European Geological Data Infrastructure
Intro
From the water we drink and the soil that feeds us, to the infrastructure we build and the raw materials powering digital technologies and the clean energy transition,
geology underpins many aspects of modern society.
- Geological Service for Europe (GSEU), Why Geology Matters for Europe.
EGDI is an online platform that makes harmonised geological information from across Europe easier to discover, view, and reuse. It plays a key role in developing common geological standards, vocabularies and classifications, enabling consistent interpretation and use of geological information across national borders.
The goal for my role on this project was to modernize the EGDI Map Viewer and Data Search to reduce cognitive load and improve discoverability.
Why I care about this
Geology is everywhere — in the water we drink, the materials we build with, and the energy transition shaping our future. Yet the data behind it is often scattered and hard to reach for the people who need it most. EGDI brings geological information from across Europe into one accessible place. Being part of a project that improves how this knowledge is found and understood lets me put my work to a clear purpose — using information architecture, user research and accessible design to make complex geological data understandable to far more people.
Let's see what was improved
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Clear entry points for the user. User can either search directly in the whole data base or find out more about scientific themes.
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Clear 3 column layout to improve the search experience - filters, results and preview of a selected result
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Clear interface within map viewer, including new features - Layer Catalogue and Layer Control Panel to make Map Viewer as an efficient tool
Overview
Problem Statement
Europe's geological surveys have spent decades collecting and digitising geological data — one of the largest and most valuable geoscience resources on the continent. Since 2016, EGDI has made that data available through a single online platform. In practice, though, the platform can be challenging to navigate, and this plays out differently across its audiences. Geologists, who are its core users, often rely on other sites they're already familiar with. Policy makers tend to approach the data indirectly, reaching out to a geologist rather than navigating EGDI themselves. And for the wider public, the resource hasn't yet been very visible. The value is there; the challenge is helping more people reach it.
Home Page , Focus Areas
Before
After
User flow in Home Page
Directly shows the user the importance of search function. As European Geological Data Infrastructure website, looking for specific data is the main goal, through this entrance any information on all data will be found. For general public and scientists there are focus areas that can be explored to read the whole story and understand the scientific themes better.
Focus Area ( in example - GeoEnergy)
In each of the focus areas, which is also a scientific theme, the user can explore sub-themes and follow a story made from scenes. While following the story, the user can access diverse resources, such as, map viewer, data search, dashboard and external links.
Data Search
Before
After
The Solution: 3-Column Architecture
Following three rounds of iteration, a three-column interface was developed for the Data Search module to optimize information density. The layout establishes a logical progression from left to right: Filters, Search Results, and the Preview panel. A visual hierarchy was created to help users navigate complex datasets without cognitive overwhelm.
Advanced Filtering
The filtering system was improved to handle deep technical metadata while maintaining a clean user interface. Geological infrastructure remains accessible and searchable for both expert and non-expert users.
Dynamic Result Preview
The Preview area provides a comprehensive snapshot of metadata without requiring navigation away from the primary search results.
Map Viewer
Before
After
Layer Search & Discovery
The new design replaces the infinite menu with a search-and-filter system. Users can efficiently locate specific geological layers through keyword and filtering. Reduced the time spent navigating complex data hierarchies.
Layer Catalogue & Layer Control Panel
A dual-purpose Layer Control Panel was developed to simplify interactions.
The panel acts as a visual staging area, allowing users to track and manage selected layers while continuing to browse the catalogue.
Upon closing the catalogue, the panel transitions into a central command center for data manipulation.
Users can intuitively drag to reorder layers, adjust specific transparency filters, and manage complex spatial views from a single interface.
The Layer Catalogue has the same structural framework as the Data Search module to create a consistent look and feel across the entire platform.
Print Synchronization
The print engine is fully synchronized with the Layer Control Panel to maintain high-fidelity output. This ensures "What You See Is What You Get", allowing the final printed map to accurately reflect the active layers and filters configured during the analysis phase.
I really enjoyed working with Karina on the EGDI data platform. Her UX and visual design skills are excellent, but what sets her apart is her ability to truly listen and understand client needs. She consistently (and nicely) turns complex requirements into clear and effective user experiences. A young talent any team would value.