International Union of Geological Sciences
Deep-Time Digital Earth (DDE)
The Deep-time Digital Earth (DDE) is a big science program dedicated to facilitate innovation in understanding the Earth’s evolution and applications as well as the Sustainable Development Goals utilizing Big Data analytics, internet cloud computing, data mining, machine learning and AI.
The DDE, the first IUGS-recognized big science programme, was officially launched during the 73rd IUGS Executive Council Meeting held in Beijing (February 2019) and the DDE Accord was signed collectively by the DDE Founding Members, namely China Geological Survey (CGS), British Geological Survey (BGS), Russian Geological Research Institute (VSEGEI), International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS), Commission on the Management & Application of Geoscience Information (CGI), American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), International Association of Mathematical Geosciences (IAMG), International Association on the Genesis of Ore Deposits (IAGOD), Commission of Geological Map of the World (CGMW), International Association of Geomorphologists (IAG), International Palaeontological Association (IPA), and International Association of Sedimentologists (IAS).
The primary goal of the DDE programme is to harmonise 'deep-time' digital geological data. Deep-time data are data relating to the changing processes that the Earth has experienced through the millions of years of geological time. They include data on the evolution of life and climate, tectonic plate movement and the evolution of the planet's geography. Through DDE, data will be made available in easily used 'hubs' providing insights into the distribution and value of Earth resources and materials, as well as Earth hazards. Data brought together in new ways may provide novel glimpses into the Earth's geological past and its future.
Mission
To harmonize and integrate deep-time Earth data, share global geoscience knowledge, and advance geoscience understanding and research.
Vision
To transform the Earth sciences by fostering a deep-time data-driven research paradigm.
New article introducing IUGS initiative for facilitating data-driven Earth science transformation (Posted 15.05.2020)
President Governing Council (2024-current)
Harvey Thorleifson
Past President Governing Council (2021-2024)
Jennifer McKinley
Past President Governing Council (2019-2021)
Michael H Stephenson
President Executive Committee (2019-current)
Chengshan Wang
President Scientific Committee (2022-current)
Hans J. Thybo
President Scientific Committee (2019-2022)
Roland Oberhänsli
Secretariat