A simulation system simultaneously visualizes surface and subsurface water flows in a virtual replica of the real world. This digital twin could change how we address floods, water shortages, and other increasingly serious global water issues.
Following Nature’s Water Cycle: Digital Twin Technology for Better Water Management
September 11, 2026
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As climate change intensifies, its impacts are taking many forms, including growing challenges related to water. The global water cycle is becoming increasingly erratic, and an estimated 3.6 billion people face water shortages for at least a month per year.
To address this situation, it is crucial to start by objectively understanding how water moves through Earth’s water cycle. Water in the atmosphere that falls as rain follows different paths, moving either as surface water or subsurface water. Factors such as terrain, geology, and the extent of human development affect this movement of water in complex ways. By understanding the mechanisms of the water cycle and the interactions among various factors, the impacts of changing flood and drought patterns can be analyzed and anticipated based on the laws of physics.
Validating Water Flows in a Digital Twin of the Real World
Based on this approach, a unique digital twin for water cycle simulations was developed by Geosphere Environmental Technology Corp. The company’s 3D simulation system, GETFLOWS, uses a proprietary program integrating a broad range of water cycle-related data, including temperature, precipitation, terrain, geological strata, and land use, to create a digital replica of a real-world system. Within this digital twin, the coupled flows of surface water and groundwater are analyzed and visualized simultaneously.
Generally, water-cycle simulation systems focus on either surface water or groundwater because they flow at substantially different speeds, making it challenging to simulate them together. Furthermore, very few systems worldwide perform such analyses within a digital twin.
Based on this approach, a unique digital twin for water cycle simulations was developed by Geosphere Environmental Technology Corp. The company’s 3D simulation system, GETFLOWS, uses a proprietary program integrating a broad range of water cycle-related data, including temperature, precipitation, terrain, geological strata, and land use, to create a digital replica of a real-world system. Within this digital twin, the coupled flows of surface water and groundwater are analyzed and visualized simultaneously.
Generally, water-cycle simulation systems focus on either surface water or groundwater because they flow at substantially different speeds, making it challenging to simulate them together. Furthermore, very few systems worldwide perform such analyses within a digital twin.
Predictions Based on Laws of Physics and Scientific Data
Founded in 2000 to bring technology developed by TOSAKA Hiroyuki, professor emeritus at the University of Tokyo, into practical use, the company has since undertaken more than 1,000 projects. These range from assessing flood and slope failure risks and the environmental impact of industrial effluent, to supporting the water conservation activities of local governments.
Hadano City, Kanagawa Prefecture, uses its abundant groundwater for about 70% of its public water supply. The city introduced GETFLOWS nearly 20 years ago as a core tool for its groundwater management. A digital twin, built from detailed geological and groundwater data, is used for purposes including estimating groundwater reserves, managing the water budget, and predicting the effects of groundwater pollution remediation.
The system has also contributed to efforts to raise residents’ awareness of water conservation by enabling the city to publish data on the current status and changes in its water budget on its website. “This simulation system can be readily used for decision-making by local governments and companies because its assessments are based not on speculation from past examples, but on scientific evidence,” says TAWARA Yasuhiro, the company’s president.
Overseas expansion also appears to be gaining traction. In 2025, the company signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with the National Water Research Institute of Malaysia (NAHRIM) to cooperate as strategic partners. A demonstration system is currently being tested with the goal of improving the accuracy of the country’s flood early warning system.
In July 2026, the company released a “Global Water-Cycle Model” on its website that simulates how water circulates among the atmosphere, ground surface, and subsurface across the world’s land areas. Tawara says, “This would have been impossible a decade ago, when far less open data was available globally. More detailed data will be released in the future, improving accuracy even more. There are still many areas around the world that lack the technology and infrastructure needed to address water issues. We wish to contribute to those regions as well.”
