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A four-year EngD project, sponsored by Arup and EPSRC, focused on a case study of the site selection process for a nuclear waste disposal repository in the UK.
This project builds on the UK's Nuclear Waste Management Programme, which was introduced in 2008 with DEFRA's White Paper (.pdf), showing the need for greater "transparency and openness." It combines knowledge from Human-Computer Interaction and Risk Communication to develop a Web GIS application that informs the public about the site selection process.
Several environmental applications were considered with input from over a hundred users to understand which interface design elements inform people's trust perceptions. Based on this, a set of trust guidelines were created, along with a thorough, structured system for researching trust in similar situations. Additionally, both lay people's and experts' mental models of nuclear waste disposal were explored. An information communication strategy was then put in place to enhance public understanding and trust.
The information and trust guidelines helped shape the final system's design. It was tested for reliability, among other factors, and the findings showed that the suggested trust guidelines support the growth of rational public trust. They also help people make informed decisions about whether to rely on the system, understanding the risks involved.