Big Earth Data Science: an Information Framework for a Sustainable Planet

Abstract

The digital transformation of our society coupled with the increasingexploitation of natural resources makes sustainability challenges morecomplex and dynamic than ever before. These changes will unlikely stopor even decelerate in the near future. There is an urgent need for a newscientific approach and an advanced form of evidence-based decision-making towards the benefit of society, the economy, and theenvironment. To understand the impacts and interrelationships betweenhumans as a society and natural Earth system processes, we propose anew engineering discipline, Big Earth Data science. This science is calledto provide the methodologies and tools to generate knowledge fromdiverse, numerous, and complex data sources necessary to ensure asustainable human society essential for the preservation of planet Earth.Big Earth Data science aims at utilizing data from Earth observation andsocial sensing and develop theories for understanding the mechanismsof how such a social-physical system operates and evolves. Themanuscript introduces the universe of discourse characterizing this newscience, its foundational paradigms and methodologies, and a possibletechnological framework to be implemented by applying an ecosystemapproach. CASEarth and GEOSS are presented as examples ofinternational implementation attempts. Conclusions discuss importantchallenges and collaboration opportunities