Virtual worlds that help clean and preserve the oceans

Marine pollution has become one of the fastest growing environmental problems, with millions of tonnes of plastic waste dumped into the oceans each year. According to the United Nations, between 4.8 and 12.7 million tons of plastic waste are dumped into the sea annually, the equivalent of one truck per minute. These plastics, for the most part, end up on the seabed, decomposing into microparticles that irreparably damage marine ecosystems.

In response to this crisis, Dassault Systèmes is playing a key role in facilitating the creation of technological solutions to clean the oceans by fostering the necessary skills in the next generation of innovators. Dassault Sytèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform enables design and engineering teams to develop green solutions more quickly and efficiently in a virtual environment. The platform not only speeds up design analysis by 85%, but also reduces physical testing by 50%, minimizing the time and resources invested in physical prototypes. The modeling and simulation provided by the platform are essential for the development of prototypes and the refinement of concepts and solutions. Additionally, they allow for informed choice of sustainable materials and accurate calculations of performance and strength. By replacing physical prototypes with virtual twins, organizations can evaluate key environmental metrics, such as carbon footprint, recyclability rate, and total energy and water use, ensuring new materials meet performance requirements while minimizing the environmental impact.

A clear example of innovation in this area is Clean Sea Solutions, which has developed sustainable technologies to reduce and prevent the entry of plastic waste into the sea. Technologies like this not only reduce plastic pollution, but also preserve the oceans and improve water quality. Also Mission Ocean, an initiative promoted by La Fondation Dassault Systèmes, which, through educational programs with the use of virtual worlds and 3D technology, seeks to raise awareness about the preservation of marine ecosystems and promote innovative solutions to protect them.