Toward Measuring Tool Impact: What can environmental planners learn from log and usage analysis?

/
Toward Measuring Tool Impact: What can environmental planners learn from log and usage analysis?

Analyzing user behavior with computer science methods is common in commercial website design, where a subfield called web analytics uses electronically gathered quantitative data to gain insights about user behavior. Commercial companies use this information for a variety of purposes, from improving search engine performance and customizing a user’s experience to targeting ads in ways that may seem unnerving. What can be done with the information depends on two key factors: (1) what and how information is collected (2) laws, polices, and norms governing the use of information.

Read More

The Impacts of Using a GeoSpatial Tool: Results from evaluations of SeaSketch’s predecessor published

/
The Impacts of Using a GeoSpatial Tool: Results from evaluations of SeaSketch’s predecessor published

Why should we invest in geospatial tools? What makes them so valuable in science-based participatory process? In light of exciting progress toward the U.S. National Ocean Policy and marine spatial planning goals globally, and the proliferation of mapping portals and tools to support this work, we share this critical examination of MarineMap, the award-winning mapping platform that supported California's Marine Life Protection Act Initiative. From 2012 to 2014, the McClintock lab collaborated with Amanda Cravens, to investigate MarineMap, the predecessor to SeaSketch. Apaper describing part of the results of that research was recently published, and we have boiled down the key lessons learned in this post.

Read More