Establishing Community Interfaces To Optimise Outcomes And Maximise Impacts From Digital Twins Of The Ocean

The UN Decade Programme "Digital Twins of the Ocean" (DITTO) is dedicated to creating a comprehensive digital framework to support the UN Ocean Decade’s Challenge 8: developing a global digital ocean map for free and open access. DITTO strengthens science and evidence-based decision-making through extensive community engagement and the development of accessible and transferable community interfaces to prioritise user-friendly and trustworthy digital twin frameworks. By promoting these community-centric approaches, DITTO is championing sustainable and extensible practices that help ensure that decisions are grounded by the best possible understanding of potential risks, both now and in the future. The aspiration is for a collaborative and transparent framework where science consistently informs responsible and sustainable ocean practices, enabling effective engagement and proactive management that safeguards marine habitats and biodiversity, helping to support UN Sustainable Development Goals.

 

DITTO provides a focal point for users, developers and stakeholders to ensure that digital twin technologies are accessible and fit-for-purpose for policymakers, researchers, industry leaders and local communities. By championing best practice and helping communities establish shared standards for digital twin development, DITTO is helping to ensure that digital twins are interoperable and scientifically robust, contributing to a unified global ocean knowledge system. These trusted foundations are essential for making informed, impactful decisions that align with the UN Ocean Decade’s vision.

 

As part of its mission, DITTO is actively collaborating with other Decade actions and initiatives to maximise the impact of digital twin technologies at global and regional scales. This includes establishing community interfaces that enable and promote common resources, standards, interoperability, and coordinated responses to ocean challenges within and between ocean communities.  DITTO also fosters inclusive and broadscale community engagement in the co-development of digital twin models that ensures that local knowledge and concerns are incorporated, making digital twins more comprehensive and relevant to specific regions and user needs. Through workshops, training, and open-access tools, and soliciting feedback on their use, DITTO is empowering communities to engage with ocean data directly, bridging the gap between scientific insights and decision-making.