An earthquake dashboard should quickly answer where the event occurred, how strong it was, how deep it was, and whether it is relevant to the project area.
1. Show event list and map together
A linked table and map lets users jump from a record to the epicenter quickly.
2. Filter by magnitude and time
Default filters should show meaningful events, with presets such as past hour, 24 hours, 7 days, and custom range.
3. Add depth and intensity context
Magnitude alone is not enough. Depth, distance to settlement, and ShakeMap layers improve interpretation.
4. Use clear symbols
Use size for magnitude and color for depth or alert level so the map stays readable.
5. Cache recent feeds
For public dashboards, cache external feeds to improve speed and reduce dependency on live API response time.
Keep the workflow simple: define the input, check the geometry or data source, validate the output, and then document the assumption inside the drawing, model, or dashboard.