Guam officials and representatives from Gyeongin Sea Grant announce a partnership to introduce digital twin technology to the island. From left to right: Guam Lt. Gov. Joshua Tenorio, UOG CIS/SG Associate Director Fran Castro, CNMI Gov. Arnold Palacios, Guam Gov. Lourdes Leon Guerrero, GSTA Director Seung-Buhm Woo, UOG CIS/SG Director Austin Shelton, Brett Taylor, and UOG CIS/SG Associate Director Kyle Mandapat at Government House.

This partnership is the first of its kind, introducing South Korea’s advanced numerical modeling technology, digital twin technology, to the United States through the Sea Grant international collaborations.

During a recent visit, representatives from the two institutions agreed to combine South Korea’s sophisticated digital twin modeling with the University of Guam’s extensive marine and fisheries data. This collaboration promises to improve marine science research, enhance data sharing, and foster stronger ties between the United States and South Korea.

GSG Director Seung-Buhm Woo says the collaboration between the two programs will have a major impact on the study of the marine ecology in the region.

“The integration of South Korea’s numerical modeling capabilities with Guam’s marine data is expected to lead to significant advancements in understanding marine environments and promoting the sustainability of marine resources,” explained Woo. “This partnership underscores the global nature of marine science research and the importance of international cooperation in addressing the complex challenges facing our oceans.”

UOG CIS/SG’s Brett Taylor, Ph.D., has been working with the South Korea Sea Grant team in preparation for this partnership and is excited for the opportunities this will provide to Guam.

“This is going to give us an opportunity at expanding the understanding of near-shore environments, it opens possibilities for infrastructure with the theoretical modeling, but can be used to build and test hypotheses,” added Taylor. “If we wanted coastal development at the boat basin, you could potentially stick the data into the model and see how it would influence sediment.” 

As the first official research cooperation under the Sea Grant program between the United States and South Korea, this project is set to be a landmark project in US-Korea Sea Grant collaboration. It highlights the commitment of both programs to fostering scientific exchange and working together towards the preservation and understanding of marine ecosystems.