The ILIAD project, part of the Horizon Europe programme, is developing a Digital Twin of the Ocean a virtual representation of marine environments that combines Earth Observation (EO) data, physical models, and digital infrastructure to support real-time prediction and sustainable ocean management.
Terradue contributes to ILIAD by advancing the interoperability architecture for containerized model execution, using the EO Application Package model. This work enables scientific and operational models to be deployed consistently across various infrastructures, including cloud platforms and high-performance computing (HPC) environments.
A Digital Twin for the Marine Environment
ILIAD brings together EO data, in-situ measurements, marine models, and computational platforms to enable a real-time, predictive representation of the ocean. This digital twin concept supports applications such as:
- Marine spatial planning
- Forecasting of ocean phenomena
- Climate impact simulations
- Sustainable management of marine resources
To meet the diverse technical requirements of such applications, ILIAD focuses on a modular and open architecture that facilitates reuse and integration across platforms.
A Standards-Based Framework for Model Deployment
Within ILIAD, Terradue defines a reference deployment model based on the OGC Best Practice for Earth Observation Application Packages (OGC 20-089). Applications are containerized and described using the Common Workflow Language (CWL), then exposed through OGC API Processes interfaces. This allows:
- Interoperable execution on cloud or HPC
- Reproducibility across infrastructure providers
- Clear data input/output handling via STAC metadata
- Scalable orchestration with support for fan-in/fan-out processing via DAGs
This architecture, aligned with the ESA EO Exploitation Platform Common Architecture, is already adopted in several EO platforms, including the Geohazards TEP, Copernicus LAC, MAAP, and the IRIDE Digital Marketplace.
Integrating with EDITO: A Path Forward
The work done in ILIAD is also contributing to the ongoing EDITO (European Digital Twin of the Ocean) platform.
Currently, EDITO supports OGC API Processes but is primarily optimized for simpler services that use environment variables for input. This poses a limitation for more complex containerized workflows, like those following the EO Application Package model, that require full command-line parameterization.
To address this gap, Terradue and ILIAD partners introduced a Kubernetes-based Application Deployment and Execution Service (ADES) that:
- Supports dynamic execution of containerized workflows via OGC API Processes Part 2
- Integrates directly with EDITO’s object storage (S3) and STAC metadata catalog
- Bridges the architectural differences between EDITO’s current interface and reusable EO workflows packaged with CWL
This enhancement significantly improves compatibility and interoperability with EDITO, allowing a broader class of scientific workflows to run within its ecosystem.
Real-World Examples and Tutorials
Several ILIAD pilot services have already been onboarded using this model, including:
- Oil spill forecasting (MEDSLIK II, OpenDrift)
- Aquaculture monitoring
- Tidal and wave energy models
- Ship routing and jellyfish swarm predictions
Terradue is also supporting the community through the development of advanced tutorials that guide developers in:
- Containerizing their models
- Publishing EO Application Packages
- Executing services through OGC-standard APIs in a portable way
Informing the Standard: Feedback to OGC
The integration work in ILIAD is directly influencing the evolution of the OGC Best Practice (OGC 20-089). By deploying and testing real-world services, the project identifies practical solutions for:
- Interface alignment between APIs and application containers
- Workflow portability across infrastructures
- Enhancements to service usability and interoperability in Digital Twin ecosystems
This feedback is essential for ensuring that the EO Application Package model continues to evolve in alignment with the needs of both operational EO platforms and next-generation digital twins like EDITO.
Learn More
Project website: https://ocean-twin.eu
Terradue’s technology: https://www.terradue.com
OGC Best Practice: OGC Publishes Best Practice for Earth Observation Application Packages - OGC