Blueprints for Semantic Integration and AI Readiness (BITS 2.0)

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)

Abstract

While the goal for Earth System Sciences (ESS) is a seamless, machine-actionable and AI-ready data ecosystem, the reality is different. Current infrastructures are often isolated into siloed "islands" and large data “continents”, separated by inconsistent technical standards and metadata conventions - like a "data archipelago". Despite major investments from consortia like NFDI4Earth in Germany and Data Terra in France, these fragments are only loosely connected by semantic bridges, leaving the ESS community with a landscape of scattered repositories rather than a unified digital environment. To address this growing fragmentation of the ESS data landscape, the BITS 2.0 project aims to establish a Semantic Fabric for ESS. Instead of merely linking individual repositories, this approach overlays heterogeneous data holdings with an intelligent, semantic shared layer. Building on the original BITS project, which successfully established a quality-controlled hub of ESS terminologies, BITS 2.0 will develop advanced, AI-powered data annotation services combined with a sustainable, community-driven governance model. BITS 2.0 is envisioned as a trusted semantic enabler for the emerging hybrid ESS data space, providing the essential “semantic glue” required for meaningful interoperability. By transforming a fragmented infrastructure landscape into a coherent, searchable knowledge space, BITS 2.0 will support the combined use of larger and more diverse datasets to address complex Earth System research questions.

Authors 11

1. Andrea Lammert

   German Climate Computing Centre

   Affiliation as printed

   German Climate Computing Centre

2. Ivonne Anders

   German Climate Computing Centre

   Affiliation as printed

   German Climate Computing Centre

3. Anette Ganske

   Technische Informationsbibliothek (TIB)

   Affiliation as printed

   TIB – Leibniz Information Centre for Science and Technology

4. Sandra Geisler Aachen

   Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Information Technology · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   RWTH Aachen University

   Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Information Technology

5. Angelina Kraft

   Technische Informationsbibliothek (TIB)

   Affiliation as printed

   Technische Informationsbibliothek (TIB)

6. Claudia Martens

   German Climate Computing Centre

   Affiliation as printed

   Deutsches Klimarechenzentrum

7. Hela Mehrtens

   GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel

   Affiliation as printed

   GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel

8. Emanuel Söding

   GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel

   Affiliation as printed

   GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel

9. Hannes Thiemann

   German Climate Computing Centre

   Affiliation as printed

   German Climate Computing Centre

10. Claus Weiland

    Senckenberg - Leibniz Institution for Biodiversity and Earth System Research

    Affiliation as printed

    Senckenberg – Leibniz Institution for Biodiversity and Earth System Research

11. Alexander Wolodkin

    Senckenberg - Leibniz Institution for Biodiversity and Earth System Research

    Affiliation as printed

    Senckenberg – Leibniz Institution for Biodiversity and Earth System Research