Fujitsu to Deploy Underwater Drones and AI for Ocean Digital Twin at Port of Barcelona

Key Takeaways

• Underwater drones capture high‑resolution seabed data.
• AI analytics quantify biodiversity and blue carbon.
• Digital twin enables “what‑if” environmental scenario testing.
• Supports EU Nature Restoration Law compliance.
• Enhances transparency for blue‑economy stakeholders.

Summary

Fujitsu Spain and the BCN Port Innovation Foundation have launched a proof‑of‑concept to build an ocean digital twin for the Port of Barcelona. The project combines autonomous underwater drones with AI‑driven analytics to capture high‑resolution seabed imagery, quantify biodiversity, and estimate blue‑carbon storage. A unified digital platform will centralize marine data, enabling continuous monitoring and scenario‑based decision‑making. The PoC, slated for 2026, aligns with the EU Nature Restoration Law and Fujitsu’s climate‑neutrality commitments.

Pulse Analysis

Marine digital twins are emerging as a cornerstone for sustainable ocean management, turning complex, hard‑to‑measure ecosystems into actionable datasets. Fujitsu’s initiative at Barcelona leverages this trend, positioning the port as a testbed for next‑generation environmental intelligence. By integrating high‑fidelity sonar mapping with cloud‑based AI pipelines, the project creates a living model of the seabed that can be queried in real time, offering unprecedented insight into habitat health and carbon sequestration potential.

The technical backbone relies on autonomous surface and submersible vehicles that follow AI‑optimized survey routes, ensuring consistent data capture even in challenging conditions. Machine‑learning algorithms process the raw sonar and optical feeds to classify vegetation cover, estimate biomass, and map species distributions. These outputs feed a simulation engine that lets planners run “what‑if” scenarios—such as altered dredging schedules or habitat restoration measures—before committing resources, dramatically reducing risk and improving investment efficiency.

Beyond operational gains, the digital twin fuels broader blue‑economy objectives. Regulators can verify compliance with the EU’s 2024 Nature Restoration Law, while researchers gain a rich, open‑access dataset for marine science. The immersive visualizations also boost stakeholder transparency, fostering community support for port‑linked sustainability projects. If the Barcelona PoC succeeds, the model could be replicated across Europe’s busiest harbors, scaling the impact of AI‑enhanced ocean stewardship worldwide.