The subsurface is already documented by a multitude of geophysical data. New data sets are added every year. These technical data are processed by quality assessment and correction and made digitally accessible to the public from science, politics, municipalities and industry. To this end, powerful databases and interactive Internet applications must be developed in order to make the subsurface plannable.

With GeotIS, the geothermal information system, and FIS GP, the geophysics information system, LIAG has a data infrastructure that is highly regarded both nationally and internationally among experts, with a large number of high-quality data sets and a large, active user group both inside and outside the Geocentre Hannover. While GeotIS focuses solely on the presentation of data and information related to the use of deep geothermal energy, FIS GP is based on a comprehensive database of geophysical measurements with sophisticated user and rights management. Both the FIS GP and the GeotIS have many map functions and other visualization options, with the geophysical data available for download in the FIS GP. Both information systems contribute to the fact that research data remain accessible and can be further used, which is demanded in particular also by public funding agencies.

The selection, validation, spatial interpolation, generalization and visualization of these data will be more automated by algorithms than before. Special attention will be paid to the development of data models for the extensive data sets that allow a fast search, evaluation and linking with other data (semantic/relational data). This will open up new possibilities for data-driven geophysical research in the future.

The overriding goal of GeotIS is to improve the quality of geothermal plant design and to minimize the risk of discovery by collecting, archiving, correcting and re-using existing data sets. For this purpose, statistical methods are specifically applied and correction methods and digital atlas works are developed. On the basis of the data available in GeotIS, the geothermal potential or the exploration risk for geothermal wells can be quantitatively evaluated. GeotIS is to be seen as a digital variant of a geothermal atlas, which is largely independent of scale and is always available in the latest edition. The system was set up and expanded with funds from the Federal Environment Ministry and the Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy (BMWi).