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SIG LLODIA Lecture #2: Environmental Digital Twins

Date: 10 July 2025
Speaker: Prof. Gordon Blair
📄 Download Gordon’s Slides (PPTX)

Abstract	Prof. Blair presented the opportunities and distinctive challenges in developing digital twins of the natural environment. He discussed opportunities for collaboration with the LLODIA community, focussing on two key areas. Firstly, he charted the importance of underlying Digital Research Infrastructure to support the development of digital twins, including support for the FAIR Principles applied to a range of digital assets. He then discussed a particular view of digital twins that combines both data understanding and understanding from scientific processes in what is a dynamic system that can learn and improve over time. Finishing with an open discussion on the potential of languages, logics and ontologies in supporting this vision of environmental digital twins.
Speaker Bio	Gordon is Head of Environmental Digital Strategy at the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) and Emeritus Professor of Distributed Systems at Lancaster University. He co-directs the Centre of Excellence in Environmental Data Science (CEEDS) and has previously held a prestigious EPSRC Senior Fellowship. His research focuses on how digital technologies — including IoT, cloud computing, and AI — can support environmental science. He is especially interested in the future of Digital Research Infrastructure and the development of environmental digital twins.

Abstract

Prof. Blair presented the opportunities and distinctive challenges in developing digital twins of the natural environment. He discussed opportunities for collaboration with the LLODIA community, focussing on two key areas. Firstly, he charted the importance of underlying Digital Research Infrastructure to support the development of digital twins, including support for the FAIR Principles applied to a range of digital assets. He then discussed a particular view of digital twins that combines both data understanding and understanding from scientific processes in what is a dynamic system that can learn and improve over time. Finishing with an open discussion on the potential of languages, logics and ontologies in supporting this vision of environmental digital twins.

Speaker Bio

Gordon is Head of Environmental Digital Strategy at the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) and Emeritus Professor of Distributed Systems at Lancaster University. He co-directs the Centre of Excellence in Environmental Data Science (CEEDS) and has previously held a prestigious EPSRC Senior Fellowship. His research focuses on how digital technologies — including IoT, cloud computing, and AI — can support environmental science. He is especially interested in the future of Digital Research Infrastructure and the development of environmental digital twins.

Inaugural SIG LLODIA Lecture

Ontology in Digital Twins – Exploring Semantic Interoperability and Systemic Connections
Date: 23 May 2025
Speaker: Mark Enzer OBE FREng
📄 Download Mark’s Slides (PPTX)

Abstract	This talk explored the importance of ontology in built and natural systems. Mark described the crucial relationship between interventions, systems and outcomes. He related this to the value of federating digital twins and the need for Data Sharing Infrastructure, making the case for semantic interoperability as an essential enabler. Mark’s insights support better decision-making and outcomes for people and nature.
Agenda	14:30 – 14:35: Welcome & Introduction – Overview of SIG LLODIA’s mission, objectives, and future goals. 14:35 – 15:20: Keynote Lecture by Mark Enzer 15:20 – 15:35: Q&A Session 15:35 – 15:55: Vision for the Future 15:55 – 16:00: Closing Remarks

Abstract

This talk explored the importance of ontology in built and natural systems. Mark described the crucial relationship between interventions, systems and outcomes. He related this to the value of federating digital twins and the need for Data Sharing Infrastructure, making the case for semantic interoperability as an essential enabler. Mark’s insights support better decision-making and outcomes for people and nature.

Agenda

14:30 – 14:35: Welcome & Introduction – Overview of SIG LLODIA’s mission, objectives, and future goals.
14:35 – 15:20: Keynote Lecture by Mark Enzer
15:20 – 15:35: Q&A Session
15:35 – 15:55: Vision for the Future
15:55 – 16:00: Closing Remarks