Big Earth Data

Call for Competition Papers—Big Earth Data for Sustainable Development: Open Data and Software Innovation

Introduction

Big Earth Data has become an indispensable scientific foundation for advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), providing critical support for dynamic monitoring, quantitative assessment, early warning, and decision-making across priority domains including Zero Hunger, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Climate Action, and Life on Land. By integrating multi-source Earth observation data, socio-economic information, and long-term environmental records, it provides data-driven insights to address pressing global sustainability challenges.

However, the effective application of Big Earth Data to advance the SDGs is constrained by several core bottlenecks:

• Data-level challenges: Fragmented data sources, inconsistent standards, inefficient sharing mechanisms, and a scarcity of high-value curated datasets;
• Technical-level hurdles: Low efficiency in multi-source data fusion, inadequate adaptability of intelligent analysis algorithms to practical scenarios, and significant barriers to deploying technologies in complex operational contexts;
• Methodological gaps: A lack of innovative assessment tools and standardized workflows tailored to the characteristic indicators of the SDGs.

These limitations severely hinder the full realization of Big Earth Data’s potential and undermine the efficiency and effectiveness of SDG implementation.

To address these critical issues, mobilize global expertise in the Big Earth Data field, accelerate the development of open data resources and innovative software tools, and promote technology transfer and international collaboration, Big Earth Data journal is launching a special Article Collection themed “Big Earth Data for Sustainable Development: Open Data and Software Innovation”. This Collection focuses on addressing SDG-specific needs, publishing high-quality, innovative research to enrich the journal’s academic portfolio, advance Big Earth Data as a discipline, and provide robust support for global sustainable development.

Scope and Topics

This Collection exclusively accepts Data Notes and Technical Notes submissions that demonstrate scientific rigor, innovation, practical applicability, and reproducibility. We encourage researchers, engineers and practitioners worldwide to contribute work addressing key challenges in Big Earth Data-enabled sustainable development, showcasing innovative data resources, software tools, or algorithm models that drive disciplinary progress. Relevant topics include but are not limited to:

1. Innovative Data (for Data Note submissions)

• Development of standardized, high-quality, shareable and dedicated datasets by integrating multi-source data resources, tailored to specific SDG indicators or typical application scenarios;
• Optimization of data collection, preprocessing, or fusion methods to generate new datasets with clear scientific value, application potential, and replicability.

2. Key Technologies (for Technical Note submissions)

• Research and development of efficient algorithm models adapted to SDG application scenarios, or breakthrough optimizations of existing algorithms.
• Technical contributions must include clear theoretical explanations, detailed implementation workflows, and reproducible verification protocols.

3. Software Development (for Technical Note submissions)

• Design and development of practical, scenario-specific software tools or application systems for SDG-related fields, including ecological protection, climate change mitigation and adaptation, natural resource management, and urban governance;
• Software should feature complete functional modules, standardize operational procedures, and validate, reliable performance.

Why Submit?

• Enhanced Visibility: Published papers will be aggregated in a dedicated Article Collection on the Big Earth Data website, with additional promotion through the journal’s global network and social media channels.
• Academic Impact: All manuscripts undergo rigorous peer review, ensuring the publication of high-quality, impactful research that advances the discipline.
• Recognition for Excellence: Three outstanding contributions will be awarded a 500 USD cash prize and an “Excellent Paper” certificate, in recognition of transformative achievements in open data and software innovation advancing the SDGs.