Built on the global network infrastructure

Digital Earth embeds multi-source mass storage of data into the universal spatial/temporal architecture. Digital Earth is oriented to excavation and utilization of information resources in depth/width

and is expected to initiate the construction of the next-generation global information infrastructure (NGII). Development of the digital earth follows an evolutionary process

and constructing the“spatial information infrastructure”is a starting point of the process. Beyond the“Desktop”metaphor of the current information platform

the digital earth will form a natural

immersible information environment. As a guiding goal

the digital earth can be found its applications in almost every field. The technical innovations aroused during development of the digital earth will incessantly promote form of new technical industries and new service industries.