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A User Evaluation of Virtual Alabama

A User Evaluation of Virtual Alabama. Steve Henderson City of Gulf Shores, AL GIS Coordinator. Outline. Background and Motivation Methodology Study Participants Testing Scenarios Analysis Plans Significance. Background and Motivation. Hurricane Opal – 1995 Hurricane Danny – 1997

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A User Evaluation of Virtual Alabama

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  1. A User Evaluation ofVirtual Alabama Steve Henderson City of Gulf Shores, AL GIS Coordinator

  2. Outline • Background and Motivation • Methodology • Study Participants • Testing Scenarios • Analysis Plans • Significance

  3. Background and Motivation • Hurricane Opal – 1995 • Hurricane Danny – 1997 • Hurricane Georges – 1998 • Tropical Storm Isidore - 2002 • Hurricane Ivan – 2004 • Hurricane Katrina – 2005 • BP Oil Spill - 2010 • Collaboration with Auburn University to locate utility structures prior to a storm to prevent damage afterwards during the removal of storm debris and sand. • Needed a partner for data storage for small communities that did not have GIS software and hardware.

  4. Background and Motivation • Alabama Department of Homeland Security • Virtual Alabama, an enterprise edition of Google Earth • Gulf Shores Fire Rescue Dept. • Needed geovisualization tools to support their roles in emergency management for both routine and disaster related activities.

  5. Virtual Alabama • A desktop program for viewing of local data or data streamed from the internet in a 3D Globe visualization environment. • Initiated in 2005 by the Alabama Department of Homeland Security to create a common visualization environment for sharing state and local geographic data between emergency responders and decision makers. • Can be downloaded from the internet and used for free by state and local officials. • Securely connected to state servers to view data without downloading it. Multiple levels of security are available. • Can be set up to view data on a remote server by means of a separate password controlled by the third party provider.

  6. Virtual Alabama

  7. Virtual Alabama

  8. Virtual Alabama Program Fact Sheet Real time activities associated with Virtual Alabama: • Common operational picture • Emergency evacuation routing • Situational awareness/understanding • Vehicle and asset tracking • Critical infrastructure mapping • Student density • Identification of assets and vulnerabilities • Visualization of risks • Plume modeling and real time sensors feeds • Implementation of protective measures during events • Damage assessment

  9. Methodology • Test the usability of Virtual Alabama (VA) for assisting the Gulf Shores Fire/Rescue Department operations. • Develop prototypical tasks based on the stated goals of the system. (VA Program Fact Sheet) • Employ heuristic evaluation (Nielsen, 1990) of program interface following a task analysis evaluation.

  10. Methodology • Develop four tasks of simulated incidents incorporating as many of VA goals as possible. • Measure success rate and time to complete the tasks. • Prepare post-testing interview questions to obtain qualitative feedback.

  11. Study Participants • City of Gulf Shores Fire/Rescue Department personnel. • Approximately five supervisory and at least 10 or more non-supervisors to participate. • Pre-testing interview will collect data on participants job duties and skills as well as familiarity with information technology, especially geovisualization tools.

  12. Testing Scenarios • Emergency evacuation routing • Critical infrastructure mapping • Identification of assets and vulnerabilities • Damage assessment

  13. Testing Scenarios • Initial view of the data showing City Facilities markers in the isolated area and colored polygons representing the areas likely to see storm surge from various hurricane categories.

  14. Testing Scenarios • The view as a user zooms into a particular facility to see if it lies within the areas expected to experience storm surge.

  15. Testing Scenarios • The view as a user places markers, identifies likely vulnerabilities and color codes markers to categorize facilities likely to see storm surge damage.

  16. Testing Scenarios • After all of the facilities are identified and color coded, the user saves the markers into a KMZ file to email.

  17. Analysis Plans • The average success rate of each task will be calculated. • The average heuristic evaluations ratings and the user's opinions on which operations can be helped by VA will be calculated. • Tasks will be ranked to determine which type of activities are best supported.

  18. Significance • Evaluate usability test results to determine which tasks are well supported by VA. • Incorporate well supported tasks into regular departmental training and response procedures using VA to maintain familiarity. • Use different tools/methods for activities that VA does not support well or recommend extensions or improvements to the current VA tools.

  19. Thanks to: • Gulf Shores Fire Rescue Department, especially Deputy Fire Chief Keith Martin • Dr. Anthony Robinson – Academic Advisor

  20. Questions?

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