The project

IDEATION at a glance:

IDEATION is an EU-funded project focused on preparing the development of the Digital Twin of the inland waters (rivers, lakes, reservoirs, wetlands, snow, and ice) interoperable with the Digital Twin Ocean (DTO). The project’s success depends on the collaboration of an experienced consortium of 11 European partners.

Why IDEATION?

IDEATION aims to integrate inland water data with the Digital Twin Ocean (DTO) to combine real-time and historical data from various sources, reflecting the different inland waters physical characteristics and dynamics. It offers valuable insights for scientists, researchers, and policymakers to make informed decisions about freshwater health and management.

Climate Change Impact

IDEATION helps mitigate the effects of climate change by creating a digital model of inland waters, which provides valuable insights into shifts in precipitation patterns, temperature changes, and water availability.

Regulatory Compliance

IDEATION supports regions in meeting strict regulations on water quality and usage by offering accurate, real-time data and comprehensive analysis.

Environmental Conservation

By developing a digital twin of inland waters, the project aids in the conservation of these valuable natural resources, ensuring the availability of drinking water, supporting agriculture, and facilitating industrial processes.

Resource Management

IDEATION enhances the management of inland water ecosystems, which are home to unique biodiversity, by providing detailed and integrated data.

Water Quality Control

Maintaining water quality is crucial for public health and the environment. IDEATION’s digital model helps monitor and manage water quality effectively.

Data-Driven Decision-Making

The project offers decision-makers a comprehensive view of the current state of inland waters, enabling informed and strategic decisions for sustainable management.

Impacts of IDEATION

Scientific:

IDEATION will create an extensive inventory, contributing to a comprehensive knowledge system (OpenKIWAS). This will include scientific research projects and results, EU and international policies relevant to inland waters, as well as open data and tools including meteorological services.

Societal:

IDEATION will engage stakeholders with different expertises to help identify and address societal needs related to water quality, resource management, and environmental conservation. By making the OpenKIWAS inventory publicly accessible, IDEATION will promote transparency and empower communities with knowledge to advocate for better water management policies and practices.

Economic & Technological:

IDEATION will enhance technological capabilities by cataloguing and prioritising existing digital systems and solutions relevant to inland water management. The project will also develop a roadmap for integrating these technologies with the Digital Twin Ocean, ensuring interoperability and avoiding duplication. This will support the growth of the digital water economy and drive technological innovation in water management.

The project METHODOLOGY

Map and engage with stakeholders through focus groups, workshops, interviews, and questionnaires.
Conduct a comprehensive review to inventory current solutions and technologies, including policies, projects, research, data models, AI, open data, and meteorological data.
Define detailed use cases based on selected Water-oriented Living Labs (WoLLs) and stakeholder input.
Identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the matching map, reference use cases, and reference architecture.
Define a roadmap with recommendations for the future development of a digital twin for inland waters interoperable with the DTO