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Digital twin technology is helping the maritime industry create realistic virtual environments for planning, testing and decision-making. By combining authoritative marine data with advanced visualisation, digital twins can support safer navigation and improved operational awareness.
What is a digital twin?
A digital twin is a virtual representation of a real-world environment. In maritime applications, it combines hydrographic, environmental and navigational data to create accurate digital models of ports, waterways and coastal areas.
These environments can be used to explore different scenarios, assess risks and support operational planning before activities take place in the real world.
Supporting port familiarisation
The UKHO is exploring how digital twin technology can support voyage planning and port familiarisation in the future through ADMIRALTY Virtual Ports - with development currently underway.
ADMIRALTY Virtual Ports combines official, authoritative ADMIRALTY data with configurable weather, tides and time-of-day settings to create immersive 3D port environments. Navigators will be able to rehearse arrivals and departures, assess navigational hazards and better understand how changing conditions may affect their plans.
The solution will be able to be used onboard or ashore during voyage appraisal and detailed planning, helping bridge teams build situational awareness before entering unfamiliar or challenging ports.
How it works
ADMIRALTY Virtual Ports uses bathymetric data, tidal information and Electronic Navigational Chart (ENC) features to create realistic port environments. Data is sourced from official providers, including Hydrographic Offices, where permissions exist.
Delivered through a secure streamed service, the platform will require no specialist hardware or system integration.
Looking ahead
As maritime operations become increasingly digital, technologies such as digital twins are expected to play a growing role in navigation, planning and decision support.
By combining trusted marine geospatial data with immersive visualisation, digital twins can help maritime organisations better understand operational environments and prepare for complex navigational scenarios with greater confidence.
The UKHO have been developing immersive digital twins, watch our video to find out more.
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