UC GIS Consultation Tool - Proof of Concept

An interactive decision tree that mirrors the consultation process used by UC GIS Librarians to guide researchers through geospatial research needs.

🎯 Project Status

This is an experimental proof of concept. The tool demonstrates a branching scenario approach to online GIS consultations but is not yet production-ready.

📋 Overview

UC GIS Librarians conduct consultations that follow predictable pathways and decision points. This tool transforms that consultation expertise into an interactive, self-guided experience where users navigate through questions and resources based on their specific needs.

✨ Features

• Branching Decision Trees: Users navigate through questions based on their responses
• Resource Pages: Actionable how-to guides with clear steps
• Graph-Based Architecture: Any question or resource can link to any other, supporting non-linear consultation flows
• Visual Distinction: Clear differentiation between decision points (questions) and actionable content (resources)
• Responsive Design: Works seamlessly across desktop, tablet, and mobile devices

🛠️ Technical Stack

• Static Site Generator: Jekyll 3.10
• Theme: Just the Docs 0.8
• Hosting: GitHub Pages
• Icons: Lucide Icons
• Styling: Custom SCSS with UC brand colors

🏗️ Architecture

Collections

The tool uses two Jekyll collections:

• _questions/: Decision points that branch to other questions or resources
• _resources/: How-to guides and tutorials with actionable steps

Content Structure

Each content page uses front matter to define relationships:

---
title: "Page Title"
sub-title: "Optional subtitle"
next-steps:
  - label: "Button text"
    type: question  # or 'resource'
    ref: filename-without-extension
---

Navigation Pattern

• Forward navigation: Through cards and "next steps"
• Back navigation: Browser back button
• Start over: Link to return to homepage
• No traditional site map - navigation is context-driven

🚀 Getting Started

Prerequisites

• Ruby 3.x
• Bundler

Installation

1. Clone the repository:

git clone [repository-url]
cd uc-gis

2. Install dependencies:

bundle install

3. Run the development server:

bundle exec jekyll serve

4. Visit http://localhost:4000 in your browser

📁 Project Structure

uc-gis/
├── _questions/          # Question/decision pages
├── _resources/          # How-to guide pages
├── _layouts/            # Custom page layouts
│   ├── question.html
│   └── resource.html
├── _includes/           # Reusable components
│   └── head_custom.html
├── _sass/               # Custom styling
│   └── color_schemes/
│       └── uc.scss
├── assets/
│   └── css/
│       └── custom.scss  # Main custom styles
├── _config.yml          # Jekyll configuration
├── index.md             # Homepage
└── README.md

✏️ Adding Content

Creating a Question Page

1. Create a new file in _questions/ (e.g., your-question.md)
2. Add front matter:

---
title: "Your Question Here?"
sub-title: "Brief context"
next-steps:
  - label: "Option 1"
    type: question
    ref: next-question-filename
  - label: "Option 2"
    type: resource
    ref: resource-filename
---

Optional description content here.

Creating a Resource Page

1. Create a new file in _resources/ (e.g., your-guide.md)
2. Add front matter:

---
title: "How to Do Something"
sub-title: "Brief description"
jobs_to_be_done:
  - "Goal 1"
  - "Goal 2"
steps:
  - "Step 1 instructions"
  - "Step 2 instructions"
next-steps:
  - label: "Next action"
    type: question
    ref: related-question
---

Additional detailed content in markdown format.

🎨 Customization

Colors

UC brand colors are defined in _sass/color_schemes/uc.scss:

• UC Blue: #2774AE
• UC Gold: #FFB511

Styling

Custom styles are in assets/css/custom.scss. The file is organized by component for easy navigation.

🧪 Proof of Concept Scope

This Proof of Concept demonstrates:

• ✅ Branching decision tree functionality
• ✅ Question and resource content types
• ✅ Non-linear navigation (graph structure)
• ✅ Visual design system
• ✅ Responsive layout
• ✅ UC brand integration

Not yet implemented:

• ❌ User analytics/tracking
• ❌ Multi-language support
• ❌ User feedback mechanism
• ❌ Complete content library

🤝 Contributing

This is a proof of concept for UC GIS Librarians. If you'd like to contribute content or provide feedback:

1. Review existing question and resource examples
2. Follow the content structure outlined above
3. Test your changes locally before submitting
4. Ensure content follows UC brand guidelines

📝 License

[Add appropriate license information]

👥 Credits

Developed by: UC San Diego Library Digital Experience Team
For: UC GIS Librarians
Theme: Just the Docs by Patrick Marsceill
Icons: Lucide Icons

📧 Contact

For questions or feedback about this proof of concept, contact [your contact info].

---

Note: This is an experimental proof of concept and is under active development. Content and features are subject to change.