User-Centered Design and Usability Evaluation of a Floodwater Depth Estimation Mobile Application

This study presents the user-centered design (UCD) and evaluation of a mobile application prototype, named Blupix mobile, which uses artificial intelligence (AI) and crowdsourcing to estimate the depth of floodwater in a user’s surroundings. Through a three-phase mixed methods technique based on UCD principles, the functionality, design, and usability of the app prototype are tested with a sample pool of U.S. participants. Results indicate a strong demand for location-specific, real-time alerts as well as community-generated content. The findings of this study aim to contribute to the expanding body of research on mobile disaster risk communication tools that incorporate community participation and engagement.