Environmental Defense Fund
Designing PermianMAP: A Data-Driven Methane Monitoring Tool
We developed a web-based methane monitoring platform to track and report oil and gas emissions in the Permian Basin. Partnering with the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), we integrated satellite, aerial, and ground-based data into an interactive dashboard, enabling real-time emissions tracking. The platform promotes operator accountability, enhances public awareness, and fosters industry transparency, contributing to data-driven climate action and regulatory compliance.
My Role: Competitive Analysis, Wireframing & Prototyping, Front-end Development
Project Time: 9 months
OVERVIEW
The Permian Basin
The Permian Basin spans 86,000 square miles across West Texas and Southeastern New Mexico, home to tens of thousands of oil and gas wells. While the region’s extensive development is visible, the methane pollution escaping from these facilities remains unseen—a significant contributor to climate change.
The PermianMAP application, developed by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), provides real-time access to methane emissions data, collected through satellites, aerial flyovers, and ground-based monitoring stations. This interactive platform enables operators, policymakers, researchers, and the public to track leaks, identify high-emission areas, and promote greater industry transparency and accountability.
DISCOVERY
Card Sorting Exercise
I conducted a comprehensive user analysis by reviewing the project proposal and defining key user personas. Through a user story exercise, I identified the critical features the application needed, including the development of an Operator Dashboard for accountability and data tracking.
To ensure a clear and intuitive site structure, I collaborated remotely with the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) team to perform a card-sorting exercise. This process helped establish logical content groupings, refine site navigation, and create a well-structured taxonomy that aligns with user needs and industry best practices.
Initial Wireframes
After completing the card-sorting exercise, I developed low-fidelity wireframes for the homepage, ensuring a clear and user-centered design. A key objective of PermianMAP was to enhance operator accountability by making methane emissions data transparent and actionable.
To support this, I proposed an Operator Scorecard—a visual ranking system that allows the public to easily compare best-to-worst performing operators based on their response to detected leaks. This feature not only improves industry transparency but also encourages better environmental practices by holding operators accountable for their emissions management.
Final Wireframe
Building on the foundational wireframe, the final PermianMAP design elevates the original concept into a visually compelling and highly navigable platform. The transition from the low-fidelity wireframe to the polished interface maintains the core objectives—operator accountability, data transparency, and user accessibility—while significantly improving engagement through refined aesthetics and information hierarchy.
Key Features
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Visual Impact & Branding
The final design embraces a bold, high-contrast color scheme (black, yellow, and white), creating a strong industrial and data-driven aesthetic. This shift enhances the site’s credibility and urgency, reinforcing the importance of methane emission monitoring. -
Enhanced Navigation & Interactivity
While the wireframe provided a structured layout, the final design introduces dynamic elements like interactive data visualizations, a streamlined navigation menu, and prominent call-to-action buttons. This ensures users can quickly access emissions data, operator scorecards, and key reports. -
Improved Scorecard Presentation
The Operator Scorecard concept from the wireframe has evolved into a visually striking, data-rich interface, making it easier for users to compare operators’ performance. Color-coded emission levels, interactive elements, and a refined typography hierarchy ensure clarity and accessibility. -
Stronger Narrative & Engagement
The final design integrates compelling storytelling elements, such as real satellite imagery, maps, and infographics, which were only conceptual placeholders in the wireframe. These additions make methane emissions more tangible and emphasize the urgency of the issue. -
Action-Oriented Approach
Calls to action (e.g., "Explore the Data," "Stay Informed") are now visually distinct and strategically placed, driving user engagement more effectively than in the wireframe's simpler layout.
Reflections & Learnings
The PermianMAP project was more than just a technical challenge—it was a deeply rewarding and personally meaningful experience. Given the harmful effects of methane emissions on our climate and public health, creating a tool that promotes transparency and accountability was incredibly fulfilling.
One of the biggest challenges was collaborating with a fully remote client across multiple time zones. Working with the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) required a highly adaptive and flexible approach, ensuring smooth communication and effective decision-making despite geographic barriers. Online tools like Cardsmith and InVision played a crucial role in fostering a collaborative, participatory design environment, allowing for real-time feedback and iteration.
Beyond the challenges of remote work, this project reinforced my expertise in mapping applications, interactive design, and front-end customization. Designing an interface that seamlessly integrates high-density methane emissions data while remaining intuitive and accessible was both a technical and UX challenge.
🚀 Key Learnings:
✔ Remote collaboration requires structured communication and the right tools
✔ Data visualization should balance complexity with clarity
✔ Stakeholder alignment is essential for creating scalable, high-impact solutions
✔ User engagement and accessibility should be at the forefront of environmental tech projects
As PermianMAP continues to evolve, I’m proud to have contributed to a tool that is actively shaping the future of environmental accountability and helping the world see the invisible impact of methane emissions.