1. wayfinding
CONNECTING PITTSBURGH’S TRAIL COMMUNITIES
Stephanie Butler, Jon Chan, Kelsey Stroshane, Judith Tucker
June 28, 2013

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PROJECT BACKGROUND
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our process
Scoping the project
Needfinding and field research
Synthesis
Formgiving and user testing

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hunt statement
Our goal is to discover the needs, desires, and
problems of people who use the City of
Pittsburgh trail system and to develop a
conceptual solution to connect those people
with communities adjacent to the trail

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RESEARCH
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our research process
Domain knowledge
Trail research
Guerrilla interviews
Survey
Synthesis

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research >> domain knowledge
Tools and services
Location mapping and sharing
Reviewing businesses and attractions
Pittsburgh-specific

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research >> domain knowledge
Yelp
Yelp
Connects individuals to each other
and to the community
Not Pittsburgh-specific
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research >> domain knowledge
Yelp

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Take away: use a similar model, but create a
tool that taps into the extensive knowledge
held by Pittsburgh locals and apply it to the
Great Allegheny Passage
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research >> domain knowledge
Yelp

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research >> domain knowledge
Bike Pittsburgh
Bike Pittsburgh
Promotes and supports biking culture
in the region
Currently lacks a mobile option
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research >> domain knowledge
Bike Pittsburgh

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Take away: attempt to tap into the rich
communities like those found with Bike
Pittsburgh, and support non-biking users
research >> domain knowledgeBike
Pittsburgh

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Helps people find businesses, bike shops,
hotels, food, and more
Currently lacks a mobile option
research >> domain knowledge
Three Rivers Heritage Trail map
Three Rivers Heritage Trail map

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research >> domain knowledgeThree
Rivers Heritage Trail map

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Take away: create a more flexible tool that
enriches users’ experience on the trail
research >> domain knowledgeThree
Rivers Heritage Trail map

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research >> trail research
Great Allegheny Passage survey
Guerrilla research
Our survey

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research >> guerrilla research
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research >> guerrilla research
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research >> our survey
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synthesis >> affinity diagramming
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3FINDINGS
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our findings
Community
Usage
Concerns
Information

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our findings>> community
People have favorite parts of the trail

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our findings>> community
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People take action to improve the
trail experience

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our findings>> usage
Activities on the trail are planned
People have routines on the trail

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30 before 9 9 to 11:30 11:30-1:30 1:30-4:30 4:30-6:30 after 6:30
Activities on the trail are planned
People have routines on the trail
our findings>> usage

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our findings>> concerns
There are three major concerns: the
trail, people, and cars
There is tension between bikers and
pedestrians

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our findings>> concerns
There are three major concerns: the
trail, people, and cars
There is tension between bikers and
pedestrians

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our findings>> concerns
There are three major concerns: the
trail, people, and cars

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our findings>>concerns
There is tension between bikers and pedestrians

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our findings>> information
The rules of the trail are not known or
are not followed
People bring smartphones on the trail
Information about the trial is not
communicated effectively

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our findings>> information
People bring smartphones on the trail
6 out of 10 carry smartphones
2 out of 3 use them

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Even though our survey was distrubed
through the FOR Facebook page,
only 1 in 4 people would contact FOR
when there is a problem on the trail

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Information about the trail is not
communicated effectively
our findings>> information

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4VISIONS
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opportunities
People can recommend things to each other
Provide rewards when people help to maintain the trail
Encourage people to break from routines and engage with the trail
in new ways
Provide more educational opportunities on the trail
Bring together communities that are located along the trail

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visions >> brainstorming
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our visions
Trail maintenance reporting
Discussion forum physical
communities
Trail MeetUp
Yelp for the Trail Best Choice for Friends
of the Riverfront

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QuickTime™ and a
Planar RGB decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
ALI VINESH SPIKE

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•Local Pittsburgher
•Cares deeply about the trail
•Walks Fluffy with his wife
•Fast bikers are a concern
•Wants to find quiet spots
•Wants to share the trail’s history
SPIKE

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•New to Pittsburgh
•Trying to figure out the city
•Uses his smart phone to learn
more about the city
•Likes running near the water
•Wants to know the trail rules
•Wants to be able to find his way
on trail
VINESH

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QuickTime™ and a
Planar RGB decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
•Lived in Pittsburgh for a few
years
•Commutes by bike
•Environmentally conscious
•Occasionally stops for breakfast
•Feels like she sticks to the same
places
•Wants to do more than just
commute on the trail
ALI

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5DESIGN
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design process
Ideation Testing Refinement

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ideation
We created interactive wireframes using Proto.io

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design >> user testing
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ideation
We had 12 iterations of prototypes
across 3 different concepts

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concept #1: Canape
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concept #2: MarkIt
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concept #3: TrailMix
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what is TrailMix?
A platform for trail users to communicate
with each other about experience on and
near the trail

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Trail users can share tips on safety, traversing
poorly marked areas, and locations of amenities as
well as report issues they find on the trail
Businesses can provide information so that trail
users can be made aware of local services
what is TrailMix?

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features of TrailMix
Find nearby spots on the trail
Write reviews of spots and offer advice
Report a problem to Friends of the Riverfront
Ask TrailMix to suggest a nearby spot
Save favorite spots

60. RECOMMENDATIONS
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6RECOMMENDATIONS
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recommendations
Involve key partners in TrailMix’s content
Use TrailMix as a communication channel
Leverage TrailMix data for future planning
Continue partnering with CMU

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Municipal
& Public
Services
Outreach
Organizations
Commercial
Organizations
recommendations >> involve key partners

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recommendations >> use TrailMix as a
communication channel
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recommendations >> use TrailMix as a
communication channel
Alert feed provides immediate information about
new issues on the trail
Announce updates to the trail
Encourage users to provide advice about parts of
the trail where signage is lacking or safety is a
concern
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recommendations >> leverage TrailMix
data for future planning
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recommendations >> leverage TrailMix
data for future planning
Profiles may provide demographic and usage data
Analyzing most-favorited advice can help prioritize
repairs and changes to the trail
Create new signage strategies based on
communication from TrailMix users
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recommendations >> continue partnering
with Carnegie Mellon University
Work with students at CMU to create
cross-platform design elements
Work with students at CMU to build a
functional app
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68. Thank You!