In June 2024, the Centre for Water Systems (CWS) started a new partnership as part of the Horizon Europe project IDEATION (inlanD watErs in the digiAL Twin OceaN) to provide the fundamentals for a digital twin for inland waters to be integrated in the Digital Twin Ocean (DTO), thus creating a unified model of the hydrosphere.
IDEATION, coordinated by CETAQUA (Spain) is funded by the European Climate, Infrastructure, and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) and co-funded by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), under the UK government’s Horizon Europe funding Guarantee. IDEATION brings together a consortium of eleven distinguished partners from across Europe, including leading research institutions, universities, and technological organizations. The project’s kick-off meeting was held in Barcelona, Spain from the 25-26th June 2024, signifying the beginning of this two-year journey.
IDEATION seeks to revolutionize the management and understanding of inland water systems, including rivers, lakes, reservoirs, wetlands, snow, and ice. By leveraging advanced technologies and cross-border cooperation, the project will provide a comprehensive roadmap, including the IDEATION reference architecture, defining standards and interfaces to ensure interoperability with the DTO. A significant aspect of the project is stakeholder engagement through Water-oriented Living Labs (WoLLs) and Multi-Stakeholder Forums (MSF). These activities will facilitate collaboration and input from a diverse range of stakeholders, ensuring the project meets the needs and priorities of various European communities.
In addition to the comprehensive roadmap and the reference architecture, IDEATION’s results will include OpenKIWAS, an open knowledge inventory for inland water systems and a set of recommendations for the future development of the digital twin. Lessons learnt during the project will be openly available. This project exemplifies the power of European collaboration in addressing critical environmental challenges and advancing technological innovation.
Prof Albert Chen and Dr Kate Baker at the Centre for Water Systems will participate in IDEATION to analyse policy, regulatory framework and project output related to inland water management in order to suggest recommendations on technical governance.
“IDEATION plays a pivotal role in the new era of digital twins, creating an environment that facilitates the application of state-of-the-art knowledge and technologies in water and environmental management. The substantial experience on digital water and the stakeholders networking that CWS has established provide a solid foundation for IDEATION research.”
Prof Albert Chen, Centre for Water Systems
For more information, please follow IDEATION’s social media channels; X/Twitter and LinkedIn.