Data, Tools and Services for Spatial Sustainability Science The Story of the New IOER Research Data Centre

The emerging research data centre (RDC) at the Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development (IOER) constitutes an essential milestone towards promoting sustainable land transition and transformative urban and regional development. The IOER RDC leverages spatial data science and artificial intelligence to process and analyse diverse and complex data sources. It provides high-resolution indicator maps of land use, ecosystems, and settlement structures, as well as cross-scale and cross-disciplinary spatial analyses, modelling, and simulations. Moreover, the IOER RDC offers digital tools to support decision-making, policy planning, and sustainable transformations. Hence, the IOER RDC has the potential to foster a sustainable future by facilitating the transition towards sustainable land use and development in urban and regional areas. The IOER RDC's endeavours offer a path towards addressing pressing societal challenges, such as rapid urbanisation, environmental degradation, climate change, and social inequality.