Case Study: Website Redesign for Velasco Drainage District
Overview
The Velasco Drainage District is responsible for managing and maintaining the drainage infrastructure in the Brazosport Area. With a focus on ensuring efficient water management and flood control, the district plays a vital role in safeguarding the community.
The district’s previous website suffered from outdated design, limited functionality, and poor user experience. It lacked mobile accessibility and failed to provide essential information effectively, resulting in frustration for users seeking important documents and real-time updates on pump station operations.
In response to the drainage district’s needs, GulfTech Design was commissioned to undertake a comprehensive website redesign. With their expertise in user-centered design and digital marketing, they aimed to create an intuitive, mobile-responsive website that improved user experience and facilitated easy access to critical information.
Objectives and Challenges
The primary objectives of the website redesign were to enhance user-friendliness, improve mobile accessibility, streamline document management, and integrate dynamic maps to provide real-time information on pump station operations.
The challenges included integrating complex data from SCADA systems, developing a user-friendly document center, ensuring seamless mobile responsiveness, and maintaining the website’s performance during high traffic periods.
User-Friendly Interface
The redesigned website boasts a clean and intuitive interface that allows users to navigate effortlessly. A well-organized menu structure ensures easy access to important sections, while prominent search functionality assists users in finding specific information quickly.
Recognizing the increasing use of mobile devices, the new website was designed with a mobile-first approach. It features a responsive design that automatically adapts to various screen sizes, providing a seamless user experience on smartphones and tablets.
The responsive design offers numerous benefits to users. Whether accessing the website from a desktop or mobile device, users enjoy consistent branding, optimized content display, and smooth navigation. This ensures that vital information is accessible regardless of the device being used.
Home Page – Before
Home Page – After
Documents – Before
Documents – After
Document Center Integration
The document center is a significant addition to the redesigned website, serving as a centralized hub for important files and documents related to the drainage district’s operations. It allows users to access essential information conveniently, improving transparency and efficiency.
Detailed description of the document center’s categorization system
- Operation budgets: Users can access detailed budgets and financial information related to the district’s operations and projects.
- Bid specifications: Contractors and interested parties can easily find and download bid specifications for ongoing and upcoming projects.
- Permits and applications: Users can access permit forms and applications required for various activities related to the drainage district.
- Weather emergency information: The document center provides real-time weather updates and emergency procedures to ensure public safety during severe weather events.
The document center features an advanced search functionality that enables users to search for specific documents based on keywords, categories, or dates. This powerful search capability simplifies document retrieval and saves users valuable time.
Improved Mobile Accessibility
With a growing number of users accessing websites on mobile devices, ensuring mobile accessibility was crucial for the drainage district. It allows residents, contractors, and stakeholders to access information and updates conveniently, regardless of their location or device.
The mobile-responsive design of the new website offers numerous advantages. It ensures content is displayed optimally on smaller screens, guarantees seamless navigation, and provides an overall pleasant user experience. This accessibility fosters stronger community engagement and participation.
Some notable mobile-friendly features include easy-to-tap buttons and navigation menus, responsive image scaling, legible text size, and streamlined content layout. These features enable users to interact with the website effortlessly, promoting a positive user experience.
Home Page – Before
Home Page – After
Google Map of Pumpstations
Dynamic Maps Integration
The redesigned website incorporates dynamic maps that leverage Google Maps technology and SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) data. This integration enhances the website’s functionality and provides users with real-time insights into pump station locations and operations.
Users can explore an interactive map displaying the district’s pump stations. By clicking on individual pump station icons, users can access detailed information about each station, including current operation levels, historical data, and any relevant alerts or notifications.
The dynamic maps present real-time data on pump station operation levels, enabling users to monitor the drainage district’s performance. Additionally, water level indicators offer visual representations of current water levels in specific areas, empowering users with vital information for flood control and water management.
Results and Benefits
Since the launch of the redesigned website, the Velasco Drainage District has experienced several significant improvements. User feedback indicates high satisfaction with the enhanced user-friendliness, mobile accessibility, and the convenience of the document center and dynamic maps.
Metrics such as increased website traffic, longer average session durations, and reduced bounce rates indicate improved user engagement and satisfaction. Additionally, positive feedback and increased user interactions demonstrate the successful achievement of the project’s objectives.
The website redesign has facilitated greater public awareness and engagement with the drainage district’s activities. The ease of accessing important documents, real-time data, and intuitive navigation has resulted in increased community involvement and a stronger sense of transparency.
Pumpstation – Before
Pumpstation – After
Conclusion
The website redesign for the Velasco Drainage District successfully transformed the previous outdated platform into a user-friendly, mobile-accessible, and feature-rich website. The integration of the document center and dynamic maps ensures easy access to essential information, benefiting both the district and its stakeholders.
The new website has become an essential tool for the Velasco Drainage District, empowering them to effectively communicate, engage with the community, and fulfill their mission of efficient water management and flood control. The enhanced user experience, accessibility, and valuable features position the district for continued success in serving the region’s needs.