Usability Interview - Emily

[jessicashanshanhuang]

Interview w/ Emily, Sr. Borough Planner, Brooklyn Office

Background

• Found out about launch in email Nov/Dec
• Uses ZoLa ALL the time, in multiple tabs, ZoLa is usually a starting point
• PFF very frequently multiple times a week
• EDDE multiple times a week
• ArcGIS pro
• Previous version of this tool (usually housing data, but typically arcGIS to analyze)

Task: You are trying to learn more about projects related Parks and Recreation in the Brooklyn area. Locate one project in Brooklyn that is related to Parks and Recreation.

1. Time: 48 sec
2. There’s not a way to search based on parks, but I know where they are.
3. Skeptical over results of Prospect Park which don’t seem accurate
4. Confusing – overlapping dot and polygon. Dot does not seem to be in the right place
5. Comments “the automatic zoom might’ve taken me too far in”
6. As a subject matter expert, user thinks they know what certain points are (due to familiarity outside of this app. Suggests that other users might not)
7. Parks Capital Tracker – map and list is helpful
8. Says I would open a new window and go to Parks capital tracker which is really good. A link to that would be good
9. This is an example of redundant tool – more information is located in Parks tool
10. Parks has project timeline and links to other sources. “It would be cool if our tool did the same thing.”
11. I love that ZoLa links directly to the record. I use the link to ACRIS for example. DoB for example. I’m using ZoLA to get to other places.
12. Central Park Grand Army Plaza South -

• “Why is this here?”
• A potential Geocoding issue
• Why is it here if there is $0.00 commitments – no information
• User seems confused / unsure if they are missing information or if there just isn’t any available

There is a future capital project related to a new field being developed at a park in Bronx. Locate the Harris Park project.

1. Time: 3:17
2. Says, “Oh boy.” It would be nice to search by name or project type/field.
3. Would have to Google to find it
4. When zooming out, map loading is slow.
5. It would be useful to have more detail in basemap (to find the points I can relate to)
6. Can see capital commitment amount.
7. Distracted by another dot nearby. When Emily zooms out and only sees some dots rather than others, assumes that there are more projects or higher budget projects in the area. But the one selected has zero commitments, so this causes confusion
8. “I’m left at the end of the trail” where I need to know where to find more info

Task: You are curious about various ongoing projects in Central Park. Locate one capital project in Central Park.

1. Timer: approx. 15 sec
2. Luckily knows where Central Park is
3. Says it would be nice if the polygon was more precise
4. It would be cool if dots would change size as you zoom
5. Has to X out of polygon to see dots
6. More detail in basemap would help orient users
7. Wants to search and see filtered results in a list
8. Difficulty selecting/highlighting desired geo

Additional Feedback (sent via email)

Data errors:

• 846P-3RIVFTW - Shoreline Work in Riverside and Fort Washington Parks - Inaccurately geotagged to Washington Park, Brooklyn CD6, should be Riverside and Fort Washington Parks (MN CD12)
• 846P-2PROSKTNYC PARKS - MOUNT PROSPECT PARK: DESTINATION SKATE GARDEN – inaccurately geotagged to Prospect Park instead of Mount Prospect Park
• 846P-1ANCR01 - Anchor Parks - St. Mary's Reconstruction (X045-117M) – incorrectly geotagged to St. Mary’s Playground (BK CD6) instead of St. Mary’s Park (BX CD1). Commitment details also seem incomplete and/or out-of-date.
• 850SANDHW21 - WHEN AND WHERE HURRICANE SANDY – CITYWIDE – Title seems wrong, past commitment is a negative value, no current or future commitments so it’s not clear why this is included.

Other feedback / questions:

• Would it be possible to link to Capital agencies’ (Parks, DOT) project trackers for more info when available?
• Links to additional resources: can we link to NYCHA and explain why it’s not included?
• What does a negative financial value mean? (ex. 850SE-LC-08 - EMERGENCY LINING CONTRACT, CITYWIDE)
• Verifying completed projects – I understand this tool is intended for potential, planned and ongoing capital projects, but it seems like some completed projects are included, even when there are no remaining funding commitments (ex. 846P-206SMRY - St. Mary's Playground (B118-116M))
• Project name inconsistencies – Is there potential to edit project names, or do we have to rely on lead agency? (Ex. 841HWKGOWANS – “Gowanus Points of Agreement” title is misleading because it only includes DOT’s capital commitments from the Gowanus Neighborhood Plan Points of agreement).
• Is it possible to add a “share” button on each project record pop-up that exposes and copies the project’s unique URL?