Case Study 2

Digital Twin of Lake Cerknica

Near real-time monitoring of an intermittent karst lake using Earth Observation, in-situ hydrological data, and high-resolution terrain models.

The Challenge

Lake Cerknica is one of Europe’s largest intermittent karst lakes. It can flood within a few days and drain over several weeks, creating highly dynamic envi onmental conditions.

These rapid changes directly affect biodiversity, land use, water management, and public safety. Traditional monitoring approaches are often spatially limited and cannot fully capture the temporal variability of such systems.

The Solution: A Digital Twin 

The Digital Twin of Lake Cerknica is a prototype developed within the Digital Twin of Slovenia Precursor (DTSI-P) project.

It integrates satellite imagery, in-situ hydrological measurements, and high-resolution terrain data into a single, operational digital environment that represents the lake’s hydrological and ecological dynamics in near real time.

Key capabilities include

  • Near real-time water extent mapping

  • 3D representation of lake dynamics

  • Integration of Earth Observation and in-situ data

  • Support for biodiversity conservation and water management

How It Works

The Digital Twin combines multiple data sources and processing steps:

  • Water-level measurements from ARSO drive near real-time updates

  • High-resolution LiDAR (1 m) and UAV-derived DEM (5 cm) capture fine-scale terrain variability

  • Satellite data from Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2, and PlanetScope provide spatial context and validation

  • Water masks are generated using NDWI and MNDWI indices and validated against satellite observations

  • Results are visualised in 3D and integrated into the LIFT environment

Results and Impact

The Digital Twin of Lake Cerknica delivers several operational and scientific benefits:

  • Near real-time mapping of flooded and dry areas

  • Detection of rapid filling and drainage events

  • Scenario analysis for floods and droughts

  • Habitat intelligence for Corncrake (Crex crex) conservation

  • Improved decision support for protected area management

Why It Matters 

By combining Earth Observation data, in situ measurements, and advanced geospatial modelling, the Digital Twin enables transparent, reproducible, and scalable environmental monitoring. With Digital Twin we can make different simulations (also historical) and future scenarios.

The approach is transferable to other intermittent lakes and dynamic hydrological systems, supporting wider European Digital Twin initiatives.

Developed by: University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering

Authors: Ana Potočnik Buhvald, Neja Flogie, Krištof Oštir