New advances in ocean science with the European Digital Twin
In June, the European Digital Twin of the Ocean (EDITO) prototype was unveiled, marking a significant step towards making comprehensive oceanic knowledge accessible to all. This digital replica will soon provide scientists and policymakers with nearly real-time scientific data, allowing for the simulation and evaluation of policy measures to make informed decisions for ocean conservation.
EDITO is a multi-dimensional, near real-time virtual representation that combines marine observations, artificial intelligence and advanced ocean modelling, open to the public. This flagship initiative is part of the European Commission’s ‘Restore Our Ocean and Waters’ mission, with the Flemish Marine Institute (VLIZ) and Mercator Ocean International leading the development of EDITO’s core infrastructure. This project integrates data and services from the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) and the Copernicus Marine Service into one digital framework.
Francisco Hernandez, technical director at VLIZ, highlighted the project’s rapid progress on The Oceancast podcast: “Compared to the decades needed to build reliable weather models, EDITO has advanced at lightning speed. Sophisticated automation enables the measurement of a broad range of parameters with sensors, accelerated by technologies such as image processing, AI and deep learning. Policymakers’ interest in utilizing these technologies for environmental management has been a driving force.”
He further explained: “Users can now access data in near real time to create models, generate accurate predictions and validate scenarios. For example, determining the ideal timing for biofouling removal from offshore structures requires extensive data across biological, chemical and physical parameters, which the Digital Twin Ocean infrastructure is equipped to provide.”
Ocean data redefined
According to Frederic Leclercq, project coordinator at VLIZ: “The European Commission selected VLIZ to develop and host the public DTO infrastructure due to its central role in managing EMODnet. EDITO combines a vast data lake – holding large volumes of unstructured and structured data from diverse sources – with high-performance computing (HPC) capabilities. Together with analysis-ready and cloud-optimized (ARCO) data, this is a groundbreaking development in oceanographic IT.”
The European Commission expects EDITO to be fully operational within a few months. The initial prototype was launched at the Digital Ocean Forum 2024 in Brussels, where policymakers, European project partners and stakeholders across disciplines gathered to collaborate on its design. Several applications already run on this core infrastructure, demonstrating the digital twin’s immense potential.
VLIZ continues to develop additional applications for the EU DTO, coordinating projects such as DTO Bioflow (biological observation data integration), DT Geo (sea-level change predictions) and DTO-track (tracking data for marine species).
Data-driven decision-making
The Digital Twin Ocean infrastructure promises remarkable capabilities for exploring marine data, next-generation ocean modelling and data-driven decision-making. EDITO enables simulation of scenarios and ‘what-if’ analyses, answering complex questions with greater accuracy. In June, the prototype showcased applications across various areas, including marine litter (plastic pollution), marine biodiversity, nature-based solutions (e.g. seagrass restoration), offshore renewable energy, early warnings for extreme events and coastal monitoring across Europe.
To fully grasp the transformative potential of the Digital Twin Ocean, interested parties are encouraged to explore the available demos. These demos reveal the products and services offered, the publicly accessible data and how EDITO will support policymakers. They also highlight the expert network behind EDITO and societal expectations for this innovative tool.
Reviewing these use cases provides insight into the significant advancements and impact anticipated from the Digital Twin Ocean in the near future.
