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Weather.gc.ca & WeatherCAN: Expert Evaluation

A comprehensive analysis of the website's information structure and user interface design with the primary objective of pinpointing potential usability issues and navigation problems and generating actionable recommendations for improvement.

Person walking in the snow while looking at their phone
  • Sector
  • Client
  • Tools
  • My Role
  • Government
  • Government of Canada (Graduate-level course project for Information Architecture, UofT)
  • Microsoft Word, Miro
  • Conducting a comprehensive analysis and set of recommendations for the website's information structure and user interface design.
Environment and Climate Change Canada
The department of the Government of Canada responsible for coordinating environmental policies and programs, as well as preserving and enhancing the natural environment and renewable resources.
Weather.gc.ca
A specialized platform under the Canada.ca framework, serves as the central hub for Environment and Climate Change Canada's meteorological insights.
WeatherCAN
Provides access to weather information on the go with an interface for viewing current conditions, hourly and 7-day forecasts, and a push notification system for weather alerts.
Users and their Goals
General Public: Access accurate and easy-to-understand weather forecasts, current conditions, and warnings for personal planning and safety.

Meteorologists/Researchers: Obtain in-depth meteorological data, charts, and models for scientific research and analysis.

Professionals from Various Sectors: Obtain specialized weather information relevant to their specific industries, such as agriculture, construction, transportation, etc.

Marine Enthusiasts: Access marine weather forecasts, navigation information, and other maritime-related data for safe and informed boating activities.

Government Agencies (Public Safety, Disaster Management, Environmental Conservation): Utilize weather data to support decision-making processes related to public safety, disaster response, and environmental conservation initiatives.
Users and their Goals
General Public: Access accurate and easy-to-understand weather forecasts, current conditions, and warnings for personal planning and safety while on the go.
Weather.gc.ca on mobile
WeatherCAN app
Methods
For the heuristic evaluation of the City of Richmond Hill's website, a systematic approach was adopted to assess its usability based on Jakob Nielsen's 10 Usability Heuristics. The evaluation primarily focused on understanding the user interface and overall user experience. The chosen evaluation method involved the following steps:
1. Theoretical Frameworks
"About Face: The Essentials of Interaction Design" by Cooper et al."

A Practical Guide to Information Architecture" by Spencer, D.

"Information Architecture: For the Web and Beyond" by Rosenfeld, L.
2. Familiarization
Before delving into the evaluation, significant time was spent exploring various sections of the website and mobile app to gain a comprehensive understanding of their structures, features, and content.
3. User Set Consideration
The analysis considered the varying needs of the general public, meteorologists, researchers, professionals from diverse sectors, marine enthusiasts, and government agencies, aiming to align the platforms with the expectations and preferences of this diverse user set.
4. Analysis and Recommendations
The information architecture, navigation design, and overall usability of Weather.gc.ca and WeatherCAN were analyzed based on the theoretical frameworks, emphasizing strengths, areas for enhancement, and offering recommendations to optimize the overall user experience and alignment with established UX theory.
Weather.gc.ca
Heuristic Evaluation Report
A comprehensive analysis that assesses the information architecture and navigation design of the Weather.gc.ca website based on established principles, identifying weaknesses and recommendations for enhancing the overall user experience.
View the report
WeatherCAN
Heuristic Evaluation Report
A comprehensive analysis that assesses the information architecture and navigation design of the WeatherCAN app based on established principles, identifying weaknesses and recommendations for enhancing the overall user experience.
View the report

This analysis emphasizes accessibility, consistency, and navigational clarity, catering to the diverse requirements of users and stakeholders. The result is a set of actionable recommendations that align with UX best practices, ensuring a seamless interaction for a wide-ranging audience across Weather.gc.ca and WeatherCAN.

Thank you for reading!

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