Water Data and Science Platform Discovery

A Platform Supporting Water Data and Decision-Making

A large-scale water data and science platform supports utilities, planners, researchers, and residents who rely on timely, reliable information for planning, reporting, and resource management. As usage expanded across programs and external stakeholders, the state agency needed a clear understanding of how the platform performs today and what it can support moving forward.

RESPEC initiated the engagement with a structured kickoff and communication plan to define scope, roles, and decision pathways. Through contextual inquiry, focus groups, interviews, surveys, and analytics, the team mapped internal and external user needs and translated findings into documented personas, along with functional and nonfunctional requirements.

In addition, RESPEC conducted a full technical assessment of the platform’s codebase and architecture. The review examined system repositories, workflows, APIs, third-party libraries, and integrated GIS components to identify bottlenecks, dependency risks, and long-term maintainability concerns.

A facilitated workshop validated early findings and surfaced competing priorities across programs. A follow-up leadership session translated those inputs into a sequenced, shared product roadmap.

From Assessment to a Clear Path Forward

The discovery effort resulted in a prioritized modernization plan that aligns user needs with technical realities, reduces long-term maintenance risk, and gives the agency a clear, structured path for future investment.