Revolutionizing Beach Safety with Google Maps — a UX Case Study
This case study explores a conceptual UX design solution that integrates safety features into Google Maps, aimed at providing real-time, actionable information to beachgoers.
Note: This case study represents a personal project and conceptual design exploration. I am not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially associated with Google or Google Maps. All views, designs, and suggestions expressed in this case study are my own and do not represent Google’s actual plans or positions.
Personal Context
Kochi, my coastal hometown, has always been synonymous with water — its backwaters, rivers, and expansive beaches have been the backdrop of my childhood memories. The rhythmic sound of waves, the salty breeze, and the vibrant coastal culture are deeply etched in my identity. Yet, on a seemingly ordinary day, a news article shattered my romanticized perception of the sea.
The Triggering Incident
A fellow student from my undergraduate college tragically drowned at Cherai Beach. May his soul rest in peace. This wasn’t just another piece of news; this was personal. The report in a newspaper stated that despite a fisherman’s rescue attempt, the young life was lost to the unpredictable waters.
The Design Challenge
In that moment of grief and reflection, a crucial question emerged: How might we leverage technology to prevent such tragic incidents? How could design thinking and digital tools transform beach safety from reactive to proactive?
Understanding the Problem Space
Beaches are beautiful places that attract millions of visitors worldwide, but they also present hidden dangers that many people underestimate. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that drowning is a major global issue, causing about 236,000 deaths annually. Drowning is the 3rd leading cause of unintentional injury deaths and accounts for 7% of all injury-related deaths globally. Coastal drowning deaths specifically contribute to approximately 40% of all such incidents worldwide, highlighting the urgent need for effective safety measures.
One of the most significant threats at the beach is the presence of rip currents. According to the United States Lifesaving Association (USLA), these powerful, narrow water channels are responsible for more than 80% of lifeguard rescues at surf beaches. Furthermore, wave-related injuries contribute to many incidents, with research indicating that they make up 82% of all surf zone injuries. These statistics emphasize the unpredictable nature of the ocean and the importance of robust safety protocols.
Several factors contribute to the alarming rates of beach accidents. A lack of swimming ability is a major concern, with a study from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicating that over half of Americans cannot perform basic swimming skills. Additionally, alcohol use plays a significant role in beach tragedies with reports that it is involved in up to 70% of water-related deaths among adolescents and adults.
Understanding the Painpoints
Beachgoers face numerous challenges when it comes to safety and accessibility at beaches worldwide. One of the most critical issues is the lack of real-time safety information. Beachgoers often arrive at beaches without adequate knowledge of current conditions, making uninformed decisions about water activities. Even when safety information is available, it’s frequently fragmented across different sources, making it difficult for visitors to get a complete picture of beach conditions. This information gap becomes particularly dangerous when conditions change rapidly during their visit.
Understanding and identifying hazards poses a substantial challenge for many beach visitors. Most people struggle to recognize dangerous rip currents, especially when the water is calm. This knowledge gap becomes even more problematic when combined with the tendency to follow crowd behavior — if others are in the water, many assume it’s safe to enter, regardless of posted warnings or conditions.
The inconsistency of safety information across different beaches creates additional confusion. Warning systems, flag colors, and safety protocols can vary between locations, making it difficult for visitors to interpret and respond to safety information effectively. This inconsistency becomes particularly problematic for tourists and visitors unfamiliar with local beach conditions and safety practices.
User Stories
Beaches attract diverse visitors with unique needs and expectations for safety information. I have identified four key user groups: local residents, tourists, surfers (water sports enthusiasts), and lifeguards. Understanding the diverse needs of these groups is crucial in creating a comprehensive and effective safety solution that serves all beachgoers.
Problem Statement
How might we help different types of beachgoers access and share critical safety information before and during their beach visits to make better-informed decisions about their beach activities?
But why Google Maps?
Integrating beach safety features into Google Maps, rather than developing a standalone app, offers numerous advantages. With over a billion monthly active users, Google Maps provides an unparalleled reach and a familiar interface, ensuring widespread adoption without a steep learning curve. The platform’s robust location data and mapping capabilities can be leveraged to deliver accurate, location-specific safety information seamlessly.
The Solution
Building upon the insights gained from the user stories, I have identified and prioritized key features for the beach safety integration into Google Maps. This process ensures that the design addresses the most critical needs of the diverse user groups while remaining feasible within the Google Maps framework.
Discovering Beaches
The design introduces two intuitive approaches for discovering beaches within Google Maps to cater to different user scenarios, enhancing user flexibility and accessibility.
