and communication.

Data analytics and reporting

Implement robust analytics and reporting features to provide insights on resident engagement, response rates, and system effectiveness for informed decision-making.

Seamless integration with existing systems

Collaborate with relevant stakeholders to integrate Floodlight with existing disaster management systems, promoting a comprehensive and coordinated approach to flood preparedness and response.

Limitations

1. The case study is limited to the specific context of flood management, and may not apply to other emergencies or contexts.
2. The case study does not address potential legal or regulatory challenges that may arise in implementing Floodlight.
3. The cost and feasibility of implementing and maintaining Floodlight may be a barrier for some communities or organizations.
4. The case study does not address potential privacy or security concerns related to the collection and storage of resident data.
5. The effectiveness of Floodlight in actually reducing harm or damage caused by floods may be dependent on factors beyond the control of the community manager or the technology itself, such as the severity of the flood or the response of emergency services.

Learnings

Focus and Prioritization
Identified project priorities to allocate resources effectively and meet core objectives.

Colour Coding UI
Utilized colour coding to convey information intuitively and enhance user understanding.

Time Management
Efficiently managed time to meet project deadlines without compromising quality.

Storytelling and Iterative Feedback
Embraced iterative feedback and storytelling to refine designs and create a compelling user experience.

Other tool essentials

Inbox

The inbox feature has been implemented to provide an organized way for residents to communicate with the community manager. The inbox is divided into three categories: incidents, requests, and general messages.

1. Incidents: This category includes messages related to any flood-related incidents or emergencies that have occurred in the community.

For example, if a resident’s house is flooded or if there is a major roadblock due to flooding, they can send a message through the app to report the incident. The community manager can then respond and take appropriate action to mitigate the situation.

2. Requests: This category includes messages related to any requests or concerns that residents may have regarding flood-related issues.

For example, if a resident is concerned about the state of the community’s drainage system, they can send a message through the app requesting an inspection or maintenance. The community manager can then respond and take appropriate action to address the request.

3. General Messages: This category includes any other messages or inquiries that residents may have regarding the Floodlight app or the community’s flood-related policies and procedures.

For example, if a resident wants to know how to properly prepare for a flood or if they have feedback on the app’s functionality, they can send a message through this category. The community manager can then respond and provide the necessary information or address any concerns.

This feature is essential for efficient communication as it helps the community manager prioritize and respond to messages promptly. It also helps in the categorization of messages for ease of access and better management.

The inbox feature also allows for easy tracking of communication history between residents and the community manager. This information can be used to improve the app’s functionality and to provide better support to the community.

Overall, the inbox feature plays a critical role in enhancing communication between residents and the community manager, making it easier to resolve issues and improve the quality of life in the community.

Contacts

The homepage of Floodlight includes a contact list feature that provides quick and easy access to emergency first responders, volunteers, residents, and other community managers. The contact list feature allows the community manager to easily reach out to relevant contacts during emergencies and share important information with them.

The feature includes various categories of contacts, such as emergency services, local government officials, volunteers, medical professionals, and neighbouring communities. Each category contains relevant contact information, including names, phone numbers, email addresses, and other relevant details.

The contact list feature ensures that the community manager has a readily accessible and up-to-date list of contacts that can be quickly accessed during emergencies. This allows for faster communication and coordination, which can be crucial in emergencies. Additionally, the feature allows for the easy addition or removal of contacts as needed, ensuring that the contact list remains accurate and up-to-date.

Resident centre

The Resident tab feature in Floodlight has a variety of functions that allow community managers to efficiently manage the residents in their community during floods.

Firstly, the Manage Residents function enables managers to view and edit resident profiles, including their personal information and emergency contact details. They can also assign residents to groups and track their responses to flood-related communications.

In addition, the training feature provides community managers with a platform to educate residents about the best practices and procedures to follow during a flood. This includes information on evacuation routes, emergency supplies, and first aid.

The Reports feature allows managers to generate detailed reports on resident engagement and response rates during flood events. This enables them to assess the effectiveness of their communication strategies and make necessary adjustments for future events.

Finally, the Groups feature enables managers to segment residents into specific groups based on their location or other relevant criteria. This allows for targeted communication during flood events and ensures that residents receive the information they need in a timely and efficient manner.

Thank you for reading,
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Linkedin: Sarvesh Sangle
Gmail: sanglesarvesh@gmail.com