The Puzzle of the Future: Russia Assembles the Earth’s Crust into a Digital Twin for Scientists, Engineers, and Explorers

A groundbreaking IT project developed by Gazprom Neft’s R&D center offers a stunningly detailed model of Earth’s subsurface, combining big data, computer graphics, and geoscience into a gamified platform for education and industry.

Geological Lego for a Digital Age

The WorldMegaPuzzle project is a revolutionary interactive platform that visualizes the geological structure of the Earth, enabling users to explore subsurface formations up to five kilometers deep. Created by scientists at the Gazprom Neft Scientific and Technical Center, the system integrates seismic and geological exploration data into a high-resolution, fully interactive gigapixel image. It’s not just a map—it’s a scientific tool and digital twin of the Earth’s crust, offering microscope-level detail while maintaining regional context.

Built at the intersection of big data, geoinformatics, and web-based 3D visualization, this EdTech breakthrough aims to democratize access to geoscience. Unlike closed corporate digital twins or hard-to-access geological software, WorldMegaPuzzle is public, interactive, and deeply grounded in science.

Beyond Records: Substance Over Size

The model includes 1.6 million elements—more than the 1.2-million-piece puzzle assembled by the U.S. Air Force and ad agency GSD&M in 2020. But the Russian system isn’t just about numbers. What makes it unique is its scientific rigor and educational focus.

We are working to fulfill a national-level goal voiced by the President—the achievement of universal digital literacy. Together with the government and our partners, we are investing in digital education at all levels: from primary schools to universities, while also developing reskilling programs for all age groups and professions

Anton Dumin

CIO of Gazprom Neft

WorldMegaPuzzle serves as a visual cross-section of the Earth using real geophysical data, offering insights into tectonic history and mineral formation. Unlike professional 3D subsurface tools like GeoVisionary, or earlier Russian efforts like Rosgeo’s closed visualization platform, this system is gamified and publicly accessible—designed for both specialists and STEM learners.

From Classrooms to Core Samples

This open-access platform is expected to spark widespread interest in geoscience, particularly among students. Schools and universities can use the system to transform dry textbook material into interactive exploration. Gamification turns geology into a gateway STEM discipline, encouraging more students to consider careers in Earth sciences.

For professionals, the platform acts as a simulator for exploration. Geologists, geophysicists, and engineers can use it to analyze formations, model deposits, and train in remote resource identification. This dual role as both learning environment and industrial tool sets it apart from legacy solutions.

Industrial Applications and Global Potential

In the near future, the platform is expected to be integrated into industrial GIS and predictive analytics systems to support real-world exploration and extraction.

Plans are already underway to develop an API that would connect WorldMegaPuzzle with mineralogical and geochemical datasets in production environments. In the educational space, the tool will integrate with existing learning platforms and support interactive competitions and digital Olympics.

Russia, by launching this hybrid of IT, science, and education, is positioning itself as a global leader in EdTech for Earth sciences. The model’s accessibility and scientific foundation make it a potential export product for global education and mining sectors alike.