Foresight is a predictive asset management platform that delivers cutting-edge insights into highly expensive, complex, and aging underground water networks. It equips water utilities with tools for a deeper understanding of their assets, optimising tactical operations, and instilling confidence in strategic investment decisions.
Datatecnics is a UK startup that aims to modernise water utilities by providing predictive asset management technologies, to reduce environmental impact and enhance customer experience.
Catabolt collaborated with Datatecnics to design the platform from day one. We ran multiple discovery sessions with leaders from a major UK water utility to fully comprehend their existing challenges. This process allowed us to define user stories, forming the foundation of the product design. Regular testing and prototyping ensured we were accurately addressing these problems. Given that water utilities are very large, highly-regulated, multi-billion-pound organisations responsible for managing critical national infrastructure, we were conscious of their numerous real-world constraints. This awareness allowed us to identify areas for innovation and valuable disruption.
A key aspect of the user interface was a GIS (map) view that gave the user contextual visualisations of their network. Water network regions are divided in to managed zones, with multiple layers within those zones. Added to the huge amount of data the maps had to display, it was both a design and development challenge to create an intuitive way of navigating the map while maintaining extremely fast, enterprise-level performance. Catabolt designed a bespoke Mapbox kit and created tools so that users could immediately make sense of the visuals, including satellite and elevation layers, the ability to draw on the map to select assets, contextual tool tips and an intuitive colour system.
As well as designing the platform, Catabolt applied creative design and branding so Datatecnics could market the platform to partners and investors. This included logo design, naming conventions, infographics and other concept visualisations.
As well as designing the platform, Catabolt applied creative design and branding so Datatecnics could market the platform to partners and investors. This included logo design, naming conventions, infographics and other concept visualisations.
