Digital twins: the cornerstone of the Ocean Decade vision

The importance of our ocean

The ocean is vital to life as we know it, serving as a source of food, energy, trade, recreation, and employment. It also plays a crucial role in influencing climate and weather patterns. It is in the best interests of all to safeguard this remarkable and fragile natural resource. However, humanity continues to jeopardise its long-term health. In the relentless and often self-centred pursuit of progress, we have left behind a trail of intractable problems, including overexploitation, biodiversity loss, high levels of pollution, and climate change.

Modelling the impact of ocean changes on climate and biodiversity

The foundation for creating a digital twin of the ocean starts with data collected from hydrographic surveys and remote sensing and mapping. This dataset serves as the foundation for constructing a virtual representation of the ocean and its associated marine assets. Subsequently, the digital twin is linked and synchronised with real-time observation data. This synchronisation extends to real-world information gathered from remote sensors, encompassing but not limited to measurements of wind, tide, current, and sea temperature, among others. This integration improves ocean simulations and decision-making in marine research and industry by providing a dynamic and accurate representation.

Additionally, historical data and forecasts can be seamlessly integrated into this data set. It's important to emphasise that the digital twin remains connected to real-time data in the physical world, making the digital twin highly accurate.  Harnessing sophisticated software and algorithms this data undergoes processing and analysis, including filtering, normalisation, and transformation to ensure its accuracy and utility. Leveraging, artificial intelligence, and machine learning technologies, the system taps into its continually expanding data repository, culminating in the creation of a comprehensive model with predictive capabilities.

Unlike the digital twin, this model operates in isolation from the real world. With this wealth of information at their disposal, data scientists and data analysts can employ the digital twin model to simulate a multitude of 'what if' scenarios concerning various facets of the ocean. These scenarios may encompass aspects such as ocean currents, temperature fluctuations, carbon dioxide levels, ecosystems and responses to diverse environmental conditions or operational variables, including climate, sea ice levels and biodiversity. This capability proves invaluable for studying and managing the health and sustainability of our marine environments. One example might involve assessing the consequences of a five-degree increase in sea temperature on ocean currents, polar ice caps, and marine life. This technology empowers us to explore and comprehend the potential short term and long term impacts of environmental changes on our oceans.

Modelling the interaction of the ocean and human activity

Digital twin technology offers a secure, digital testing environment that empowers ocean scientists to deepen their comprehension of intricate ocean processes, marine life and their interactions with human activities. It proves invaluable in facilitating decision-making processes across industries closely linked to the ocean. For instance, a digital twin data model can simulate the long-term efficacy of measures like breakwaters in safeguarding a port against rising sea levels or rare, once in 100-year or once in 500-year storm events.

Furthermore, it can project the repercussions of a five-degree increase in sea temperature on plants and animals: if this leads to the demise of sea grasses, it will result in reduced biodiversity and the loss of crucial nurseries for young fish, potentially devastating the fishing industry. Moreover, digital twin technology can model entire marine ecosystems, including the intricate relationships between species, habitats, and environmental factors. This data modelling aids in monitoring and forecasting to make informed choices regarding marine protected areas, fisheries management, and conservation initiatives.

Envisioning an ideal future scenario, we see a thriving blue economy that coexists harmoniously with a vibrant and protected marine environment.

Enhancing our understanding of climate change

Digital twins are instrumental in realising the vision of the Ocean Decade, which seeks 'the science we need for the ocean we want.' They seamlessly complement traditional climate models by continuously enriching them with real-world, remotely collected data. Additionally, they offer valuable insights into the intricate relationship between the ocean and Earth's changing climate.

Digital twin modelling is already empowering evidence-based decisions for sustainable ocean management and climate adaptation measures, benefiting both current and future generations. It fosters collaboration among government agencies, maritime industries, and environmental organisations by:

• Providing access to a vast pool of data, information, and insights, conserving data integrity and fundamentally reshaping the decision-making process.

• Standardising data formats, facilitating real-time monitoring and predictive modelling, which in turn aids in the development of strategies to mitigate and adapt.

• Supporting efforts aimed at healing the ocean.

Digital twins serve as a powerful tool that bridges the gap between scientific understanding and practical action, offering the potential to safeguard our oceans and ensure a sustainable future.

Optimising the marine environment and maritime industries

In the digital era, there's a clear trend toward integrating data from diverse sources and ensuring its accessibility. Digital twin technology aligns perfectly with this trend, offering a framework that facilitates the integration and utilisation of data and information from various sources, including real-time data from remote sensing devices.

As we move forward, it's a matter of when, not if, the maritime industry will adopt digital twins to optimise supply chains and operational processes. Imagine a scenario where a port uses this technology to optimise the arrival time of a container ship. Factors to consider may encompass the ship's size, weight, container count, estimated journey time, as well as weather conditions, port activity, and train timetables —all to ensure efficient cargo handling and onward transportation.

To conclude

The potential applications of digital twin technology in advancing ocean resource management are truly boundless and inspiring. Digital twins possess the remarkable capacity to deepen our understanding of the oceans, fostering sustainable management practices and promoting collaboration among stakeholders. These versatile and adaptive tools play a pivotal role in advancing the goals of the Ocean Decade by seamlessly integrating data, modelling complex systems, and delivering real-time and predictive insights. They are an invaluable asset in our collective endeavour to safeguard and effectively manage our oceans and coastlines, working towards a safe and liveable world.