To: USGS Office of Water Information

From: USGS Usability Testers

Date: 7/9/19
Subject: Mobile Water Data Webpage Usability Results

The following report contains the results and recommendations gathered from the usability test
that was conducted for the instructions on your mobile water data website. During the test the
users were asked to complete tasks that were highlighted by the instructions. The instructions
provided covered multiple different features including map navigation, favorites, search, and site
details. The test used allowed us to determine which portions of the website were confusing
when new users need to navigate your site.

Test Objectives
During our usability test there were three objectives for users to complete. This allowed us to
determine which portions of the instructions were helpful in completing specific tasks as well as
determine which pictures helped. The three objectives we gave our testers were:
1. Navigate to any nearby site and pull up a detailed graph
2. Save a site to the favorites list
3. Search for a site using the search tool

Results
Strengths
During the usability test, the users located the following strengths:

● Site Details were easy to access

● The current location function was convenient

Weaknesses
During the usability test, the users located the following weaknesses:

● Pictures could have been useful, however not located near the relevant information.
● The sections of the instructions were out of order
● It was easy to add and remove favorites, but the button was too small in comparison to
the graph
● The Site Search did not work properly and was confusing
● The instructions were too wordy
Questionnaire
The following question was asked of the test users; however, the questions were not separated
into two part close-ended and open-ended. We asked each test user three questions from our
closed-ended and open-ended questionnaire.

Close Ended Question Responses

The users were asked the following close-ended questions

1. Did you finish the instructions?
2. Were the images useful?
3. Did you find the instructions too difficult or easy?

● All users were able to finish our instructions

● Three out of four users stated the images were useful, however, not located in the
correct location to be relevant.
● Two of four users said the instructions were easy to follow; however, one user said the
instructions were confusing.

Open Ended Question Responses

The users were asked the following open-ended questions

4. Were there any parts that you found frustrating? If yes, what?
5. What part of the instructions helped you navigate the least?
6. What part of the instructions helped you navigate the most?

● Three out of four of the users stated that the instructions were frustrating because it was
wordy, and they did not know whether or not the instructions were informative or
directive.
● The users found that the initial access and symbology, image, add favorite button, and
hyperlink were not very helpful.
● Two out of four of the users said the images help them the most when they were lost;
however, two users said the images would have been helpful if the images were in the
right place.
Suggestions

The first change we proposed for the website was a reordering of the instructions. We received
complaints that the instructions felt as though they were out of order. We rearranged the
sections so that they now follow a logical order. We also removed the Special Access Buttons
section and added the information to the Using the Map section.

The initial instructions felt wordy, so we reworded and added steps that users would be able to
follow as an example. One user suggested that we change the color and font of the headers.
We changed the headers to a dark green color and a serif font.

We added a screenshot to Initial Access that felt more relevant to the information in that section
and moved the original screenshot to the Using the Map section. We moved the screenshots
around the instructions to eliminate white space and solve the issue that users had with images
coming too late after the instructions.
Appendix A: Original Instruction Set
Appendix B: Revised Instruction Set

Using USGS Mobile Water Data

❏ Initial access ❏ Site list

❏ Using the map ❏ Getting Site Details
❏ Symbology ❏ Managing Favorites
❏ Using the menu ❏ Reporting problems
❏ Site search ❏ About this site

Introduction
The new USGS Mobile Water Data site (m.waterdata.usgs.gov) is a site designed for mobile
users. It highlights USGS current conditions water data. For example, you can use it to monitor
conditions at a favorite river or stream. Any USGS current conditions water data is available.

This site is new so the USGS expect some issues to be noticed. This is a beta release. See
reporting problems if you want to report recurring issues.

Initial access
When you first connect to the site, there will be two pop-ups that notify the user that the data is
provisional and that this website requests location data. The location data is used to show
relevant sites near you. Sharing your location is not required.

1. Click yes “Ok” to show you acknowledge the

warning
2. Click “Yes” if you are ok with location data being
used or “No” if not
Using the Map
Typically, you will share your location. The screen should be
zoomed in to a comfortable magnification level at or near
the location of your device and look similar to the image on
the right.

Use to zoom in and out. If you zoom out too far, you will
see a warning message. For performance reasons, if the
scale is too large it is impractical to show all possible sites
on the device.

You can navigate east, west, north or south using your

device. With most mobile devices this is done by dragging
your finger across the map in the direction you want the
map to move.

