Google Earth Engine - Geemap
UX Process and Design

Initial Discovery

What is geemap

Geemap is a Python package for interactive geospatial analysis and visualization using Google Earth Engine (a cloud computing platform).
Geemap makes it accessible to manage and explore Earth Engine data.

Short-term Goal

Increase the adoption of geemap by leveraging existing functionality and making it a more user-friendly, intuitive, and up-to-date tool.

Long-term Goal

Make the geemap a credible alternative to the Code Editor (a legacy Google geospatial tool).

Audience

Existing and new geemap users, researchers, developers, and academics in the geospatial field.

The Need

Design and implement UX/UI enhancements to improve the overall user experience while addressing known pain points.

HMWs (How might we)

• Make the layout and interactions of geemap more intuitive?
• Simplify common geospatial tasks in geemap?
• Align geemap visuals with industry UX standards?

Research #1

Competitors Analysis

A systematic competitive analysis of geospatial interfaces was conducted - including ArcGIS (Esri), Amazon Web Services, and Microsoft Azure Maps and more - evaluating UI design, information density, and feature organization to establish industry benchmarks for intuitive navigation and clear user control over various features.

Competitors Analysis Findings

Analysis showed consistent industry behaviors, including default full-screen map views, map controls, and panel usage, alongside different platform variations in the header visibility, navigation functionality, and search discoverability.

Geemap platform UX Audit and Findings

An internal audit of Geemap revealed critical UX friction points, such as unclear iconography, complex panel interactions, and inconsistent search behavior, alongside technical limitations in layer management and map resizing.

Research #2

Qualitative Study

Task-based interviews were conducted with Earth Engine users to observe interaction patterns and learning curves, with UX design consultancy provided to guide the final insights.

Research Objectives

The study was designed to identify user pain points and confusion arising from UI inconsistencies, while evaluating the impact of prior platform habits on tool adoption.

Validated Assumptions

Initial hypotheses regarding usability friction in navigation, layer management, and search were confirmed through direct observation.

Disproven Assumptions

Successful user navigation across several complex interactions was observed, leading to a refinement of earlier design hypotheses.

UX Design Needs

The analysis of the interviews and users’ behavior revealed interaction patterns within several components that are recommended for enhancement, such as the menu, the search bar, and panels in general.

UX Screens - Mockup and prototype

Following the defined project goals, competitive analysis, user testing and research insights, UX design enhancements were implemented to make Geemap more accessible and intuitive. The redesign process included re-evaluating button necessity, optimizing navigation position, reordering menu icons for better hierarchy and making panels consistent.

Key Design Improvements

• Visibility:
  An optimized menu layout ensures many tools are now immediately visible and accessible.
• Responsive Fit:
  The menu position and expansion logic fits the map ratio, allowing it to expand and collapse efficiently; this minimizes the UI footprint so panels receive more space and hide less of the map.
• Standardized Panels:
  Consistent widths and maximum heights were applied to panels to prevent overlapping and ensure alignment with visual standards of other Google products and design system components.

Mockup examples...