EPOS-NG (EPOS-Norway-Research Infrastructure for Geohazards)
Launched in March 2025 and funded by the Research Council of Norway (project number 350346), EPOS-NG addresses critical gaps in Norway’s geohazard resilience. It builds directly on its predecessor, EPOS-N (project number 245763), to establish the nation’s go-to research infrastructure for monitoring, analyzing, and mitigating growing threats like landslides, tsunamis, earthquakes, and cryosphere hazards, which are increasingly exacerbated by climate change. The EPOS-NG project is structured with a five-year implementation phase (2025-2030) and a subsequent five-year operational phase running through 2035.
The project is carried out by the following six partner institutions:
- Department of Earth Science, University of Bergen (UiB) – coordinator
- Norwegian Research Centre (NORCE)
- The Geological Survey of Norway (NGU)
- NORSAR
- The Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI)
- UiT – the Arctic University of Norway
The primary objective of EPOS-NG is to facilitate seamless access for the Norwegian research community and other users to the instruments, data, services and model integration needed to do groundbreaking research on the earth system and related geohazards. EPOS-NG aims to become the leading infrastructure for geohazard research in Norway.
The upgrade in EPOS-NG will include two main components: establishment of pools of instruments and further development of the EPOS-NO data portal.
The EPOS-NG instrument pools will offer state-of-the-art instruments that can provide information about ongoing or past geohazard events, as well as the potential for future events, by measuring geophysical conditions or ground movements. The instruments facilitate data collection both on land and at sea, and many are suitable for extreme environments such as glaciers and the Arctic. The new instruments will support interdisciplinary research on a range of processes, including seismic activity, slope stability and landslides, groundwater and soil conditions, permafrost, and changes in glaciers. The instrument pools will be made available through the EPOS-NG Instrument Hub that will be established during the project implementation phase.
The EPOS-NO database will be further developed to provide easy access to a variety of geoscientific data as well as computational and visualization services. The portal combines data from the new instruments and existing monitoring networks, innovative services for advanced data analysis, and national geoscience databases into a single national e-infrastructure that is open and accessible to all.
EPOS-NG also supports Norwayʼs goals for climate adaptation and renewable energy by helping risk assessment in offshore areas and providing tools for safe resource development. By combining cutting-edge technology with teamwork and open access, EPOS-NG helps protect communities and build a safer, more sustainable future.