{"id":4514,"date":"2023-09-20T15:14:24","date_gmt":"2023-09-20T13:14:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nersc.no\/?page_id=4514"},"modified":"2026-03-05T15:19:56","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T14:19:56","slug":"digital-twins","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/nersc.no\/en\/research-area\/digitization\/digital-twins\/","title":{"rendered":"Digital twins"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Digital twins<\/h1><\/div>

Virtual representations of reality are very useful in a number of different fields. Computer programs can monitor and simulate how the state of the ocean changes over time, by combining observations from various instruments, with analysis and modelling tools. This will enable us to simulate how wind turbines, geo-engineering or other land-use planning can affect the environment, or how future observation systems can detect such changes in the environment. <\/p><\/div>[vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

Our expertise in climate and environment, oceans and sea ice, and the development of various analysis methods and tools, helps to support knowledge-based management of natural resources.<\/p>\n

Systems that combine observations with analysis tools and models that monitor and simulate the state of the climate and environment, and of man-made objects that operate there, are called digital twins.<\/p>\n

Digital twins of the ocean such as EDITO (the European Digital Twin of the Ocean) or DestinE (Destination Earth) already provide a backdrop of infrastructure that makes many digital twin systems technically possible. On EDITO and DestinE, you can set up a digital twin system without downloading the enormous amounts of data that satellites or models produce every day. For example, you can train a machine learning algorithm and use it instead of a complex ocean model. Together with visualisation in the form of maps, animations and graphs, users can monitor changes in the marine environment and analyse the effects of various impacts.<\/p>\n

We have expertise in arranging data for integration in digital twins, both data managed by us and data from other sources. This can be done through the development of services with standard interfaces that deliver the data in the desired format. Furthermore, we have expertise in adapting tools for analysis and modelling, e.g., by building them in as components of the digital twin. We develop methods to calculate the position of e.g., gliders and drifting buoys under ice. Through the use of the TOPAZ system, we find the best possible set-up of observation systems in the sea. Thus, with our interdisciplinary knowledge, we can contribute to the development of digital twins for the sea.<\/p>\n

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For more information, contact research leader Laurent Bertino<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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News<\/h2><\/div>