Global K-Geoscience Data Hub

Geo Big Data Open Platform

Introduction

What is the Geo Big Data Open Platform?

  • The Geo Big Data Open Platform is an open-access library that provides geological resource research data, enabling easy utilization by the public. As a global K-Geoscience data hub, the platform offers high-quality research data to address national social challenges. It also leads the open science ecosystem by establishing a national geological resource data center and fostering a collaborative research environment.

Roles of the Geo Big Data Open Platform

  • The platform provides over 3,000 high-quality research datasets freely accessible to the public, along with access to more than 130,000 geological resource research reports and domestic and international papers. Open APIs and data services are also available. (As of January 2025)
  • Operated by the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM), the Geo Big Data Open Platform focuses on managing and preserving national geological resource research data, transforming it into valuable assets and big data. By creating a data-sharing and utilization ecosystem, the platform promotes data-driven R&D while addressing key social issues such as balanced territorial development, public safety, and daily environmental challenges. By integrating data with ICT technologies like AI and IoT, it contributes to the creation of new industries, the development of cutting-edge technologies, and the provision of tailored geological resource information.

Mission and Role

  • The Geo Big Data Open Platform enables users, including projects, institutions, and individuals, to archive, publish, and distribute geological data with long-term availability (over 10 years).
  • Designed with user-centric customization in mind, the platform simplifies access to data, reports, and papers across various geological resource fields, including land geology, mineral resources, offshore petroleum, and geological environments. This helps streamline research processes and achieve more accurate and reliable results.
  • The platform guarantees:

    - High Usability and Reliability: By ensuring dataset citation potential, comprehensive metadata, interoperability between data and metadata, and systematic inventory management.

    - Data Security: Backup and security solutions are in place to protect data and ensure uninterrupted service.

  • All metadata follows a principle of full disclosure, and datasets can be used according to licensing conditions set by data providers. Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) are employed to simplify dataset identification, sharing, and citation. Additionally, KIGAM is the first institution in Asia to register as a member of the International Generic Sample Number (IGSN) system, enabling dataset identification through IGSN codes.
  • The Geo Big Data Open Platform is ready to fulfill its role as Korea’s national geological resource data center and lead the open science ecosystem. Start sharing your data today!

Main Functions

  • The Geo Big Data Open Platform offers services such as dataset search and download, enabling free access to geological digital datasets, research reports, and related domestic and international papers. It also supports Open API services for application system development.
  • Through the Integrated Geological Resource Mapping Service, the platform provides integrated search and visualization (2D/3D) of geological thematic maps. Users can overlay their own GIS data with large-scale geological maps. Additionally, the platform offers various information services, including:

    - Multiplatform Geoscience Information

    - Korea Marine Geological Geophysical Map Data

    - Geoenvironmental Information Verification System

    - Earthquake Research Information

    - Dokdo Drone Platform

    - Infocenter for Environmental Geology

    - Mineral Commodity Information

  • The platform also enables systematic management of geological samples and analysis data by issuing the International Generic Sample Number (IGSN) a first in Asia. Furthermore, it provides metadata-based data linkage and search functions in collaboration with the National Research Data Platform (DataOn).

Team and budget

  • The Geo Big Data Open Platform is operated by a team of data and IT experts at the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM). Our team consists of PhD-level researchers with specialized knowledge in geological resources and advanced research capabilities in related fields. To continuously enhance expertise, the team participates in mandatory training (at least three times a year), organizes educational programs, and conducts cultural diffusion activities to promote data sharing and utilization.
  • KIGAM’s foundational project, “Establishment of the National Geological Resource Data Center (NGDC) through the Development of the Geo Big Data Open Platform” receives an annual budget of over 2.6 billion KRW (2020–2024). Of this, 200 million KRW is allocated for data refinement, processing, and construction, while another 200 million KRW is dedicated to system operation and maintenance.

Training Programs

Researcher Training Courses

  • International Geoscience Resource Talent Development Center (Link)

Cultural Diffusion Activities

  • Geo Big Data Competition (Link)

Accreditations

  • The Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) is the first institution in Asia to join the International Generic Sample Number (IGSN) issuing organization. It has also achieved the Platinum Class certification (99.999% accuracy) in Data Quality Certification (DQC-V) from the Korea Data Industry Agency and has been recognized as a geological resources repository by Re3data. (As of December 2022)

Our Team

  • See the KIGAM Geological Resource Data Center Organization Chart (Link)

Our Data Holdings

(As of January 2025)
Datasets Geological Thematic Maps Reports and Papers
3,012건 118건 133,674건

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