--- title: "Scenario simulation: Digital twins and | Nexus Observatory" description: "Scenario simulation, inside Digital twins and simulation: terrain analysis, hydrological modelling, flood inundation and hazard mapping…" url: https://observatory.global/digital-twins/scenario-simulation/ publisher: Nexus Observatory Inc. updated: 2026-10-29 --- [Nexus Observatory](https://observatory.global/) / [Digital twins and simulation](https://observatory.global/digital-twins/) / **Scenario simulation** # Floods, heat, load and failure, run before they happen. Scenario simulation, inside Digital twins and simulation: terrain analysis, hydrological modelling, flood inundation and hazard mapping, viewshed and line of sight and more. Every item is traced to its specification, from ASPRS Positional Accuracy Standards (elevation data) to ISO 19123-1, and runs on the open Observatory Protocol. [Plan with us](https://observatory.global/contact/) Architecture [The protocol](https://observatory.global/protocol/specification/) **Technologies**: 9 **At the frontier**: 0 **Protocol functions**: 3 of 8 **Industries served**: 9 Reference design, drawn to scale · drag to turn · hover a part **01** What it is ## Spatial analysis and siting. The reference frames, formats, services, analysis methods, machine learning and 3D models that turn observations into located, queryable and decision-ready geographic information. AI from model to accountable operation: edge inference and model optimisation, foundation models for Earth observation and geospatial work, time-series and sensor AI, multimodal fusion and supervised agentic operations, federated and privacy-preserving learning, physical AI and robotics within stated red lines, MLOps, evaluation and model risk, and the governance frameworks that apply to each. Each technology below carries what it is, what we do with it, and the standard it is drawn against. GIS, maps and GeoAI ### Terrain analysis Slope, aspect, curvature, roughness and exposure from elevation models for access, stability and siting. We design and operate. ASPRS Positional Accuracy Standards (elevation data) · ISO 19123-1 GIS, maps and GeoAI ### Hydrological modelling Flow direction, accumulation, catchments, height above nearest drainage and stream networks. We design and operate. OGC WaterML 2.0 · OGC HY\_Features conceptual model GIS, maps and GeoAI ### Flood inundation and hazard mapping Combining terrain, hydrology and gauges into flood extent and depth for site risk. We design and operate. WMO-No. 168 Guide to Hydrological Practices GIS, maps and GeoAI ### Viewshed and line of sight What can be seen, or reached by radio, from a mast height over terrain and clutter. We design and operate. ITU-R P.526 (propagation by diffraction) GIS, maps and GeoAI ### RF propagation and coverage prediction Path loss over terrain and clutter for links, gateways and cells, used to place masts and size networks. We design and operate. ITU-R P.1812 · ITU-R P.452 · ITU-R P.530 GIS, maps and GeoAI ### Network analysis Routing, travel time, service areas and location-allocation for crews, spares and coverage. We design and operate. ISO 19133 (tracking and navigation) · ISO 19134 (multimodal routing) GIS, maps and GeoAI ### Spatial statistics and interpolation Autocorrelation, hot spots, kriging and uncertainty for observations that are sparse in space. We design and operate. ISO 19157-1:2023 (data quality) · JCGM 100:2008 (GUM) GIS, maps and GeoAI ### Multi-criteria siting (MCDA) Weighted, constrained suitability surfaces with consistency checks and sensitivity analysis for site shortlists. We design and operate. Analytic Hierarchy Process (Saaty) consistency ratio · OGC API - Processes (execution) GIS, maps and GeoAI ### Geocoding and addressing Matching addresses and place names to locations for permits, logistics and asset records. We integrate. ISO 19160-1 (addressing) **02** Architecture ## Where it sits, and what it speaks. Scenario simulation draws on 3 domains and 24 layers of the spectrum; the highlighted layers carry this area. It speaks 3 of the protocol's 8 core functions. Reference systems and geodesy 7 Vector, raster and array formats 10 Tiling, maps and visual services 7 APIs, catalogues and discrete global grids 8 Spatial analysis and siting 10 GeoAI 10 3D, BIM and digital twins 8 Metadata, quality and publication 5 Platforms and orbits 8 Optical, spectral and thermal sensors 8 Radar, lidar and microwave sensors 10 Processing levels and analysis-ready data 9 Calibration and validation 8 Tasking, ground segment and access 9 Data cubes, analysis and archives 7 Frontier and research 8 01**Join** Identity, attestation quote, signed policy. 02**Admit** Admitted for a stated scope, nothing wider. 03**Describe** What, where, how and by whom, with calibration. 