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Masters · 1500 h · 11 modules
Master's in Digital Twin of the Ocean
The Master's in Digital Twin of the Ocean Prepares you to design and run digital twins of the ocean: virtual replicas that combine observations, numerical models and artificial intelligence to represent the state of the sea and ex
Duration1500 h
FormatOnline
Starts21 December
Places20 / 20
Prior knowledge
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Programme overview
What is the Master’s in Digital Twin of the Ocean?
The Master's in Digital Twin of the Ocean
Prepares you to design and run digital twins of the ocean: virtual replicas that combine observations, numerical models and artificial intelligence to represent the state of the sea and explore future scenarios. You will learn to integrate near-real-time data, couple physical and biogeochemical models through data assimilation, build what-if scenarios, and develop interfaces and visualisations that help port, coastal, energy and conservation managers make better decisions.
Key advantages
- A whole-system approach: Data, models, AI, visualisation and interoperability in one programme.
- Leading initiatives: A look at the digital twins being developed under Copernicus, the EU and the UN Ocean Decade.
- Hands-on with open tools: Ocean models, data libraries and freely available visualisation engines.
- Decision-focused: Scenarios applied to ports, coasts, energy and ecosystems.
- Your own project: Designing a digital twin of a marine area or asset.
Programme type
Master's Degree
Study mode
Online
Duration
1,500 hours
Modules
11
Programme highlights
- Integrate data: Combine observations and models in near real time.
- Model the ocean: Work with physical and biogeochemical models.
- Explore scenarios: Design what-if simulations for management.
- Visualise in 3D: Build interfaces and dashboards for users.
- Boost your career: Open doors to research centres, tech companies and marine managers.
- Train to build the digital replica of the ocean that marine science and management need.
Curriculum
Programme Structure
The programme is structured in 11 modules, listed below in order of study.
01
Foundations of Digital Twins
- Origins of the digital twin concept
- Digital twins in industry and cities
- From model to digital twin
- Components of a digital twin
- Maturity and fidelity levels
- Digital twins of the Earth system
- Digital twins of the ocean
- European and international initiatives
- Use cases and users
- Scientific and technical challenges
02
Ocean Observation for Digital Twins
- Essential ocean variables
- Buoy and mooring networks
- Argo floats and profilers
- Gliders and autonomous vehicles
- Coastal HF radar
- Ocean observation satellites
- Sensors on ships and infrastructure
- Near-real-time data
- Operational quality control
- Designing observing networks
03
Physical Ocean Modelling
- Equations of ocean motion
- Regional and coastal circulation models
- Structured and unstructured meshes
- Boundary conditions and forcing
- Spectral wave models
- Tide and sea level models
- Sediment transport models
- Model nesting
- Model validation
- High-performance computing
04
Biogeochemical and Ecological Modelling
- Nutrient and oxygen cycles
- Plankton models
- Carbonate system models
- Coastal water quality
- Pollutant dispersion models
- Particle drift models
- Species habitat models
- End-to-end ecosystem models
- Physical-biological coupling
- Uncertainty in ecological models
05
Data Assimilation
- Fundamentals of data assimilation
- Optimal interpolation
- D-Var and 4D-Var variational methods
- The ensemble Kalman filter
- Observation and model errors
- Assimilating satellite data
- Assimilating in situ profiles
- Ocean reanalyses
- Observing system experiments
- Assimilation with machine learning
06
Artificial Intelligence in the Digital Twin
- The role of AI in a digital twin
- Emulators of physical models
- Surrogate models for rapid scenarios
- Reconstructing fields from sparse data
- Short-term forecasting with neural networks
- Anomaly detection
- Hybrid physics-AI models
- Uncertainty quantification
- Validating AI models
- Current limits of ocean AI
07
Digital Infrastructure and Interoperability
- Reference architectures
- Cloud computing and HPC
- Analysis-ready data storage
- APIs and web services
- OGC standards
- Oceanographic data protocols
- Metadata management
- FAIR principles
- Platform security
- Scalability and costs
08
What-if Scenarios and Decision Support
- What a what-if scenario is
- Climate scenarios
- Human intervention scenarios
- Simulating spills and emergencies
- Simulating coastal works
