US Geological Survey Data Guide
Researcher & Analyst
Understanding the User Scenario
The first step was to clarify who depends on this data and why.
Through conversations with a heavy, real-world user of the USGS data and a review of the USGS’s own documentation, I mapped how the data supports a wide range of audiences: environmental scientists, city planners, journalists, and policymakers, each with different needs for accuracy and context.
Introduction
Purpose
Develop a guide that provides essential context for tools used to solve civic issues, enabling others to understand and use it responsibly.
Creating the USGS Data Context Guide
This project set out to design a clear, user-friendly guide that would help anyone working with U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Information data understand its origins, reliability, and the right way to interpret and apply it. Rather than simply summarizing the data itself, the goal was to explain the story behind the numbers so users could apply the information responsibly.
Research & Discovery
A combination of desk research and user interviews provided the foundation:
Historical and technical research traced how the National Water Information System evolved from 19th-century paper records to today’s digital platform.
Process analysis uncovered how the USGS collects, verifies, and distributes its data, down to details like satellite transfer and manual verification cycles.
User insights from interviews highlighted the biggest challenges: understanding data reliability, knowing how often sensors are checked, and recognizing how to interpret patterns responsibly.
Resulting Guide
These insights shaped a visual, accessible guide that:
Explains the data lifecycle, from field collection to public access, in plain language and clear diagrams.
Details who collects and uses the data, giving readers confidence in its credibility.
Provides visual tools like the heatmap calendar to reveal patterns and potential anomalies.
By grounding the design in real user scenarios and combining careful research with expert input, the project delivered more than a static reference.
It produced a practical context manual that helps researchers, planners, and journalists use USGS water data accurately and responsibly.