  Scientists studying deep ocean microbial ecosystems use limited numbers of
sediment samples collected from the seafloor to characterize important
life-sustaining biogeochemical cycles in the environment. Yet conducting
fieldwork to sample these extreme remote environments is both expensive and
time consuming, requiring tools that enable scientists to explore the sampling
history of field sites and predict where taking new samples is likely to
maximize scientific return. We conducted a collaborative, user-centered design
study with a team of scientific researchers to develop DeepSee, an interactive
data workspace that visualizes 2D and 3D interpolations of biogeochemical and
microbial processes in context together with sediment sampling history overlaid
on 2D seafloor maps. Based on a field deployment and qualitative interviews, we
found that DeepSee increased the scientific return from limited sample sizes,
catalyzed new research workflows, reduced long-term costs of sharing data, and
supported teamwork and communication between team members with diverse research
goals.
