Archaeology & IA: The Adventures of Information Jones

Archaeology & Information Architecture The Adventures of Information Jones Presented by Margaret Alldredge, UX Analyst Special recognition to Andrew Schall and Caroline Little

INTRODUCTION TO THE PRESENTATION

The Adventures of Information Jones and the…

#ias15 spkr8.com/t/53391 Archaeology & Information Architecture 2

Margaret Alldredge @arrteragram

Current UX Analyst Recovering Archeologist


Archaeology Overview

#ias15 spkr8.com/t/53391 Archaeology & Information Architecture 4 Somewhere in Ohio

Define “Site”

Information Architecture Archaeology


Print House Site HSMC

The Federal Communications Commission


FCC Redesign GoalsCombine multiple URLs


FCC

Etc…

Wireless Reboot

FCC Redesign GoalsShut down Transition site


transition.fcc.gov

FCC Redesign GoalsImprove Unstructured IA Elements


Home

The FCC Our Work Tools & Data Business & Licensing

Bureaus & Offices

Transition

FCC Redesign GoalsCreate unified content process


…or at least the proper place within the site’s informational structure

The Parallel Processes//Table of Contents

Information Architecture/ 1.  Stakeholder Interviews 2.  Content audit 3.  Areas of interest 4.  Unorganized content 5.  Untagged pages 6.  IA Report

/Archaeology Historical Research Shovel test pit survey Features Disturbed soil Unprovenienced artifacts Site Report


STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS//HISTORICAL RESEARCH



Stakeholder Interviews//Historical Research

Stakeholder interviews and Document review

Historical Research and Document review


Maryland State Archives


FCC Redesign •  Stakeholder Interviews – Multiple groups of stakeholders – Grouped by common interests

•  Bureau and Office •  Industry background



FCC Redesign •  Materials Review – Previous transition project documents

•  Excel documents with data on site transition – List of all sites

•  Excel document with Site name, URL, and if they planned to transfer the site data to the new version



FCC Redesign •  Plan creation – Use data collected to determine how to move

forward •  What sites to look into first •  Know where we would need to pay more attention



Takeaway Be a historian •  Gather historical materials relevant to the

site •  Talk to the locals when you can


CONTENT AUDIT// SHOVEL TEST PIT SURVEY



Content Audit//Shovel Test Pit Survey

Content Audit Shovel Test Pit Survey


Field Survey


FCC Redesign •  Used site list provided by FCC – What sites were to be documented – How in depth to document the microsites




Key Green Good to go White Lower priority good to go Orange Needed more info Red Unavailable Yellow Redirected


FCC Redesign •  Assembled a team of

people to work together –  Divide and conquer –  Sites divvied up

amongst team



FCC Redesign •  Used standardized headers for each

document – Name – Level – Link – Etc


DRUPAL BACK END WITH ANALYTICS

Bureaus and

Offices Page Name

Drupal Link Link Page Type Author Published Date Page

Views Unique Page Views



BASIC SITE

Home 0 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 URL URL Redirect


FCC Redesign •  Highlighted areas to return to – Concerning areas

•  Highlighted •  Discussed •  Planned solutions



Takeaway Survey the area •  Have a standard method to your research,

this helps determine when you need to go back and investigate an area further


AREAS OF INTEREST// FEATURES



Areas of interest//Features

Areas of Interest Features


Plank House Site, Marcus Hook PA


FCC Redesign •  Encyclopedia section

was identified as an Area of interest –  Not all pages had a

clear home •  Orphan pages •  Inaccurate locations



FCC Redesign •  Data gathered from back end


Bureaus and Offices Page Name Drupal

Link Link Page Type Author Published Date

Consumer & Governmental Affairs

Advanced Communications Services (ACS)

#node-38823

www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/advanced-communications-services-acs

Encyclopedia Entry Anonymous published 4/10/12 11:28

Media Advertising #node-61095

www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/advertising


Wireless Alabama TRS #node-42201

www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/alabama-trs



FCC Redesign •  Supplemental data gathered for point of

comparison – Google Analytics

•  Unique views to determine if pages were being visited or related terms were being searched



Takeaway Dig deeper •  Determine where you need to focus in to

research and analyze more


UNORGANIZED CONTENT//DISTURBED SOIL



Unorganized content//Disturbed soil

Unorganized Content Disturbed Soil


Gotts Parking Lot Annapolis MD


FCC Redesign •  Encyclopedia section used as a catchall – Back end users

•  Did not know where content fit •  Wanted customizable and unique elements



FCC Redesign •  Multiple content types represented – FAQs – Makeshift headline pages – Every topic the FCC covers – And much more



FCC Redesign •  Need for an improved Informational

structure – Users making homes for content – Thought process needed for accommodating

future content


UNTAGGED PAGES//UNPROVENIENCED ARTIFACTS



Untagged pages//Unprovenienced artifacts

Untagged Pages Unprovenienced Artifacts


Artifacts from site in MD


FCC Redesign •  Encyclopedia section was not tagged – Taxonomy was unused – “Related” content, was not always related



FCC Redesign •  Encyclopedia contains information that is

useful yet useless – Content was often helpful but the context

was not – Unable to relocate materials consistently



FCC Redesign •  Impact on content migration – Quick automated process not an option




Task Completed? Content inventory Yes Content prioritization No, in progress Finalize IA No, in progress Compare sitemaps, current to new No Assessment of content types No, in progress Define Templates No, in progress Finalize Taxonomy No Define Auto vs Manual page migration No


FCC Redesign •  Content needed to be analyzed and

categorized to fit in the new site structure – Planning for content to have a home


IA REPORT// SITE REPORT



IA Report//Site Report

IA Report Site Report



FCC Redesign •  Report –  Included findings and recommendations



FCC Redesign •  Documentation

–  Content Audit •  Sites •  Microsites

–  Drupal backend data •  All FCC •  Bureau and Office

–  Google Analytics •  All FCC •  Bureau and Office

–  Proposed Taxonomy List



Takeaway Produce records •  Provide a framework to help future

researchers so when they come back for the next round of improvements they know what has been done before and why


BEFORE AND AFTER



Before




After




Before FCC Site


TAKEAWAYS The Adventures of Information Jones and the…


Takeaways

Be a historian –  Gather historical materials relevant to the site –  Talk to the locals when you can

Survey the area –  Have a standard method to your research, this helps you determine

when you need to go back and investigate an area further Dig deeper

–  Determine where you need to analyze more Pay close attention to Features

–  Realize when your site has areas that need to be investigated with more detail in order to be able to better understand the context

Produce records –  Provide a framework to help future researchers so when they come

back for the next round of improvements they know what has been done before and why


The End… Any Questions?


Contact Information

Margaret Alldredge •  Email – [email protected]

•  Twitter – @arrteragram


Archaeology & IA: The Adventures of Information Jones

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