Designing for the user: Tailoring a simulation software interface to the needs of crisis managers

This paper presents the development and evaluation for a graphical user interface (GUI) of a simulation tool in crisis management, which follows a User-Centered Design (UCD) approach. UCD places the focus of the development on the needs, abilities and the background of end users, by passing iteratively through four development phases: (1) the analysis of the end users’ personal background and work context; (2) the specification of requirements; (3) the design of the system; and (4) the final evaluation of the design with end users. This approach is particularly suited for crisis management systems, since their efficient usage has profound impacts on the execution of crisis response actions, and in turn on the well-being of citizens. Our work gives valuable insights into the characteristics and the working environment of crisis management practitioners. Furthermore, it sheds light on the design issues which should be taken into account when developing GUIs in crisis management.