A User-Centered Approach to Weather Risk Communication

This interdisciplinary project supported by NOAA is aimed at effective visual communication of forecast risk, including probabilistic information and threat levels of multiple hazards in tropical cyclones. The project began with an iterative process of generative research, including design charrettes with members of the public to inform on suggested changes to existing graphics on tropical cyclone threats and impacts. Through ideation sessions, new prototype designs were then developed and evaluated via (i) a series of online experiments with the public, and (ii) interviews with broadcast meteorologists and emergency managers. In the online experiments, exploratory studies on risk levels and labels, arrival times, and iconic versus textual information on combined threats were initiated with members of the public. Early findings from the evaluations with members of the public and key expert stakeholders will be presented. The project will culminate in a main experiment with members of the public in which the impact of weather risk visualization design on comprehension, risk perception, behavioral intent, and user preference will be evaluated. Through this process and exchanging results and ideas with collaborators at the National Weather Service, a primary goal is to arrive at a set of design guidelines and a methodology that can be translated to other weather hazards.