ANSS Seminar this week: Max Schneider, USGS
Barnhart, William D
Join us for our next seminar!
March 20th, 2 pm MT: Max Schneider - USGS - "Centering users when designing earthquake and aftershock products"
Link to join seminar (Microsoft Teams)
Abstract:
After large earthquakes, probabilistic forecasts for aftershocks can be computed using statistical models and released by science agencies to support decisions on earthquake response and recovery. Visual design choices for forecast products can affect how the forecasts are used and understood by different users. To investigate how visual forecast products can serve multiple user groups, we held workshops with members of target user groups, including emergency managers, civil engineers, critical infrastructure operators, urban search and rescue, the media, public communicators and public health officials. In these workshops, users performed small-group activities to elicit their specific needs on the types and dimensions of aftershock forecast information and how this information would optimally be packaged. In these activities, users considered their information and product needs relative to real decisions they must make at different time points following a damaging earthquake. We held workshops with participants from the United States, Mexico, and El Salvador to identify cross-cultural components of effective forecast communication. While user needs varied by profession, country, and the type of decision users must make, there was also agreement about what mattered most for forecast product design. Maps showing forecasted shaking from aftershocks were widely requested and different shaking variables and forecast durations were preferred at different times following the mainshock. Needs for colors, file formats and other mapping decisions varied by profession, institution and other user-specific characteristics. Non-spatial products showing forecasted trends in magnitude levels or over time were requested for certain types of decisions and time points. Based on these workshop findings, we discuss solutions for user-centered design for aftershock and other earthquake information. These include products that have been optimized around three categories of use as well as an interactive map-based viewer that can meet diverse user needs.
Do you have an idea for a seminar topic? Get in touch with the seminar committee (Will Yeck, Gabrielle Tepp, Fabia Terra, Mairi Litherland, Kyren Bogolub, and Bill Barnhart)
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William Barnhart, PhD
Assistant Coordinator
USGS Earthquake Hazards Program
c: 319-834-0674
o: 303-273-8591