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EPOS IP · Project

One-Stop Platform for European Earth Data to Manage Geohazards and Subsurface Operations

environmentPilotedTRL 7
epos-ip.org

Imagine Europe has thousands of sensors buried underground, mounted on volcanoes, and orbiting in space — all measuring earthquakes, ground movement, and rock properties. The problem? Each country stores its data differently, in different formats, behind different logins. EPOS built a single integrated delivery system that pulls together Earth science data from 24 nations so anyone — from engineers to emergency planners — can access it in one place. Think of it as a "Google Maps for what's happening beneath your feet."

By the numbers
24
European nations integrated into one Earth science data platform
62
partner institutions contributing data and expertise
22
countries represented in the consortium
114
total deliverables produced during the implementation phase
EUR 18,374,344
EU investment in building this pan-European infrastructure
The business problem

What needed solving

Companies operating in construction, energy, insurance, and infrastructure spend significant time and money sourcing geological and seismic data from fragmented national databases — each with different formats, access rules, and quality standards. When you need to assess ground risk for a tunnel in Greece, a geothermal well in Iceland, or a building portfolio across Southern Europe, there is no single reliable source for subsurface intelligence.

The solution

What was built

EPOS built a federated pan-European data infrastructure that integrates seismological, geological, geophysical, and satellite monitoring data from 24 nations into one accessible platform, governed by a permanent ERIC legal entity in Rome. Key deliverables include validated and operational seismology services, with 114 total deliverables covering data standards, integration protocols, and service readiness.

Audience

Who needs this

Geotechnical engineering firms doing subsurface assessments for major infrastructure projectsCatastrophe modeling teams at reinsurance companies (Swiss Re, Munich Re type)Geothermal energy developers needing subsurface characterization before drillingNational civil protection agencies building earthquake early warning systemsUnderground storage operators (CO2 sequestration, nuclear waste) needing geological stability data
Business applications

Who can put this to work

Construction & Civil Engineering
enterprise
Target: Large construction firms building infrastructure in seismically active or geologically complex regions

If you are a construction company planning tunnels, bridges, or high-rises in geologically active areas — EPOS built an integrated data platform pulling together seismic, ground deformation, and subsurface data from 24 European nations. Instead of commissioning separate geological surveys from scratch, your engineers can access existing monitoring data through one system, reducing site assessment costs and catching ground risks early.

Insurance & Reinsurance
enterprise
Target: Property and catastrophe reinsurance firms modeling natural disaster risk across Europe

If you are an insurer struggling to price earthquake, volcanic, or landslide risk across multiple European markets — EPOS combined Earth monitoring data from 62 partner institutions across 22 countries into a single accessible platform. This means your actuaries can pull standardized geohazard data for any European location rather than piecing together inconsistent national datasets, improving the accuracy of your catastrophe models.

Energy & Subsurface Operations
mid-size
Target: Geothermal energy developers and underground storage operators

If you are a geothermal energy company or underground waste storage operator needing reliable subsurface characterization — EPOS created a federated infrastructure that integrates seismological, geological, and geophysical data from across Europe. Before drilling or injecting, you can assess subsurface conditions using validated datasets from 28 research organizations, reducing the risk of induced seismicity or unexpected geological complications.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost my company to access EPOS data and services?

EPOS operates as a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) based in Rome. Based on available project data, the platform was designed for open access to Earth science data. Specific commercial licensing or subscription fees are not detailed in the project documentation — contact the ERIC directly for current access terms.

Can this scale to cover my operations across multiple countries?

EPOS was specifically built for pan-European scale, integrating data from 24 European nations through 62 partner institutions across 22 countries. The federated architecture means it already handles cross-border data from seismology, geology, and geophysics monitoring networks.

Who owns the intellectual property and data?

EPOS is a publicly funded research infrastructure (EUR 18,374,344 EU contribution) organized as an ERIC. Data ownership follows European open science principles, with national facilities retaining ownership of their datasets while making them accessible through the integrated platform. Commercial use terms would need to be discussed with the ERIC.

How current is the data — real-time or historical only?

The project objective describes monitoring systems that deliver information with increasing rapidity. EPOS integrates both ongoing monitoring networks (seismic stations, GNSS, satellite data) and historical datasets. Based on the validation and readiness reports for seismology services, real-time or near-real-time data feeds are part of the infrastructure.

How difficult is it to integrate EPOS data into our existing systems?

EPOS was designed as a federated infrastructure combining data from different national systems into standardized formats. The project produced 114 deliverables including implementation and validation reports for its services. Based on available project data, the platform provides standardized data access, though integration effort depends on your specific technical requirements.

Is the platform still operational after the project ended in 2019?

Yes — EPOS was built to become a permanent European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) located in Rome, Italy. The Implementation Phase (this project) was specifically designed to establish the long-term operational entity, not a temporary research exercise. The EPOS ERIC continues to operate at epos-ip.org.

Does this meet regulatory requirements for geological risk assessment?

EPOS integrates data from national geological surveys and monitoring networks that are themselves used for regulatory compliance. The platform is designed to furnish essential information for decision makers regarding geo-hazards and subsurface management. Specific regulatory certifications would depend on your jurisdiction and application.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a massive consortium of 62 partners across 22 countries, dominated by research institutions (28) and universities (25), with only 3 industry partners (5% industry ratio). The low commercial participation reflects its nature as a public research infrastructure rather than a market-driven product. However, the sheer scale — coordinated by Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology — and the establishment of a permanent ERIC legal entity signal serious institutional commitment. For a business considering using EPOS data, the consortium's strength is its breadth: you get standardized access to monitoring networks maintained by Europe's leading geological institutions, not a startup that might disappear.

How to reach the team

Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) in Rome, Italy — reach through the EPOS ERIC website

Order a report on this consortiumSee ISTITUTO NAZIONALE DI GEOFISICA E VULCANOLOGIA profile →
Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to know if EPOS data can reduce your geological risk assessment costs? SciTransfer can arrange a tailored briefing with the infrastructure team.

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