04**Time** One clock across the grid, with its error bound. 05**Observe** Every value with quality and provenance. 06**Qualify** Tested against the specification, state on record. 07**Federate** Signed exchange across grids and trust domains. 08**Orchestrate** Software and configuration by signed plan. **03** On the grid ## The ground, measured before it is modelled. Real elevation, line of sight, an orbit swath and a GeoAI pass, each an interactive explainer on open terrain data with its source shown. [Line of sightA 30 m mast against the terrain.](https://observatory.global/earth/#viewshed) [ReliefTerrarium-encoded DEM, contours by marching squares.](https://observatory.global/earth/#elevation) [Hillshade and slopeOne gradient, a sun you can move.](https://observatory.global/earth/#hillshade) [Geodesic gridStations counted into 10,242 cells.](https://observatory.global/earth/#grid) **04** In the field ## Where this runs, sector by sector. 1 deployment scenarios from the sector research that rely on scenario simulation. [Agriculture Farm or cooperative agromet network with crop modelsCompact stations and soil probes feeding irrigation, disease and frost models.](https://observatory.global/sectors/agriculture/) **05** Open and enterprise ## Open by default. Enterprise by contract. The open counterpart lives on the main site for anyone to read and run. The enterprise service is designed, deployed and operated with you, under contract. Open, on the main site - Simulation methods with worked examples - Open terrain and grid layers Enterprise, on this site - Drone survey and 3D site twins - Network planning studies - Scenario studies **06** The rest of the line ## Digital twins and simulation, area by area. [Digital twins and simulation Site twinsThe site in 3D, measured to scale.](https://observatory.global/digital-twins/site-twins/) [Digital twins and simulation Network twinsCoverage, capacity, power and timing, simulated.](https://observatory.global/digital-twins/network-twins/) [Digital twins and simulation Earth twinsTerrain, hydrology and atmosphere, on live observations.](https://observatory.global/digital-twins/earth-twins/) [Digital twins and simulation PlanningFrom the twin to a plan you can tender.](https://observatory.global/digital-twins/planning/) ## Bring us the site. Survey, design, deployment and operation for scenario simulation. The form names who receives your details. [Talk to us](https://observatory.global/contact/) [contact@observatory.global](mailto:contact@observatory.global?subject=Digital%20twins%20and%20simulation%3A%20Scenario%20simulation) [Nexus Observatory](https://observatory.global/)**Digital twins and simulation** . Model the site before you build it.[Talk to us](https://observatory.global/contact/) Digital twins and simulation - [Site twins](https://observatory.global/digital-twins/site-twins/) - [Network twins](https://observatory.global/digital-twins/network-twins/) - [Earth twins](https://observatory.global/digital-twins/earth-twins/) - [Scenario simulation](https://observatory.global/digital-twins/scenario-simulation/) - [Planning](https://observatory.global/digital-twins/planning/) Technologies - [Reference systems and geodesy](https://observatory.global/technologies/gis/reference-systems-and-geodesy/) - [Vector, raster and array formats](https://observatory.global/technologies/gis/vector-raster-and-array-formats/) - [Platforms and orbits](https://observatory.global/technologies/eo/platforms-and-orbits/) - [Optical, spectral and thermal sensors](https://observatory.global/technologies/eo/optical-spectral-and-thermal-sensors/) - [Edge inference, model serving and optimisation](https://observatory.global/technologies/ai/edge-inference-model-serving-and-optimisation/) - [Foundation models for Earth observation and geospatial](https://observatory.global/technologies/ai/foundation-models-for-earth-observation-and-geospatial/) Industries - [Cities](https://observatory.global/industries/cities/) - [Water](https://observatory.global/industries/water/) - [Nature](https://observatory.global/industries/nature/) - [Agriculture](https://observatory.global/industries/agriculture/) - [Energy](https://observatory.global/industries/energy/) - [Infrastructure](https://observatory.global/industries/infrastructure/) - [Mining](https://observatory.global/industries/mining/) Service platforms - [Observatory Protocol](https://observatory.global/protocol/) - [Protocol & Grid](https://observatory.global/grid-services/) - [Software](https://observatory.global/software/) - [Hardware & power](https://observatory.global/hardware/) - [Sensors & instruments](https://observatory.global/sensors/) - [Connectivity](https://observatory.global/connectivity/) - [Edge compute & AI](https://observatory.global/edge-ai/) © 2026 Nexus Observatory Inc. 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