At the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC), the European Union unveiled on Monday, June 2, in Nice, the prototype of a digital platform designed to enhance decision-making in maritime policy and conservation — the Digital Twin of the Ocean (EU-DTO).
Launched in February 2022 during the One Ocean Summit, the project — initially set for delivery in 2024 — is intended to become the cornerstone of the EU’s digital ocean knowledge system under the “Restore Our Ocean and Waters” mission. Its goal is to provide “a consistent, high-resolution, multidimensional, near real-time and future-oriented virtual representation of the ocean.”
According to the organization Mercator Ocean International, this includes “its physical, chemical, biological, and socio-economic dimensions.” The digital twin will be powered by continuous real-time and historical observations from thousands of ocean sensors worldwide and multiple satellites. It will also integrate alternative data streams, using advanced modeling supported by artificial intelligence, machine learning, and supercomputers.
The insights generated by the platform are meant to help international policymakers, national governments, researchers, businesses, NGOs, and citizens design the most effective strategies to restore and protect marine and coastal habitats, support sustainable blue economy markets, and mitigate and adapt to climate change.
While the EU has reiterated its commitment to making the platform operational, no new official launch date has been announced at this stage.
Source: actu-environnement
