Collaborative research: innovative resources: erock - an open platform and community pipeline for digital outcrops

The National Science Foundation Office of Integrative Activities awarded Syracuse University $299,387 on October 1, 2026, under the Geosciences program (CFDA 47.050) to develop EROCK, an open-platform cyberinfrastructure for digital outcrop data.

The project will create a standards-based repository combining persistent identifiers, structured metadata, and map-based discovery to make digital rock outcrop models more accessible for geoscience education and research. The platform will support FAIR data practices (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable), enable reproducible research and teaching, and sustain long-term value of digital outcrop data. Student-led data acquisition and curation, community workshops, and formal user evaluation will ensure the platform responds to diverse user needs. By broadening access to digital field experiences, EROCK addresses barriers that limit student participation in traditional field courses while equipping geoscientists with modern digital skills.

Performance runs through September 30, 2029, with work performed in Syracuse, New York. No sub-awards are planned for this award.

Abstract

Fieldwork is foundational to geoscience education, yet many students face barriers to participating in traditional field courses. Digital models of rock outcrops can broaden access to field experiences while also supporting scientific research and collaboration. This project will develop an open digital platform that makes outcrop data easier to find, explore, analyze, and share. By improving access to digital field data, the project will strengthen geoscience research and help prepare the next generation of geoscientists with modern digital skills. This project will develop the erock cyberinfrastructure as an open, community-driven platform for digital outcrop data. The platform will combine a standards-based repository with persistent identifiers, structured metadata, and map-based discovery. Student-led data acquisition and curation, community workshops, and formal user evaluation will ensure that erock is responsive to the needs of a range of users. The resulting platform will support fair (findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable) data practices, enable reproducible research and teaching, and sustain the long-term value of digital outcrop data. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.