Government of India 
introduction
This official website of Uttarakhand Mountaineering Permission System is administered and upheld by the Forest Department of Uttarakhand. It offers convenient online services for individuals interested in engaging in trekking and mountaineering activities within Uttarakhand. Through this website, users have the capability to submit permit applications for these activities.
Objective of the application
The online services offered on this platform cater to trekking and mountaineering enthusiasts in Uttarakhand. Users can access and utilize a range of online facilities to enhance their adventure pursuits. The website also serves as a valuable resource by providing comprehensive information about mountaineering in Uttarakhand. This includes detailed profiles of various peaks, encompassing their distinctive features, altitudes, and difficulty levels.
To facilitate a smooth experience, users are educated about the prescribed procedures and guidelines for obtaining permits required to partake in trekking and mountaineering activities in Uttarakhand.
Target Audience
The target users for this website are likely individuals interested in trekking and mountaineering activities in Uttarakhand. These users include adventure enthusiasts, hikers, mountaineers and outdoor enthusiasts seeking information and permits for exploring the region's peaks.
The Challenge
Enhancing the website's user experience involves tackling various challenges, such as simplifying the search process, improving search flexibility, providing sufficient feedback and information, ensuring data accuracy and consistency, optimizing mobile responsiveness, prioritizing accessibility, and refining the overall intuitiveness of the user interface.
Usability Study Findings
The usability study of the (UKMPS) homepage and Peaks Dedicated Page reveals several critical insights, highlighting areas of improvement to enhance user experience and address potential pain points.
Here's a summary of the key findings-
Homepage- Inefficient Hero Section-The hero section dominates but fails to enhance user experience. The inconsistent background and unnecessary navigation elements add confusion
- About Section Issues-The "About" section is overwhelming, lacking simplicity and a clear call-to-action. Consider creating a dedicated "About Us" page for detailed information.
- Peaks of Uttarakhand Section- The design Unintuitive and unclear criteria for featuring peak images. The categorized peak list has an outdated scrollable format.
- Best Time to Visit Section- The information provided is not sufficient to enhance the relevant information which is necessary for users.
- Terms and Conditions Placement- The dedicated placement disrupts the user experience flow and requires repositioning.
- FAQ Section Inefficiencies- The linear format unnecessarily occupies space, necessitating the implementation of accordions for optimization.
- Permit Application Process-The users frequently encounter confusion and frustration due to incomplete and ineffective instructions when attempting to register on an external website while completing the application.
- Unpleasant Scrollable Lists- The scrollable lists can contribute to user frustration and hinder navigation.
- Text Visibility and Alignment Issues-The text in the hero section faces visibility and alignment issues.
- Nearby Attractions Section- Excessive use of scrollable lists may impede efficient access to information by creating an unnecessary obstacle for users.
- How to Reach Section- Inconsistent button design and a lack of a clickable state can disrupt user experience, prioritize consistency for improved usability.
- Font Inconsistency- Uneven font use disrupts visual cohesion, creating a disjointed user experience that hinders overall aesthetics and readability.
- Redundant Scroll-to-Top Buttons-Unnecessary inclusion of dual buttons introduces confusion, detracting from user-friendly navigation and the clarity of the interface.
- Hover Effect Ineffectiveness- Insufficient hover effects diminish user interaction quality, improvements are needed to enhance the visual feedback and overall user experience.
- Error Handling Challenges- Inconsistent error states and inappropriate messages during back navigation pose challenges, requiring refinement for a smoother user experience.
- Linguistic Errors- Numerous spelling and grammatical mistakes compromise professionalism and user comprehension, necessitating thorough proofreading for content refinement.
- Incomplete Footer and Links Page-Essential links missing in the footer inconvenience users, a consolidated links page would enhance navigation and user convenience.
- Text Alignment Inconsistency- Inconsistent text alignment adversely impacts readability, urging the need for uniformity to enhance the overall visual appeal and user experience.
- Visual Element Absence- The absence of visual elements in content diminishes engagement potential, incorporating visuals can enhance user interest and overall content appeal.
Usability insights highlight the impact of confusing navigation on user frustration and overwhelming content on engagement. Identified pain points include confusion in sections and inefficient design. User preferences emphasize the importance of clear, concise information and consistent design for a positive experience, underscoring the need for improvements in usability.
Synthesizing Phase
With the insights gathered during the research phase, we have gained valuable understanding of the users' interactions and challenges while using the website of the Uttarakhand Mountaineering Permission System. Building on this knowledge, we have now entered the Defining phase, where our aim is to deepen our comprehension and transform the research findings into practical design solutions. To maintain a user-centric approach, we have created personas that embody essential user archetypes-
User Personas Persona 1: Adventure Enthusiast - SarahSarah is a 28-year-old adventure enthusiast from Delhi, with a passion for trekking and mountaineering. She has been exploring different regions for adventure activities and is now planning a trek in Uttarakhand.
Goals-Her goal is to easily navigate the website, find relevant information about the peaks, understand the permit application process, and secure the necessary permits for her upcoming trek.
Pain Points-Sarah's pain points include the complexity of the permit application procedure, difficulty in finding specific details about the peaks, and a lack of clear guidance on the website.
Persona 2: Outdoor Explorer - RajRaj, a 35-year-old outdoor explorer from Mumbai, is an experienced mountaineer looking to conquer challenging peaks in Uttarakhand.
Goals-His goal is to efficiently use the online services to obtain permits, access detailed profiles of peaks, and ensure a seamless experience for his mountaineering endeavors.
Pain Points-Raj's pain points include the need for more flexibility in the search process, frustration with an unintuitive user interface, and a desire for mobile responsiveness to plan his trips on the go.
Mapping User Journeys and Extracting InsightsWe are focusing on Raj, a 35-year-old outdoor explorer from Mumbai, who is an experienced mountaineer seeking information and permits for mountaineering activities in Uttarakhand through the Uttarakhand Mountaineering Permission System website.
Mapping the journey to a “user story”After analyzing Raj's user journey map, valuable insights into actions, emotions and pain points emerge. This journey map, tailored to Raj's objectives and requirements, reveals critical touchpoints and areas for enhancement. From these observations, we distill one of Raj's key needs into the following user story:
Raj's User story"As an experienced mountaineer, I want a seamless online experience on the Uttarakhand Mountaineering Permission System website. Clear information about peaks, a straightforward permit application process, and mobile responsiveness are crucial for me to plan and execute my mountaineering expeditions efficiently."
Framing challenges and hypothesisAnalyzing Raj's user journey as an outdoor explorer, we formulate a problem statement encapsulating his challenges.
Problem StatementRaj, an experienced mountaineer, encounters challenges in the permit application process due to its complexity. Additionally, the website's search functionality and mobile responsiveness hinder his ability to access crucial information effortlessly.
This problem statement will guide our design efforts, ensuring that our solutions directly address Irene's needs and enhance her overall experience on the Make in India website. Building upon this problem statement, we can formulate a hypothesis.
Hypothesis StatementIf we simplify the permit application process, enhance search flexibility, and optimize the website for mobile use, Raj's engagement with the Uttarakhand Mountaineering Permission System website will improve. This will empower him to plan and execute mountaineering expeditions more efficiently, contributing to a more satisfying user experience.
In the subsequent phases, we embark on a transformative journey, translating these insights into tangible design solutions. Through collaborative ideation and thoughtful discussions, we strive to enhance Raj's experience on the Uttarakhand Mountaineering Permission System website, ensuring a seamless and fulfilling exploration of the region's peaks for his mountaineering pursuits.