In the first approach, users can directly search for a specific beach using the familiar search bar at the top of the screen, following the traditional Google Maps interaction pattern. This is for users who know exactly which beach they want to visit.
The second approach, representing a new feature enhancement, allows users to discover beaches through location-based exploration. Users can first search for a location and then utilize the newly introduced “Beaches” category to filter and automatically display all nearby beaches in the selected area, represented by pins on the map. This is for users exploring beach options in a specific location.
Checking Beach Conditions
The design introduces an intuitive color-coding system to help users quickly assess beach safety conditions directly from the map view. Beach locations are marked with color-coded pins that instantly communicate the current safety status:
- Green pins indicate “Safe” conditions, signaling ideal beach conditions with minimal risks
- Yellow pins represent “Caution” status, warning users of moderate risks or changing conditions
- Red pins highlight “Dangerous” conditions, alerting users to severe risks or beach closures
All beaches were marked with identical pins on the map during the initial design phase. However, this approach didn’t effectively communicate critical safety information at a glance. The design was revised to incorporate color-coded pins (🟢 Safe, 🟡 Caution, 🔴 Dangerous), allowing users to quickly assess and compare beach conditions while browsing the map. This simple yet effective modification helps users make informed decisions about beach safety before selecting their destination.
Checking Safety Status
The beach safety status feature in Google Maps provides comprehensive information about current conditions, helping users make informed decisions before visiting a beach.
Checking Weather Conditions
The beach safety feature incorporates a comprehensive weather information system, accessible through a dedicated “Weather” button on the beach details screen. This interface presents crucial data about both water and air conditions in an easily digestible format, helping users make informed decisions about their beach activities.
This comprehensive view of weather conditions helps users plan their beach visits more effectively. For instance, surfers can evaluate wave and wind conditions, while families can check UV levels for appropriate sun protection measures.
Accessing Emergency Contact
The design incorporates a critical emergency contact feature, directly using the Google Maps interface to ensure immediate access to crucial safety resources. By integrating emergency contacts into the beach details screen, users can quickly reach help when needed without switching between multiple apps or searching for contact information during stressful situations.
Reporting Hazards
The Report Hazards feature empowers beachgoers to contribute to community safety by reporting dangerous conditions in real time. This collaborative approach helps maintain updated safety information for all users.
Checking Amenities
The design features a comprehensive amenities section that helps users understand the facilities and services available at each beach. Through an intuitive icon-based interface, visitors can quickly scan and identify amenities that matter most to their beach experience.
Push Notifications
The design employs a detailed notification system that prioritizes user safety while avoiding notification fatigue. The system follows a hierarchical approach based on urgency and importance:
- High Priority (Emergency Alerts)
- Medium Priority (Safety Updates)
- Low Priority (General Updates)
Personal Learnings
This beach safety case study has provided several valuable insights into UX design and its potential for social impact:
Personal Connection
Working on a project inspired by a real tragedy from my alma mater taught me the power of emotional connection in design. This personal investment drove me to create a more empathetic and thorough solution.
Platform Integration
Learning to leverage existing platforms like Google Maps, rather than building a new app, showed me that sometimes the best solutions enhance tools users already trust and use daily.
Inclusive Design
The diverse range of beach visitors — from locals to tourists, swimmers to surfers — reinforced the importance of designing for inclusivity and universal understanding.
Data-Driven Decisions
Research and statistics played a crucial role in shaping design decisions, from feature prioritization to information presentation, highlighting the importance of evidence-based design.
These learnings have strengthened my understanding of how thoughtful UX design can create meaningful social impact while serving diverse user needs effectively.
And that’s a wrap 🎉
This case study explored how integrating beach safety features into Google Maps could help save lives by making critical safety information more accessible to beachgoers. Through careful research, design, and iteration, I created a solution that addresses real user needs while maintaining the familiar Google Maps experience.
While this is a conceptual project, it demonstrates how existing platforms can be enhanced to address crucial safety concerns. The design decisions were driven by user needs, behavioral patterns, and the ultimate goal of preventing drowning incidents through better information accessibility.
A special thank you to Prof. Cameron Rennacker for the guidance and valuable feedback throughout this project. Your insights helped shape this case study and pushed me to think more critically.
Thank you for taking the time to review this case study. I hope it provides valuable insights into how UX design can contribute to public safety and well-being.
Feel free to reach out on Linkedin if you’d like to discuss this project further or explore similar UX challenges!
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