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DIN Innovation Prize for Professor Peter Baumann

DIN-SPEC 18114: The technique allows data from different sources to be combined freely, which was previously only possible with a great effort. (Source: Jacobs University)

 

November 14, 2019

Never before has so much information about the Earth been available to mankind. Every day, satellites provide an enormous amount of data, for example on the climate, on changes in the atmosphere, or land use. The "DIN-SPEC 18114" standard developed by Dr. Peter Baumann, Professor of Computer Science at Jacobs University Bremen, makes this data more readily available – and thus enables a multitude of new, societally relevant applications. Baumann’s groundbreaking work has now been recognized with the DIN Innovation Prize 2019, which is awarded by DIN German Institute for Standardization (Deutsches Institut für Normung e.V.).

Award winner of the DIN-Innovation Prize 2019: Professor Peter Baumann has long been researching the better use of geo data. (Source: DIN Deutsches Institut für Normung e.V.)

Baumann has long been researching the better use of geo data. The computer scientist has developed data cubes that can be used to group and homogenize millions of individual images along space and time. With DIN-SPEC 18114, developed in 2018, access to these data cubes is now standardized and simplified, users can access Petabyte-sized spatio-temporal data from their workplace (1 Petabyte equals 1.024 Terabyte). Previously, such analysis was reserved for experts with a high level of IT-expertise.

In addition, the technique allows data from different sources to be combined freely, which was previously only possible with a great effort. "Data cubes boosts manifold applications, such as geo Machine Learning, improved disaster management, more accurate planning of harvests, or better monitoring of water supplies," says Baumann. National DIN-SPEC 18114 is also shaping the corresponding international standard by forming the basis for ISO 19123-1 which is currently being developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) with Baumann being editor.

The DIN Innovation Prize is awarded annually to recognize outstanding projects and commitments in standardization. It is endowed with 5,000 euros.