WWF Groundwater platform: Usability Testing Report – iComms

This report details the results of remote usability testing conducted between September 2 and September 8, 2021, on the WWF Groundwater Dashboard prototype. The testing, performed by Lina Lukusa and Joshua Azaki using the 'Think Aloud' method, aimed to identify friction points, bugs, and navigation issues for a target audience ranging from experts to non-experts. While participants viewed the dashboard as a valuable tool for groundwater information, the report identifies significant barriers for non-expert users, including overwhelming text, unclear map navigation, and a lack of clear ownership or data origins.

• The dashboard's landing page and overall interface were found to be unappealing and difficult to navigate, lacking a clear welcome statement and a consistent font style. Participants noted that the landing page failed to communicate the platform's purpose, and the 'about page' focused more on water security than groundwater.
• Users experienced significant confusion regarding the map interface, specifically because the dashboard contained three different maps without clear guidance on which to use. Additionally, the use of yellow for boreholes was deemed inappropriate, and suburb names were often invisible, making it hard for users to locate their own areas.
• The volume of text on the landing page was overwhelming for users, leading many to skip sections entirely. The report notes a lack of visuals and the use of unclear acronyms such as 'WSA' and 'Mbgl' which hindered the experience for non-expert users.
• There is a lack of transparency regarding the ownership of the dashboard and the origins of the data. Participants were unaware that the dashboard was a pilot study using data from only two sites (one residential and one industrial) in Cape Town.
• The registration and login process was identified as a potential barrier to access, particularly for users who only need to view information rather than manage it. To address this, the report recommends splitting the dashboard into 'expert' and 'non-expert' profiles, where only the expert profile requires registration.
• Task completion rates were low among the test group: only 27% of participants successfully completed all assigned tasks, while 4% were unable to complete any and 18% did not perform any tasks.

APA

WWF South Africa (n.d.). WWF Groundwater platform: Usability Testing Report – iComms. https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/4_annexure_4_appendix_b_usability_testing_report.pdf

Chicago

WWF South Africa. WWF Groundwater platform: Usability Testing Report – iComms. n.d. https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/4_annexure_4_appendix_b_usability_testing_report.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF South Africa |title=WWF Groundwater platform: Usability Testing Report – iComms |url=https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/4_annexure_4_appendix_b_usability_testing_report.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfsouthafricandwwf, author = {{WWF South Africa}}, title = {{WWF Groundwater platform: Usability Testing Report – iComms}}, institution = {WWF South Africa}, url = {https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/4_annexure_4_appendix_b_usability_testing_report.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }