The IRIDE Cyber Italy Digital Twin #3 aims to develop and test an advanced Coastal Digital Twin (DT#3) to enhance coastal planning, risk assessment and decision-making. The project focuses on addressing coastal erosion, flooding and water quality management through advanced modeling, artificial intelligence (AI) and scenario simulation tools. By integrating Earth Observation data and oceanographic models, the DT#3 will provide actionable insights for stakeholders at local, regional and national levels.
One of the primary objectives is to demonstrate the feasibility and operational benefits of a Digital Twin-based approach for coastal monitoring and management. This involves evaluating different environmental scenarios and testing interventions such as Nature-Based Solutions, modifications of rigid coastal barriers and flood mitigation strategies. The Digital Twin will serve as a Decision Support System, offering “what-if” scenario analysis to policymakers, environmental agencies and researchers.
The project targets two pilot areas: Rimini (Emilia-Romagna) and Manfredonia-Zapponeta (Puglia), selected for their distinct coastal characteristics and challenges. Rimini faces issues related to coastal erosion and water quality degradation, while Manfredonia is particularly vulnerable to coastal flooding. By developing a scalable and adaptable DT#3, the project also aims to extend its applications to other coastal regions.
Furthermore, the DT#3 will facilitate stakeholder engagement and collaboration by offering a user-friendly interface where decision makers can interact with real-time data, visualize risk assessments and simulate the impact of coastal interventions. The ultimate goal is to improve coastal resilience, optimize infrastructure planning and support sustainable coastal management strategies.

CMCC role
CMCC Foundation plays a pivotal role in the design, development and implementation of the Coastal Digital Twin for IRIDE Cyber Italy. As a leading research institution specializing in climate change, coastal dynamics and environmental modeling, CMCC brings its expertise in numerical simulations, AI-driven forecasting and impact assessments to enhance the DT#3’s capabilities.
CMCC is responsible for collecting and refining user requirements by engaging with stakeholders such as local administrations, environmental agencies and policymakers to ensure the DT#3 aligns with real-world needs. The center also contributes to the system architecture design, particularly in defining the foundational models, AI emulators, and scenario simulation tools that drive the DT#3’s predictive capabilities.
In addition, CMCC leads the integration of oceanographic and meteorological models to improve the accuracy of forecasts related to coastal erosion, flooding and water quality. By leveraging meteocean data, in situ and satellite observations, CMCC enhances the DT#3’s ability to support decision-making through high-resolution environmental analyses.
Beyond technical development, CMCC plays a key role in the stakeholder training and knowledge transfer, facilitating the adoption of Digital Twin technologies by public authorities, researchers and industry players.
Through its involvement in international climate resilience initiatives, CMCC ensures that the DT#3 contributes to broader efforts such as global programs, reinforcing Italy’s position as a leader in digital coastal management and sustainable adaptation strategies.

Activities
The development of the Coastal Digital Twin for IRIDE Cyber Italy involves a series of structured activities aimed at creating a data-driven decision-support system for coastal management. These activities focus on model development, data integration, AI-driven simulations and user engagement, ensuring that the DT#3 effectively addresses challenges related to coastal erosion, flooding and water quality.
The first key activity is the collection and refinement of user requirements, led by CMCC in collaboration with stakeholders such as local governments, environmental agencies and policymakers. This process ensures that the DT#3 is tailored to the specific needs of coastal management authorities in Rimini and Manfredonia-Zapponeta, the two pilot sites.

Another crucial activity is the design and implementation of the DT#3 system architecture, which involves defining the foundational models and AI emulators that drive the platform’s predictive capabilities. CMCC plays a central role in integrating high-resolution satellite and in situ observations and oceanographic and meteorological datasets to support accurate scenario analysis.
A major technical component is the development of simulation tools and impact assessment models. These tools enable users to simulate different coastal management scenarios, such as removing or modifying rigid defense barriers, implementing Nature-Based Solutions and assessing the effects of extreme weather events. The DT#3 incorporates advanced AI techniques to enhance model performance and enable rapid, on-demand scenario exploration.

The DT#3 also includes activities focused on data visualization and user interface development. A web-based interactive platform is being created to allow users to explore real-time coastal risk assessments, compare different intervention strategies and access high-resolution environmental maps. This interface is designed to be user-friendly and accessible for a diverse range of stakeholders, from policymakers to researchers. Another key aspect is the testing, validation and optimization of the DT#3, essential step to enhance the DT#3’s reliability and improve its forecasting accuracy.

Finally, the DT#3 development process includes stakeholder training, knowledge transfe, and dissemination activities. CMCC and project partners provide capacity-building workshops to train users on how to interact with the Digital Twin, interpret model outputs and apply the findings to real-world decision-making.

Expected results
The Coastal Digital Twin is expected to deliver significant advancements in coastal management, risk assessment and decision-making by providing high-resolution data, predictive models and AI-driven simulations. The results will enhance the ability of policymakers, environmental agencies and researchers to anticipate and mitigate coastal hazards while promoting sustainable adaptation strategies.
One of the key expected outcomes is the improvement of real-time coastal risk forecasting. The DT#3 will enable accurate predictions of coastal erosion, flooding and water quality changes, integrating Earth Observation data, numerical models and meteorological inputs. This will allow stakeholders to better understand coastal dynamics and implement evidence-based interventions.

Another major result is the enhancement of scenario-based decision-making. The DT#3 will provide users with the ability to simulate different coastal management strategies, including the removal or modification of rigid defense barriers, implementation of Nature-Based Solutions and flood mitigation measures. These simulations will help decision-makers assess the long-term impact of various interventions, optimizing investments in coastal protection infrastructure.

The project is also expected to improve stakeholder collaboration and knowledge sharing. The DT#3’s interactive web-based platform will facilitate data visualization and scenario comparison, making complex scientific outputs more accessible to public authorities, researchers and private sector actors. This will streamline coordination between different entities involved in coastal planning and disaster risk management.

Additionally, the DT#3 will contribute to climate resilience and environmental sustainability by supporting adaptive coastal planning. By integrating socio-economic data with environmental models, the Digital Twin tool can provide a holistic view of coastal risks and their impacts on communities, tourism and infrastructure. This will help policymakers develop long-term adaptation plans aligned with climate action frameworks.

The final expected result is the scalability and replicability of the DT#3. While initially deployed in Rimini and Manfredonia-Zapponeta areas, the system is designed to be adapted to other Italian coastal regions and potentially expanded at an international level. By demonstrating the feasibility of a Digital Twin approach for coastal management, the project aims to establish a new standard for data-driven decision-making in coastal resilience planning.
Overall, Digital Twin #3 will provide a cutting-edge technological solution for monitoring, predicting and mitigating coastal risks, ultimately contributing to safer, more sustainable and better-managed coastal environments.

Partners
Starion, NAIS