The Deep-time Digital Earth Program: Data Driven Discovery in the Geosciences
Abstract
The mission of the Deep-time Digital Earth (DDE) program is to harmonize and integrate deep-time Earth data, share global geoscience knowledge, advance geoscience understanding, and foster a deep-time data driven research paradigm. The vision of DDE is to transform Earth science through deep-time data driven discovery. However, several barriers hinder such transformation: (1) substantial volumes of deep-time Earth data are not available in well-characterized digital formats; (2) many databases do not comply with the FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable) principles for scientific data management and stewardship; (3) a standard knowledge graph has not been widely developed for deep-time Earth data; (4) most deep-time Earth databases are not well integrated; (5) existing databases are geographically heterogeneous; (6) a significant fraction of deep-time Earth data is not yet available in open-access formats; and (7) tailored tools are needed for analysis of deep-time Earth data, owing to their wide range of spatial and temporal heterogeneity. These challenges motivated DDE to become the first "big science program" recognized by the International Union of Geological Sciences and developed in cooperation with national geological surveys, professional associations, academic institutions, and scientists around the world. DDE is building on previous research to develop a standard knowledge graph, a FAIR data infrastructure that links existing databases and makes dark data visible, and tailored analytical tools for deep-time Earth data, which are open to the world. A goal of DDE is to enable easy access to deep-time Earth data and facilitate data-driven study of Earth's evolution, including evolution of life, Earth materials, geography, and climate. DDE also aims to address applied geological problems related to energy and resource security, modern climate change, and the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. This presentation introduces the mission, vision, research plan, structure, and outlook of the DDE program.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2020
- Bibcode:
- 2020AGUFMIN026..11W
- Keywords:
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- 1916 Data and information discovery;
- INFORMATICS;
- 1930 Data and information governance;
- INFORMATICS;
- 1938 Knowledge representation and knowledge bases;
- INFORMATICS;
- 1970 Semantic web and semantic integration;
- INFORMATICS