Presentation Information
[BSG7SMHd-04]Connecting the DOTs: An Exploratory Study of Global Activities and Collaboration Potential for Digital Ocean Twins
*Sigmund Kluckner1 (1. Sigmund Kluckner (Austria))
Connecting the DOTs provides a global overview and interactive map of Digital Twins of the Ocean (DTOs), examining the current status of DTO developments, stakeholders, technologies, and opportunities for collaboration. The report reveals a rapidly expanding but highly fragmented landscape in which governments, research institutions, international organizations, and private-sector actors are developing ocean digital twins and related components, often using similar technologies, datasets, and objectives but with limited coordination.
A central finding is the strong and growing demand for international cooperation. Organizations consistently highlighted the need to share challenges, exchange experience, increase access to data and computational infrastructure, and avoid duplication through the reuse of models, workflows, and software components. International networks and standards initiatives are already creating momentum toward more connected and interoperable DTO ecosystems. The report argues that federated architectures, common standards, shared registries of models and datasets, and stronger cross-border partnerships will be essential to unlock the full value of DTOs for science, policy, and the blue economy.
At the same time, significant challenges remain. Technical barriers include limited interoperability between systems, difficulties integrating data and models, infrastructure constraints, uncertainty in model outputs, and the challenge of moving from static digital replicas to interactive digital twins. Organizational barriers include fragmented governance, inconsistent funding, data licensing restrictions, and uneven technical capacity across regions. These challenges are especially pronounced in areas with limited resources but growing demand for ocean information and decision-support tools.
The report concludes that realizing the full potential of DTOs will require coordinated international action, sustained investment, and a culture of openness and collaboration. Building on momentum within DITTO and related initiatives, there is growing interest in strengthening peer exchange, convening collaborative workshops, and establishing an active global community of practice that promotes the sharing of data, models, infrastructure, and expertise to accelerate DTO development worldwide.
A central finding is the strong and growing demand for international cooperation. Organizations consistently highlighted the need to share challenges, exchange experience, increase access to data and computational infrastructure, and avoid duplication through the reuse of models, workflows, and software components. International networks and standards initiatives are already creating momentum toward more connected and interoperable DTO ecosystems. The report argues that federated architectures, common standards, shared registries of models and datasets, and stronger cross-border partnerships will be essential to unlock the full value of DTOs for science, policy, and the blue economy.
At the same time, significant challenges remain. Technical barriers include limited interoperability between systems, difficulties integrating data and models, infrastructure constraints, uncertainty in model outputs, and the challenge of moving from static digital replicas to interactive digital twins. Organizational barriers include fragmented governance, inconsistent funding, data licensing restrictions, and uneven technical capacity across regions. These challenges are especially pronounced in areas with limited resources but growing demand for ocean information and decision-support tools.
The report concludes that realizing the full potential of DTOs will require coordinated international action, sustained investment, and a culture of openness and collaboration. Building on momentum within DITTO and related initiatives, there is growing interest in strengthening peer exchange, convening collaborative workshops, and establishing an active global community of practice that promotes the sharing of data, models, infrastructure, and expertise to accelerate DTO development worldwide.
Comment
To browse or post comments, you must log in.Log in