ExxonMobil
Discover, Define, and Design
One generation of geoscientists thinks visually and prefers to begin their exploration with a map. They select regions they’re interested in and use a combination of data layers (over 100) and a sophisticated document search to review content.
A new generation of geoscientists is more familiar with a Google-like approach to all searches and uses the map as a secondary tool. Our design accommodates both mindsets and enables users to flex between both or use them simultaneously easily.
Users can save documents and create collections for regions of interest.
Background: ExxonMobil geoscientists used several tools to research proprietary and public geographic data to identify regions worth exploring for additional resources. We audited and combined three devices into one user experience – including disparate, unstructured data going back 100 years.
The Challenge: Fjord and Accenture were asked to define a digital platform to provide a searchable database of data existing between multiple formats and inputs, accessible both visually and via search terms.
Our Approach: Our team spent ten weeks interviewing new-hire and old-guard geoscientists, learning how they begin their projects. We also reviewed thousands of data inputs, including spreadsheets, handwritten notes, books, websites, and white papers. After we defined a product with our XOM partners, we designed and delivered it throughout eight sprints.
The product is scalable in order to include more data inputs later, and will use machine learning to associate data inputs, synthesize and learn to make recommendations based on similar geographic traits.
This will simplify the exploration process and help avoid bias for or against regions, data sources and previously reviewed research that might have changed.
