Big Earth data: A new frontier in Earth and information sciences

Big data is a revolutionary innovation that has allowed the development of many new methods in scientific research. This new way of thinking has encouraged the pursuit of new discoveries. Big data occupies the strategic high ground in the era of knowledge economies and also constitutes a new national and global strategic resource. “Big Earth data”, derived from, but not limited to, Earth observation has macro-level capabilities that enable rapid and accurate monitoring of the Earth, and is becoming a new frontier contributing to the advancement of Earth science and significant scientific discoveries. Within the context of the development of big data, this paper analyzes the characteristics of scientific big data and recognizes its great potential for development, particularly with regard to the role that big Earth data can play in promoting the development of Earth science. On this basis, the paper outlines the Big Earth Data Science Engineering Project (CASEarth) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Strategic Priority Research Program. Big data is at the forefront of the integration of geoscience, information science, and space science and technology, and it is expected that big Earth data will provide new prospects for the development of Earth science.