EuroGeographics and EPOS ERIC announce initiative to boost sharing of reliable geospatial and Earth science data

EuroGeographics and the European Plate Observing System European Research Infrastructure Consortium (EPOS ERIC) have launched a collaboration to make Earth science and geospatial data easier to find, share and reuse.

The new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) creates a practical framework for Europe’s National Mapping, Cadastral and Land Registration Authorities and the solid Earth science community – represented by national organisations – to exchange knowledge and information. 

By bringing together complementary expertise and different types of data, the collaboration aims to foster interdisciplinary approaches and explore new opportunities for research and innovation. This could also support applications with wider societal relevance, including a better understanding of natural hazards, urban planning, and more informed approaches to risk assessment and prevention.

Sallie Payne Snell, Secretary General and Executive Director, EuroGeographics said: “This agreement strengthens a long-term partnership that delivers real value for decision makers reliant on authoritative geospatial data and solid Earth science information. By combining our members’ data harmonisation expertise with EPOS ERIC’s e-science innovation, we’re working together to address common issues and build capacity. Our focus is on common data standards and policies, user strategies and solutions, and best practice – enabling us to share the lessons learnt by each community.”

Lilli Freda, Executive Director, EPOS ERIC said: “This is an important step in consolidating a collaboration that has already been developing very positively between our organisations. Our cooperation is not just strategic, it is concrete at the technical level with all the associated benefits for users and society as a whole. In particular, we are delighted to announce that EuroGeographics Open Maps for Europe datasets are now available to users of the EPOS Platform. This MoU therefore is not simply the formalisation of our relationship, but a framework that can help us further develop our cooperation in the coming years.”

EuroGeographics Open Maps for Europe datasets are now available as a basemap option on the EPOS platform: users can select the map information layers they need and seamlessly combine them with the solid Earth data they are analysing. 

EuroGeographics is an international not-for-profit organisation (AISBL/ IVZW under Belgian Law. BCE registration: 833 607 112) and the membership association for the European National Mapping, Cadastral and Land Registry Authorities. 

EPOS, the European Plate Observing System, is the only pan-European Research Infrastructure for solid Earth science in Europe, providing access to FAIR interoperable quality-controlled data, data-products, services, and software. Its platform currently integrates data from about 500 data and service providers and ten thematic communities, distributed across 26 countries in Europe.

To find out more about EPOS ERIC, visit www.epos-eu.org