- Simulating offshore wind farms
- Fisheries management scenarios
- Indicators for decision-making
- Multi-criteria analysis
- Communicating uncertainty
09
3D Visualisation and User Interfaces
- Principles of scientific visualisation
- Web-based geospatial visualisation
- D visualisation engines
- Representing three-dimensional fields
- Time-series animations
- Dashboards for managers
- User-centred design
- Virtual and augmented reality
- Interface accessibility
- User testing
10
Sector Applications and Governance
- Port digital twins
- Coastal management and risk
- Offshore renewable energy
- Aquaculture and fisheries
- Marine protected areas
- Marine spatial planning
- Maritime security
- Business models and sustainability
- Data governance and ownership
- Ethics and responsible use
11
Master's Final Project: Designing a Marine Digital Twin
- Choosing the case and the users
- Functional requirements
- Inventory of available data
- Model selection
- Architecture design
- Integrating data and models
- Defining scenarios
- Interface prototype
- Writing the dissertation
- Defence before a panel
Workload
Study Time and Workload
1500 hours of study, online and at your own pace. Move the slider to the hours a week you can really put in.
Hours a week8
Weeks to finish—
You finish around—
Who it is for
Graduates in marine science, physics, mathematics, computing or engineering: who want to specialise in digital twins Modellers and oceanographers: looking to embed their models in operational platforms Software and data engineers: who want to apply their skills to the marine sector Port, coastal and offshore energy professionals: who need simulation tools to support decisions Public body a
Faculty
Academic direction and faculty
The teaching team at Navalis: working professionals who deliver and oversee the institute's programmes.
Eng. Diego Cifuentes
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)
Dr. Pau Ferrer
Dr. Nuria Llobregat
Eng. Javier Bañuls
Eng. Sofía Marquina
Eng. Tomás Riera
Verified reviews
Student Reviews
Reviews collected and verified by Opynio, not written by us.
Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
- 01Understand the digital twin concept
- 02Integrate observations
- 03Couple models and data
- 04Incorporate artificial intelligence
- 05Design what-if scenarios
- 06Develop user interfaces
Careers
Career Opportunities
01Digital twin specialist: Designing and running marine simulation platforms.
02Ocean modeller: Developing and validating models at research centres and consultancies.
03Ocean data engineer: Data architectures and interoperability.
04Decision support consultant: Scenarios for ports, coasts and offshore energy.
05Scientific visualisation developer: 3D interfaces and dashboards.
06Innovation project manager: Ocean digitalisation projects.
Questions
Entry Requirements
A virtual representation that combines observations, models and AI to describe the state of the sea and simulate scenarios.
A basic programming background is recommended; the programme includes guided practicals with open tools.
Yes. You use open ocean models, operational products and public observation data.
It is an emerging, fast-moving field; the programme covers both its potential and its current limitations.
Designing a digital twin for a coastal area, port or marine asset, with a working prototype.
100% online, with a virtual campus available 24/7, live sessions that are recorded, and tutorials with the teaching staff.
The programme involves 1500 hours of study. You can work at your own pace within the timetable we give you when you enrol.
Each programme has its own start date, shown on this page and confirmed by our admissions team when you enquire.
On completing the programme you receive the Master's in Digital Twin of the Ocean qualification awarded by Navalis Magna Institute.
Online admissions
Admissions Process
No waiting for a phone call. If your documents are complete, you can pay in the same session.
Entry requirements
Academic/professional profile: A degree in marine science, physics, mathematics, computer science, engineering or a related field; or proven professional experience in modelling, data or the marine sector. Language: A good working level of English to follow classes and materials. Technical requirements: A computer with a stable internet connection, an up-to-date browser and a webcam for live sessions and project presentations. Admissions process: Online application, profile review and a short interview with the academic team. We confirm your start date when you enquire.
Questions?
Frequently Asked Questions
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