The importance of user analysis before the technical design of an instrument, which presents information to users from a different discipline

Flood risk is increasing due to climate change and the growth of the potential consequences of flooding. Analysing how flood-proof the spatial plan is, therefore becomes more important. Since most spatial planners have limited knowledge concerning flood risk, the Netherlands’ Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management commissioned the creation of an instrument that can be used by planners to gain a better insight into the flood risk. However, this instrument is used inadequately. This research paper explains the approach that was initially used to design the instrument and why this approach resulted in a product that is not adequately used by the foreseen users. This explanation is based on a model that delineates the process of transforming raw data into a desired result. With this model the potential for improvement can be outlined in a structured manner. It is concluded that during the design of the instrument, which was predicted to help specialists from a different discipline, it is important to first know who the foreseen user is, what information they need, and how this need can be covered in the design of the new instrument. In the end, the recommendation is to use an approach structured by the following sequence: (1) find out who has the responsibility for spatial planning that may be affected by flood risk, (2) analyse for what kind of result this user is generally aiming, (3) determine what action should be taken to achieve the result, and (4) what decision is needed in order to start the action, (5) find out what knowledge is required to be able to take the decision, (6) determine what knowledge the foreseen decision maker already possesses, and (7) what information is still missing in order to give the user sufficient knowledge, and (8) find out what data is needed in order to produce that information. After these eight steps of analysis, the following steps can be used to design the instrument. Then the final steps include (9) gathering the data, and (10) producing the information that can be presented to the spatial planners.