Embrace The Blaze
This project aims to educate Californian communities in Wildland Urban Interfaces (WUI) about prescribed burns and increase their trust in the agencies responsible for wildfire mitigation, leading to greater acceptance of the process.
Role
Timeline
tools
Team
Overview
In January 2022, I had the opportunity to participate in a two-day Design-A-Thon hosted by UC San Diego Design Lab with three designers. Our task was to create a prototype aimed at educating Californians who live near high-risk wildfire areas about the procedures and benefits of prescribed fires.
Problem Statement
Californians are not well exposed to the positive effects of prescribed burns and how they can help prevent wildfire breakouts...
How can we facilitate the education of Californian communities located in Wildland Urban Interfaces (WUI) about prescribed burns and build trust in the agencies responsible for wildfire mitigation, leading to greater acceptance of prescribed burns?
Possible Solution
To explore means of educating the California population that is vulnerable to wildfires regarding the advantages of implementing prescribed burns.
The objective of this project is to reassure communities at risk of wildfires by educating them about the individuals, procedures, and advantages involved in conducting prescribed burns.
The Approach
We discussed various approaches we could take to guide the direction of our prototype. Our aim was to explore different strategies aligning with our vision for the prototype's development. We considered factors such as audience engagement, accessibility, and effectiveness in conveying information about prescribed fires to Californians living in high-risk wildfire zones.
1. Community outreach and education initiatives - This could involve hosting community events, workshops, or presentations to provide information and answer questions about prescribed burns.
2. Engagement with local stakeholders - This could involve working with local government agencies, community organizations, and fire departments to build relationships and increase understanding of the benefits of prescribed burns.
3. Communication and media outreach - This could include the use of digital media and other communication channels to share information about prescribed burns and their benefits with a wider audience.
4. Collaboration with scientific and academic experts - This could involve partnering with experts in the fields of fire management, ecology, and wildlife to provide reliable information and data to support the case for prescribed burns.
User Research
Qualitative Research
We conducted qualitative research on 15 Californians who live near WUI to gather insights and understand the experiences and perspectives of the target audience. We personally reached out to them via phone interviews using the contacts provided by the event. Our research findings indicate that the participants desire a system that provides them with opportunities to interact, in order to gain knowledge on how prescribed fires can mitigate wildfires.
Interview Questions
1. What are the concerns or misunderstandings that the communities have about prescribed burns?
2. How can we educate the communities about the people involved in conducting prescribed burns and their qualifications?
3. How can we increase transparency in the process of conducting prescribed burns and involve the community in the decision-making process?
4. What steps can be taken to address the health hazards associated with smoke exposure during prescribed burns?
5. How can we demonstrate the benefits of prescribed burns to the communities and help them understand its role in wildfire mitigation?
Key Insights Derived
1. Lack of understanding and mistrust: There is a lack of understanding and mistrust of prescribed burns among the communities, which is affecting their acceptance of the process.
2. Health concerns: The communities are concerned about the health hazards associated with smoke exposure during prescribed burns.
3. Need for transparency and involvement: The communities want to be involved in the decision-making process and want more transparency in the prescribed burn process.
4. Importance of education: The communities need to be educated about the people involved in conducting prescribed burns and their qualifications, as well as the benefits of the process.
Quantitative Research
Additionally, we conducted quantitative research on 15 Californians residing near WUI areas, gathering insights and understanding the experiences and perspectives of our target audience through a Google Form survey.
Key Insights Derived
1. The community has concerns about prescribed burns and may not be supportive of their use.
2. Need to provide a better understanding of the level of acceptance of prescribed burns among fire-prone communities, their familiarity with the process and agencies involved, the extent to which smoke from these burns affects their health, the level of trust in these agencies, and the factors that influence their decision-making process.
Define Phase
We developed a detailed persona based on our research findings and insights gathered from interviews and surveys with Californians living near WUI areas. This persona encapsulates the key characteristics, needs, and behaviors of our target audience, providing valuable guidance for the design and development of our solution.
Ideation Phase
Our team engaged in thorough brainstorming to determine the best solution for increasing the familiarity and acceptance of prescribed burns among fire-prone communities in California's Wildland Urban Interfaces (WUI). Various ideas were considered, including a virtual reality experience, gamified educational course, an alert app for local burns, and an interactive exhibit. After conducting research and sketching out concepts, our team synthesized the ideas into a cohesive and effective solution. Our final concept is an immersive experience that aims to educate, reassure, and engage our target audience with the prescribed burn process.
A few of our many divergent sketches included VR room, gamified course, alert app system, art sculpture, and interactive museum exhibit.
Prototyping Phase
Our solution is focused on the local communities most vulnerable to wildfires, including families, local businesses, and landowners. It consists of two key components:
1. An alert system to notify residents about upcoming prescribed burns.
2. An interactive pop-up exhibit that provides a hands-on experience.
We then created a task flow to map out the step-by-step journey of our persona, identifying key touchpoints, pain points, and opportunities for intervention. This task flow served as a blueprint for designing a seamless and intuitive user experience that addresses the specific needs and challenges identified during our research phase.
Pop-up Exhibit
The pop-up exhibit will allow residents to play the role of a Burn Boss and walk through the process of planning and executing a prescribed burn. This immersive experience will educate visitors about the safety measures, help them visualize the burn process, and allow them to empathize with those involved. By providing a deeper understanding and first-hand experience of prescribed burns, our solution aims to increase acceptance of this practice among fire-prone communities.
Challenges
During the Design-A-Thon, I faced the challenge of working with limited resources and time constraints. The event was structured as a fast-paced competition, with tight deadlines and limited access to resources. To overcome this challenge, I started by breaking down the problem into smaller, more manageable tasks. This helped me to focus on the most critical aspects of the design and prioritize my efforts accordingly. I also made sure to communicate regularly with my team members and leverage their skills and expertise whenever possible. Additionally, I used my knowledge of design tools and software to optimize my workflow and speed up my design process. By being strategic and efficient in my approach, I was able to deliver a functional and well-designed prototype that met the requirements of the competition. Overall, the experience taught me the importance of staying focused, agile, and adaptable in the face of tight constraints and limited resources.
Reflection
I gained valuable experience in working under a tight deadline through this project. I am proud of my team for rising to the challenge and delivering a solid product despite the limited time frame. The experience taught me to prioritize, work efficiently, and adapt to a high-pressure environment. I learned the importance of thorough research and understanding the topic before diving into the project. This helped me to create a product that effectively addresses the needs of the target audience, which in this case were homeowners in fire-prone areas of the Western United States. Overall, this project was a valuable learning experience for me and will serve as a valuable reference for any future projects I undertake.