Simulating Ocean Futures: A Digital Twin Pilot for Environmental Scenarios

The application of digital twin technology to the ocean is often referred to as “Digital Twins of the Ocean” (DTO). One notable initiative funded under Horizon Europe programs - Green Deal is the ILIAD - Digital Twin of the Ocean project. One of the objectives of ILIAD is to establish interoperable, data-intensive, and cost-effective DTO pilots. This paper focuses on one such pilot dedicated to environmental monitoring and water quality assessment associated with the OceanLab infrastructure in the Trondheim Fjord, Norway. This paper outlines the architecture and concept of the pilot while providing detailed insights into its application for various “what-if” scenarios. The scenario presented in this paper is a case study that analyzes the impact of a hypothetical oil spill at the Trondheim terminal. It focuses on the spread of surface oil over a 30-hour period using various pilot modules. The paper also discusses the potential replication of this study in another geographical location.