Opening Page
The analyst lands on the full U.S. map with two ways to begin: selecting a state directly from the map or searching by state, county, community, or city.
Context
The Interactive Map is the first step in the workflow for generating the risk analysis report. Analysts use it to select the geographic boundary for their analysis, which defines which area will be included in the report. However, this selection process can be complex and not clearly explained.
My role
I redesigned the interactive map experience to make geographic selection clearer and easier to confirm before users move forward with report generation.
Problem
The existing platform was built on an ArcGIS-based application. While the platform offered a wide range of advanced mapping tools, not every user needed that level of complexity to define a geographic boundary. This created a steep learning curve for users who were unfamiliar with GIS tools.
Screenshot of current Hazus platform. ESRI ArcGIS
Understanding the Problem
User Needs and Goal
Quickly select a study area without having to learn all of ArcGIS's tools and features.
Clearly understand what is selected on the map at every point in the workflow.
Select and confirm the correct geographic area for analysis, then move on to the next step with confidence.
Just because a map is complex doesn’t mean it requires a complex workflow. Since users are already looking at maps packed with data, the redesigned workflow needed to reduce cognitive load by helping users focus on only one task at a time.
Product Goals
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Maintain map context — Allow users to make location decisions while keeping the selected geography visible and understandable.
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Increase selection confidence — Make it clear what is selected, what is active, and whether the user is ready to move forward.
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Simplify the path to selection — Reduce unnecessary hierarchy and support both guided exploration and direct search.
Ideation
To simplify the selection process, I explored multiple interaction models to understand how users could find and select jurisdictions while maintaining the map as the central element of the workflow.
Concept 01 — Structured Drill-Down
A structured sidebar flow using dropdowns, starting at State and arriving at Census Block.
- Difficult to scale when users needed jurisdictions across different parent regions
A side panel showing the active jurisdiction and its relationship to the parent level was a idea worth keeping.
Concept 02 — Zoom-Based Boundary Switching
Zoom in & zoom out felt familiar from most online maps like google map, but it gave users too little control over confirming a jurisdiction.
- Limited control over the selection process
- Users zoom for other reasons too — a better view, faster movement
Zoom alone was not enough for these use cases. Users still needed a clear selection model, visible states, and a confirmation step.
Concept 03 — Search-Assisted Map Selection
A search approach for users who already knew the area they needed, removing the need to click through every map layer.
- Search for a specific location or jurisdiction
- Fastest path for users who know the exact target
Search carried into the final design as a map-integrated search bar.
Each concept had something worth carrying forward. The final design incorporates all three of these elements while addressing the visual feedback issues that none of them had fully resolved.
The solutions
I redesigned the map from a complex GIS interface into a focused, step-by-step workflow for defining an analysis area.
Standardize the experience
Redesigned the interface using USWDS patterns to create a more consistent and accessible experience across different levels of GIS expertise.
Guide geographic selection
Introduced a progressive hierarchy from State → County → Community → Census Tract / Block, helping users narrow their analysis area before loading more detailed geographic data
Final Design
The redesigned Interactive Map keeps the geography selection process on the map. Analysts can search for a location, select a state, switch between boundary types, and confirm their selection without leaving the map workflow.
State Selected
After selecting a state, the analyst can choose the boundary type they need: County, Community, Census Tract, or Census Block. The map updates to match the selected boundary type instead of forcing users through a fixed sequence.
Boundary Type Selected
With Virginia selected, choosing County redraws the map to show county boundaries within the state. Users can switch to another boundary type without restarting the flow.
Confirm Selection
Selecting a county highlights the active jurisdiction while dimming surrounding areas. A selection card appears next to the chosen area, showing location details and a clear option to add it to the study area.