This thesis examines the optimization of the Pobude meščanov Ljubljana web platform, which serves as the main communication channel between the residents of the City of Ljubljana and the municipal administration. Although the platform enables the submission and review of citizen initiatives, the analysis revealed several shortcomings: outdated technology, unclear navigation, inefficient filtering, and insufficient accessibility for people with disabilities. The purpose of the thesis was to develop a prototype solution that addresses these issues and strengthens transparency, user experience and trust in the functioning of the municipal administration.
The methodological approach was based on an analysis of the existing platform and a comparative evaluation of foreign participatory platforms. The research included interviews with specialists in UX design, web development and content management, a user survey of the existing platform, and technical testing of accessibility and performance using Google Lighthouse, WAVE, and Axe DevTools. Based on these findings, a prototype was developed using FastAPI, React, and SQLModel. Artificial intelligence (ChatGPT) was incorporated to estimate the relevance of submitted initiatives, while the interface design followed WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility guidelines.
The results demonstrated significant improvements: accessibility scores increased to 100/100, overall performance and clarity were substantially enhanced, and new functionalities were introduced, such as initiative clustering on the map, advanced filtering, statistical dashboards, and an administrative panel for municipal employees.
This thesis provides insight into the practical benefits that an improved platform could offer to citizens, who would gain a more transparent and accessible digital service. It also shows the potential value for the City of Ljubljana, which would gain a more efficient tool for processing initiatives. At the same time, the developed prototype contributes to the broader digital transformation of public services and supports more inclusive citizen participation.
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