Fujitsu and the BCN Port Innovation Foundation have announced a partnership to develop a proof of concept for an ocean digital twin at the Port of Barcelona. This initiative aims to regenerate the marine environment, protect biodiversity, and promote the blue economy.
The project will utilize underwater drones, artificial intelligence, and advanced analytics to create high-resolution representations of the seabed. This non-destructive sensing approach will enable visualization and quantification of biodiversity, biomass calculation based on vegetation cover, and estimation of blue carbon associated with marine algae.
The digital twin will provide a unified digital platform for centralizing information on port biodiversity, facilitating long-term monitoring. Fujitsu's commitment to social and environmental impact aligns with climate neutrality goals and the protection of marine ecosystems.
By integrating AI-enabled underwater data capture with advanced analytics, the Ocean Digital Twin will transform how marine ecosystems are measured and understood. Autonomous vehicles will follow optimized survey routes, enabling consistent seabed data acquisition for AI processing. Machine learning models will convert this data into quantitative environmental intelligence.
The platform allows for the simulation of “what if” scenarios, aiding in environmental measure pre-verification to prioritize investments based on real impact. This capability will help port authorities balance port activity with natural environment preservation, designing sustainable infrastructure and operations.
The project could also open new opportunities within the blue economy, potentially leading to marine research initiatives, environmental education, and scientific outreach activities. The digital twin's visual and immersive nature enhances transparency and awareness, fostering stakeholder understanding of coastal ecosystem protection.
Fujitsu and BCN Port Innovation plan to carry out the proof of concept in 2026, with the potential to add regeneration and preservation simulation scenarios following a successful trial.
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