Glossary

Data Adaptors are the core elements of the software stack of a Data Bridge, which build the Harmonised Data Access. The adaptors must be specifically configured to the source data, services and infrastructure, taking into account the respective APIs or other access methods, user authentication, data structure, etc.

A Data Bridge is part of the DestinE Data Lake and provides an interface to the DestinE DT data. Bridges consist of:

• a software stack which provides a unified API towards the other DestinE components;
• dedicated compute capabilities on which the software stack is implemented;
• dedicated data storage capabilities (Data Warehouse).

Data Holding denotes external to DestinE infrastructures or services, which provide data of relevance for DestinE.

Part of Data Lake that contains and provides access to structured data, ready to be used in the frame of a Digital Twin, and/or being output from a Digital Twin referenced, and available for user retrieval.

Institutions or individuals using decision support tools that build on output of the DT or output of downstream applications of DestinE Users. This category also includes institutions or individuals who rely on advice drawing on DestinE output, e.g. ministries or administrations at local level.

Agreements between the European Union and ECMWF, ESA and EUMETSAT on the implementation of the DestinE initiative under the Digital Europe Programme of the European Union as amended in 2023.

Earth-system monitoring and prediction system output as provided by the DestinE DT, as well as impact relevant applications and services data provisioned via the Data Lake.

Self-standing DestinE system component, interfacing with the DestinE Platform, Digital Twins and Digital Twin Engine, built from geographically distributed physical elements, that references and provides seamless access via GUIs or APIs to data in accordance with the DestinE Data Portfolio. The Data Lake supports near-data processing to maximize throughput and service scalability.

The DestinE Data Portfolio is tailored to user needs and composed of federated data, Digital Twin data and DestinE user generated data with a specified and agreed lifecycle. The DEDL will implement and provide access to the DestinE Data Portfolio following the DestinE Access and Data governance as well as respecting pre-existing data policies and including quality assurance.

Software-defined environment to operate DestinE’s DTs and manage their corresponding control and data flows across distributed HPC and cloud computing resources. It provides a common system approach to a unified orchestration of Earth-system Digital Twins. Moreover, it creates a framework for the fusion of observations with Earth-system simulations and the integration of applications targeting specific impact-sectors via selected use cases.

The DT Engine enables the porting and optimization of codes, developing and managing the digital twin workflows, and provides the data handling and model interaction and interactivity capabilities that run on diverse HPC and cloud infrastructures including the Data Warehouse hosted on the data bridges. The DT Engine concept focuses on interoperability and interactivity and delivers the expected access agility and performance for the digital twins and associated data access.

Self-standing DestinE system component, interfacing with the Data Lake, Digital Twins and Digital Twin Engine, offering a web entry point to DestinE data, services and applications. It is based on an open, flexible, federated, scalable and secure cloud-based architecture.

The Platform will connect to selected existing and future HPC and to multi-cloud computing. It provides an environment for evidence-based policy and decision-making supporting tools, and interfaces to the DestinE Data Lake. It will allow users to customise the Platform, integrate their own data and develop their own applications. This component is also known as the DestinE Core Service Platform (DESP).

System composed of the Platform, the Data Lake, and the Digital Twin Engine components.

Institutions or individuals exploiting DestinE capabilities, output products or services to achieve their objectives. These may include researchers, agencies implementing policies, companies, NGO, or media, amongst others.

According to the DestinE Contribution Agreement, “DestinE is initially aimed at professional public sector users, but it will evolve later to encompass a wider user base from the scientific communities and the private sector”.

Highly accurate replicas of the Earth system that simulate the system’s behaviour, allowing to monitor and predict environmental change, test scientific hypotheses and adaptation scenarios. DestinE’s DTs combine several cutting-edge Earth-system models and Earth observations as well as advanced data analytics and integration and interoperability with impact sector applications.

They are DestinE system components, interfacing with the Digital Twin Engine, offering a seamless production service of actionable knowledge for users that results from the fusion of observational and simulated data of the physical Earth system and of impact-sector relevant information.

DT1: Digital Twin on Environmental Extremes

DT2: Digital Twin on Climate Change Adaptation