Empowering Regional Intelligence with Drupal WxT and Interactive Visualizations
Cinder Systems Corp. partnered with the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) to maintain, enhance, and expand their internal Drupal WxT platform. Through a combination of modern development practices, advanced charting tools, and a user-focused approach, we delivered an intranet that supports data-driven decision-making and dynamic regional content delivery.
Overview
Client:
Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario)
Sector:
Federal Government of Canada
Services Provided:
- Drupal WxT Maintenance and Upgrades
- Feature Enhancements and Accessibility Updates
- Interactive Map and Chart Integration
- Regional Data Visualization
- GitHub Issue Management and Continuous Deployment Support
- Ongoing Support and Content Improvements
The Challenge
FedDev Ontario’s internal web portal required modern enhancements to meet evolving business and data communication needs. The system needed to support:
- Continuous upgrades to the Drupal WxT distribution,
- Dynamic presentation of regional data across multiple formats, and
- WCAG 2.1 AA compliance.
Additionally, the client wanted to enable visual exploration of regional profiles through an interactive map and visual charts, while ensuring high reliability, bilingual presentation, and maintainable architecture.
The Solution
Cinder Systems provided full-cycle support to maintain and evolve the Drupal 10 WxT-based intranet and web portal. Key solutions delivered:
Drupal WxT Upgrades and Ongoing Maintenance
- Regular core and module updates to keep the system secure and fully compatible with latest releases.
- Upgrade from Drupal 9.x to 10.x with full regression testing and staging validation.
- Resolved WCAG accessibility issues and contributed improvements upstream where applicable.
Interactive Map Development
- Built a dynamic map interface showing community and regional profiles.
- Integrated data-driven legends and filters, allowing users to explore content by geographic region.
- Map interactions update page views and associated content contextually.
Vue.js Chart Integration
- Maintained and extended custom Vue.js-based charts for visualizing regional economic data.
- Ensured seamless integration between client-side chart components and Drupal-managed data.
- Enhanced responsiveness, accessibility, and multilingual support.
Regional Profiles Feature
- Developed a structured content model for publishing regional profiles across Southern Ontario.
- Used taxonomy, paragraphs, and dynamic views to present region-specific data and media.
- Built reusable layout templates for consistency and faster content updates.
WCAG 2.1 Compliance and Accessibility Testing
- Performed accessibility scans and implemented improvements across templates and view modes.
- Refined focus states, semantic structure, and ARIA attributes in line with Government of Canada standards.
Collaboration and Support
- Supported client through GitHub-based ticketing system for tracking issues, enhancements, and fixes.
- Participated in knowledge transfer sessions and provided technical guidance on ongoing improvements.
- Worked collaboratively with internal teams to triage bugs and deliver rapid, effective fixes.
Results & Impact
- Modernized Data Visualizations: Interactive charts and maps improved access to regional economic intelligence.
- Improved Accessibility: The intranet now fully meets WCAG 2.1 AA standards for accessibility.
- Streamlined Maintenance: A reliable update cycle and automated deployment pipeline minimized downtime and risk.
- User Empowerment: Non-technical users can easily manage and publish dynamic, structured content.
- Future-Ready Platform: With Drupal 10 and WxT 5.x, FedDev Ontario has a foundation built for long-term adaptability.
Technology Stack
| Area | Tools/Technologies Used |
|---|---|
| CMS | Drupal 10, Drupal WxT, CKEditor 5 |
| Front-End | Vue.js, GCIntranet Theme, Twig, SCSS, HTML5 |
| Interactive Mapping | Leaflet.js, custom JS, Drupal Views & Taxonomy |
| Data Visualization | Vue.js charts, JSON API, CSV import |
| Accessibility | WCAG 2.1 AA Compliance, Lighthouse, NVDA |
| Deployment & Versioning | GitHub, GitHub Actions, Composer |
| Custom Features | Regional Profiles, Map Filters, Dynamic Views |
Call to Action
Looking to build a more data-rich and user-centered intranet or portal?
Cinder Systems specializes in Drupal WxT solutions that bring together accessibility, visualization, and modern infrastructure for government clients.