Network Architecture

The Geo Web is open-source, public good infrastructure. It is governed, first and foremost, to benefit its users.

A high-level diagram of the Geo Web's network architecture

1.Digital Land Registry

The Digital Land Registry is conceptually similar to the World Wide Web's DNS. It creates an authoritative geographic namespace covering the globe that's divided into unique digital land parcels. Publishers link digital content to land parcels NFTs. Browsers resolve linked content by mapping user geolocation to a digital land parcel and its content.

2.Partial Common Ownership

Digital land is administered through a partial common ownership (PCO) system. Land licensors must contribute an ongoing fee to the network based on their self-assessed value of the land. Any one can buy a digital land parcel by paying the self-assessed value to the current licensor. This system encourages productive usage of land and creates a sustainable public goods funding model.

3.Cadastres

Cadastres are the core user interfaces for land licensors—enabling digital land claims, transfers, fee payments, and changes to linked content. Think of them like a domain name registrar site plus a CMS. The founding team has built one instance of a Cadastre, but development of others is permissionless and encouraged.

4.Spatial Browsers

Like a traditional web browser, spatial browsers offer a universal interface for digital experiences. They use GPS (and other geolocation systems/sensors) rather than URLs to navigate the network. Geo Web browsers can be canvas-based (smartphones & watches) or field-of-view (camera lens & glasses). Development is permissionless.

5.Content Layer

Geo Web publishers can link content via client-server or peer-to-peer content networks. Utilizing P2P architectures is especially attractive on the Geo Web because browsers seeking the same content will be geographically clustered—increasing network resiliency, efficiency, and censorship resistance.

6.Public Goods

As a platform designed to enable the next era of the open internet, public goods are at the heart of the Geo Web's founding values and strategy. Idealism only goes so far. So, 100% of the revenue from the Geo Web's PCO land market will be used to fund public goods and create a regenerative ecosystem of investment+building.

Calling All Builders

The Geo Web is live on Optimsim. We're always open to new contributors and looking for ways to support builders (including QF funding starting in Q2'23.

Use Cases

The Geo Web’s protocols are designed to support open innovation across hardware, software, and applications. Here are just a few example use cases:

A light show at a concert with hands in the air.

Events

We love concerts and sporting events because of the power of shared experience. With the Geo Web, stadiums and arenas can extend this into a new digital dimension.

A classical art display at a museum

Tourism & Museums

Augment your favorite attractions with additional educational information, media, and interactions.

A close up of someone making art on an iPad

Digital Art

Place digital art (non-fungible or otherwise) in your backyard or a public space for all Geo Web browsers to discover and enjoy together.

A group of three people at a coffee shop looking at a phone together

Games

Create scavenger hunts and gamified check-ins that co-exist with the rest of the Geo Web network rather than in a siloed app.

Someone dropping a key into another person's hand

Real Estate Marketing

Digital land is a valuable complement to any residential or commercial property. Real estate brokers can differentiate their service by ensuring clients claim their space on the Geo Web.

Image of a restaurant/bar

Restaurants

COVID-19 introduced the bane of QR code menus. Open a Geo Web browser at a restaurant and the menu can already be there along with functionality like contactless ordering and live seating wait times.

Support Our Work

The Geo Web Project is open-source. You can help us continue our work and grow the network by contributing to our Gitcoin Grant.

Geo Web Blog

Weekly updates, ideas, and writing from the Geo Web team.

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