1. Type "Albany" in the search box and press enter.

Note: You are likely to see Albany, New York. If you are in
Georgia, you may see Albany, Georgia, as it is closer to
you. You cannot use it to search by USGS site number of
site name, this feature will be explained later.

There are two useful buttons:

● allows you to quickly return to the location of your device

● in the top left corner takes you to a menu with additional options

Symbology
Upside down raindrops point to the location of USGS current condition sites. If you shared your
location then you will see a glowing brown dot that indicates the position of your device.

The color of the raindrops indicates the kind of site. Most are gray raindrops and indicate
surface water sites such as rivers, streams and lakes. Full explanations of all the symbols used
can be accessed through the menu button in the top left corner of the screen.

1. Click on one of these raindrops.

Using the menu
1. Click on the menu icon in the left corner you should see the menu screen

Menu screen:

● Map returns you to the map

● Map Explanation explains the map symbology
● Site Search lets you find a site if you know its number
● Site List / Favorites shows the sites on the current map
extent, or you can use it to access your favorite sites
● Full site takes you to the USGS Water Data Site
● Help takes you to this page.
● Accessibility takes you to the USGS accessibility site

Site search
1. Click on Site Search. The following screen will appear:
2. First get the USGS number that you are searching for,
for example “01645762”
3. Enter the USGS number into the search bar and press
search

If successful, you will get the site's detail page. If it is incorrect,

you will get an error dialog box. Site numbers are 8 or 15
digits. Surface water sites are typically 8 digits and
groundwater sites are typically 15 digits.
Site List
This option shows you a list of sites on the current map plus any favorites you may have stored.
Select the + button to expand the list or - to contract the list. Once a list is expanded, select the
site of interest by pressing the right arrow key to see details on that site.

Getting site details

To see details on a site, simply select the upside-down
raindrop, usually by pressing on it. A pop-up dialog box will
appear with succinct information about the site including its
name and number.

● Press on the Types of Data Available link to take

you to a site detail page. On it, you can see all the
various types of data (parameters) available for this
site. The total number of data types is shown and
circled. Since there may be many data types
available, you may have to scroll down to see the
data type that interests you.
● When on a site detail page, you can use the back
arrow button in the upper left corner of the screen
to return to the previous screen. You can use the
menu button in the top right corner to take you to
the menu.

The site detail page provides the most recent measurement for each data type. To see the most
recent 7-day graph of the data for a data type select the right arrow button next to the data type.
Note that by selecting the "508 Compliant data" link above the graph, the user is redirected to
the USGS Water Data for the Nation page, where the data can be seen in a table. If you are
visually impaired, this provides access to the data.

With mobile devices, if you prefer more graph detail, orient your device to landscape mode and
the graph will resize.

The following options are available at the bottom of these details screens:

● Search takes you to a dialog box where you can search by a specific USGS site
number
● Map takes you back to the map. You should be at the location you were when you
clicked on the Types of Data Available link.
● Full site takes you to the USGS Water Data for the Nation Site
Managing favorites
While on a site detail page or types of data detail page, you have the option to save the site as a
favorite by pressing the Add this site to your favorites button at the top of the screen. If it is
already saved as a favorite, the button becomes Remove this site from your favorites.

You can save as many favorite sites as you want subject to memory limitations imposed by your
browser and device. Favorites are saved on your device only.

1. Search for a local site

2. Save the site to your favorites using the button in the top left

Reporting problems
Before reporting a problem, please check our known problems page. There may be a
workaround.

If you notice recurring errors or issues using the site with your device, let us know.
Troubleshooting issues can be challenging because of great variations in mobile phones,
network providers, operating systems, browsers used and browser settings. Please provide the
following:

● A screen image of the error, stored as a file. See your device instruction manual for
instructions on how to make a screen image. Here are some typical instructions for
Android, iOS, Windows Phone and Blackberry devices.
● Cell phone make and model number
● Operating system and version used. It's important to know the version you are
running, such as Android's Ice Cream Sandwich. Here are some instructions for
Android, iOS, Windows Phone and Blackberry devices.
● Browser and version number used
● The steps you took that generated the problem
We will do our best to solve reported problems if we can replicate them. Send us an email.

About this site

While this site is in beta status, it is highly available. It is hosted redundantly at USGS hosting
centers in Reston, Virginia; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and Menlo Park, California.