US Forest Service

fs.usda.gov

My Role

  • Lead UX Designer

  • Lead UI Designer

  • Assistant Project Manager

Customer/Stakeholders

  • United States Forest Service

  • United States Department Of Agriculture

Project Objectives

  • For a few years prior, the Forest Service had not had any search function available on their public-facing websites. The site was also undergoing a web modernization, and the requirements were to convert all of the Portal over to Drupal in late 2023.

UX/UI Focused Objectives

  • Implement a Robust Search Function: Provide a user-friendly search bar on the InciWeb public-facing website to enhance content accessibility and discoverability.

  • Optimize Search Results: Prioritize relevant search results based on exact title matches, "Overview" page content, and recent updates.

  • Filter and Refine Searches: Allow users to filter search results by unit, content type, and additional keywords to refine their search queries.

  • Ensure Seamless Integration: Integrate the search function into the Drupal-based InciWeb website, ensuring a cohesive user experience.

Requirements

  • Search Functionality:

    • Allow users to search for recreation sites within a chosen unit.

    • Sort search results by recent updates.

  • Result Prioritization:

    • Prioritize exact title matches and relevant "Overview" pages.

    • Include only published content.

  • Search Refinement:

    • Restrict search results to the chosen unit.

    • Filter search results by content type (e.g., recreation, jobs, etc.).

    • Allow users to refine searches with additional keywords.

Results

〰️

Results 〰️

Enhanced User Experience with Robust Search Functionality

The Forest Service has significantly improved the user experience for public visitors by implementing a powerful search functionality within their Portal. This new feature empowers users to quickly and efficiently find the information they need.

Recreation Site Search

  • Streamlined Discovery: Users can easily search for specific recreation areas, campsites, trails, and other outdoor activities within designated units.

Unit Content Search

  • Comprehensive Search: The search extends to the unit's website content, allowing users to locate relevant information directly within the unit's resources.

Enhanced Search Result Delivery

  • Relevance Prioritization: Search results are sorted by relevance, with the most recent and relevant content appearing first.

  • Title Match: Results with titles or headers that closely match the search query are prioritized, saving users time.

  • Published Content Only: Users are presented with accurate and up-to-date information by filtering search results to include only published content.

  • Unit-Specific Results: Search results are restricted to the selected unit, providing a focused and relevant search experience.

Advanced Search Options

  • Content Type Filtering: Users can refine their search by content type (e.g., recreation sites, job postings, learning resources) to quickly find specific information.

  • Keyword Refinement: Advanced search options allow users to use additional keywords to conduct highly specific searches, similar to Google's advanced search capabilities.

Metrics for Success:

While specific metrics haven't been provided, we can expect a significant improvement in user satisfaction and a decrease in time spent searching for information on the Forest Service website.

Future data collection can track metrics such as:

  • Search Query Volume: Monitor the number of search queries to assess user engagement with the new functionality.

  • Search Time: Measure the average time spent searching to evaluate search efficiency.

  • Click-Through Rates: Analyze which search results users click on to gain insights into user behavior and content effectiveness.