Discrete Global Grid Systems: A New Platform to Exploit Big Earth Data
- Paper number
IAC-17,B1,6,4,x39463
- Author
Dr. Matthew Purss, Geoscience Australia, Australia
- Coauthor
Dr. Robert Gibb, Landcare Research NZ, New Zealand
- Coauthor
Prof. Faramarz Samavati, University of Calgary, Canada
- Coauthor
Mr. Perry Peterson, PYXIS, Canada
- Coauthor
Mr. Clinton Dow, ESRI, United States
- Coauthor
Dr. Jin Ben, Zhengzhou Institute of Surveying & Mapping, China
- Coauthor
Dr. Adam Lewis, Geoscience Australia, Australia
- Coauthor
Mr. Jonathon Ross, Committee on Earth Observation Satellites, Australia
- Year
2017
- Abstract
The emergence of the internet and cloud/HPC platforms has both enabled the exploitation of ‘Big Earth Data’ and helped to drive an increasing demand for the rapid integration and analysis of a pool of rapidly growing geospatial data from an increasing number of sources across the globe. However, conventional Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) platforms, built from the ‘flat earth’ cartographic perspective imposed by maps, are an impediment to the true realisation of this demand. And without a new approach it will be very difficult to transform the every expanding volume, variety and veracity of ‘Big Earth Data’ into useful information in a timely fashion. Fortunately, there is a solution to this problem; one that actually pre-dates the conventional GIS approach. This new (or rather ‘old’) approach uses Discrete Global Grid Systems (DGGS) as a platform to describe the curved surface of the Earth rather than a warped and flattened representation. DGGS provide an alternate spatial reference system that is based on an equal area, hierarchical tessellation of the spheroidal model of the Earth at multiple resolutions; where each cell is referenced by a globally unique identifier. A DGGS presents a common framework that is capable of linking very large multi-source, multi-resolution and multi-domain datasets together to enable the next generation of analytic processes to be applied. Because each cell of a DGGS represents a uniform spatial coverage with a unique reference identifier, a DGGS is able to reduce complex multi-dimensional spatial queries to one-dimensional array processes that enable rapid and accurate computation and integration of data using a computer (even at the poles!). The emergence of DGGS as a technology is being driven by the development of international standards through the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC). A new OGC Abstract Specification for DGGS will be published in 2017 that will provide the necessary guidance for the development of scalable and interoperable spatial data infrastructures that are able to meet and grow with the demands of ‘Big Earth Data’ into the future. This paper will describe the key elements of DGGS under the new OGC Abstract Specification, explore the differences between conventional GIS and DGGS and will demonstrate the potential that DGGS as a technology bring to the world of ‘Big Earth Data’.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-17,B1,6,4,x39463.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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