Research & Results

The Pulse of the Delta: Our Danube Delta Digital Twin

We are bringing the entire Danube Delta to life in a dynamic digital environment. This powerful simulation, or "digital twin", is one of the most detailed hydrodynamic models ever created for a deltaic area.

Our model is a virtual laboratory that allows us to see how water moves through this incredibly complex landscape.

An Unprecedented Scale:

• High Resolution: The model uses about one million computational cells to capture water dynamics with incredible precision.
• Total Coverage: It simulates the complete system, from the Black Sea coast to inland wetlands, small channels and lakes, incorporating over 1,000 km of channels (as small as 10 meters wide) and 1,500 km of dikes.

A Tool for a Sustainable Future: This model will be essential for the science-based management of the Danube Delta. It will allow us to test solutions and answer critical questions about:

• Flood propagation and hydrodynamics.
• The silting of lakes and how to improve sediment flow and water circulation together with the overall ecosystem health.
• The impacts of climate change, including sea-level rise, future floods and the morphodynamic adaption of the delta to increased water levels.

Please note: The animation shows a demonstration of a typical flood event. Our model is currently undergoing a rigorous validation process against real-world satellite and in-situ data to ensure its scientific accuracy.