Discrete Global Grid Systems (DGGS)

A Discrete Global Grid Systems (DGGS) is a unique type of spatial reference system comprising of a hierarchy of uniquely identifiable discrete grid cells that span the globe at multiple resolutions. Several schemes for tesselation and indexing schemes exist and DGGS can support efficient management, storage, integration, exploration, mining, and visualisation of large geospatial datasets. We conduct research into innovative DGGS indexing and storage software and query APIs to integrate, visualise and analyse arbitrary raster and vector data and perform ML workloads on DGGS-based datacubes.

Watch the DGGS Teaser on our Youtube channel.

We are scoping joint activities to further the devleopment and applicatons of DGGS, e.g. with the Pangeo community and through a consortium grant submission for a EC Horizons call (Technologies and solutions for data trading, monetizing, exchange and interoperability - HORIZON-CL4-2022-DATA-01-04).

We hosted a DGGS workshop as part of the AGILE Conference 2021 (Association of Geographic Information Laboratories in Europe) in June 2021:

The main objective this workshop was introducing the attendees to the theoretical background of Discrete Global Grid Systems (DGGS), current real-world implementations with exemplary use cases. In subsequent discussion, we discussed additional use cases and the convergence of DGGS with traditional GIS and Spatial Analysis methods for non-expert impactful adoption of DGGS.

Watch the workshop recording on our Youtube channel.

DGGS workshop information:  agile2021_dggs_workshop_schedule.pdf  - materials for the workshop are available on Github.

Each of these 4 grid systems are generated with two subsequent resolutions to depict the "aperture" and parent child spatial relation ships. ISEA4H (hexagons), ISEA4T (triangles) generated with DGGRID - a free software program for creating and manipulating Discrete Global Grids. Uber H3 and Landcare Research/Manaaki Whenua RhealPixDGGS-py. Source: A. Kmoch, Landscape Geoinformatics (2020)