A framework and pilot study for assessing usability of flood data portals for interdisciplinary research

There is a lack of datasets to study the climate and human outcomes nexus. There are many flood data portals due to recent improvements in flood identification using satellites, providing opportunities to study the human impacts. The development of these portals is rapid and there is currently no standard for evaluating their usability for interdisciplinary research. This paper addresses this important data gap. We put forth a usability framework that includes data availability, approaches to flood identification, alignment, velocity, variety, and user feasibility aspects. We piloted it through an in-depth review and user survey of NASA Worldview (NW), Global Flood Awareness System (GloFAS), Global Flood Monitoring System (GFMS), Global Surface Water Explorer (GSWE), and Dartmouth Flood Observatory (DFO) GSWE and GloFAS were rated most favorably. Respondents had discrepancies in their opinions on the clarity of the goals and platform accessibility for GFMS, DFO, and NW, and in data and visualization quality for all portals. Historical data and measures of flood recurrence and other characteristics are needed. Flood data products should be provided in multiple formats, aggregated by sub-national boundaries, with mechanisms that delineate incomplete or unreliable data. Flood data portals should include interdisciplinary research as part of their mission. Their longevity and maintenance should be secured to preserve these important data sources for future research. This framework can be adapted and used to enable interdisciplinary spatial and survey data linkages.