Marine Protected Area (MPA) Digital Twin Framework and Its Perspectives

Abstract

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are increasingly recognised as critical infrastructures for biodiversity conservation, climate regulation, and the resilience of coastal socio-ecological systems, while also supporting emerging Blue Economy strategies. Among the ecosystems they safeguard, Posidonia oceanica meadows represent a particularly valuable and vulnerable component of the Mediterranean seascape, providing long-term carbon sequestration. This paper proposes a Digital Twin (DT) framework for the Marine Protected Area of Ischia (Regno di Nettuno), conceived as a dynamic, data-driven system to support continuous monitoring, adaptive governance, and the development of Blue Carbon initiatives. By integrating heterogeneous data streams across ecological, infrastructural, and socio-economic dimensions, the system aims to support continuous monitoring, risk assessment, and evidence-based governance.The methodology combines an analysis of data availability and accessibility with a systematic mapping of stakeholders and activities. The DT is designed as a circular data–action–feedback chain, transforming input data into descriptive and predictive outputs—such as what-if scenarios and dynamic cartographies—which are disseminated through web, mobile, and Digital Twin interfaces. These outputs inform stakeholder activities and are enacted through a set of regulatory, ecological, socio-economic, participatory, and technical actuators, generating real-world interventions and new data inputs. The proposed framework shows the MPA DT designed as a socio-technical interface that connects marine ecosystems, informed decision-making, and civic engagement, fostering more resilient and inclusive approaches to marine conservation.

Keywords: Digital Twin, ecoDTs, Blue Economy, Posidonia Oceanica, MPA, Ocean Decade

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1007965