Project Overview

I was referred to a California Sea Grant researcher to develop a harbor aquaculture research website. The project aimed to share detailed case studies of four ports that had navigated the mariculture leasing process and provide these valuable insights to other ports considering similar initiatives.

Objectives

The researcher needed a platform that could effectively:

Present complex information about the mariculture development process
Showcase four distinct port case studies while integrating a map
Provide resources for ports interested in developing pre-permitted lease sites

Challenges & Solutions

Upon taking on the project, I faced several key constraints:

No prior experience with ArcGIS or Drupal (the platforms supported by the California Sea Grant)
Need for seamless map integration as a key website feature
Limited customization options on the supported platforms

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I conducted a thorough evaluation of available options:

Assessed Drupal capabilities and limitations
Explored ArcGIS Experience Builder as a potential solution
Investigated alternative platforms like Webflow for comparison
Analyzed requirements for the map integration

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After careful consideration, we determined that while not an ideal website builder for all purposes, ArcGIS Experience Builder offered the most efficient solution because of its native map integration, which was central to the project.

Implementation

The website development process involved:

Collaborating with the researcher to review and effectively organize written content
Designing an intuitive navigation structure for the four port case studies, an about page, and a general resources page
Integrating the interactive map with the narrative content

Early versions of homepage (part 1)

Early versions of homepage (part 2)

Value-Added Contributions

Beyond basic website development, I enhanced the project by:

Designing custom infographics that translated content into easily digestible visuals
Maintaining scientific accuracy while ensuring accessibility for a general audience
Implementing responsive design to support viewing on various device types

Available and leased acreage of three subtidal areas of Humboldt Bay

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Timeline of aquaculture activities at the Port of Hueneme

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Aquaculture development challenges addressed by Ventura Shellfish Enterprise

Outcomes

The completed website successfully:

Provides a comprehensive resource on pre-permitted mariculture lease sites for ports considering similar intiatives
Showcases the diverse approaches of four different ports and highlights funding sources, key takeaways, and availability information
Delivered a responsive website with a seamlessly integrated map that provides a geographical context

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Skills Demonstrated

This project required quick adaptation and developing skills in:

ArcGIS Experience Builder
Information architecture for scientific content
Data visualization and infographic design
User experience design within technical constraints
Effective translation of research findings into accessible digital formats (website, graphics, etc.)

Key Learnings

Working on this specialized project, I learned how to:

Adapt to platform constraints while meeting client objectives
Effectively present scientific information for diverse audiences
The practical applications of geographic information systems (GIS) in web development

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The live website was officially published in Spring 2025: https://caseagrant.ucsd.edu/aquaculture-development