CGI (NYSE: GIB) (TSX: GIB.A) has been awarded a contract by the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop a Food System Digital Twin Precursor as part of ESA’s Digital Twin Earth programme. CGI will develop a prototype demonstrating the scientific value of a Digital Twin Earth in understanding and improving the productivity and resilience of global food systems.
ESA’s Digital Twin Earth (DTE) is planned to be a dynamic, high resolution reconstruction of the Earth and its complex processes to support advanced science-based decision making at an unprecedented scale. It will enable enhanced predictive and simulation capacity to respond to the environmental challenges facing the planet. The Food Systems Digital Twin will explore improvements in routine monitoring with the possibility of regular seasonal progress, short term policy development including responses to crop shortages due to extremes, and aiding in long term policy development to apply appropriate incentives.
CGI will build the precursor using its digital data platform technology incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques. A complex model integration will bring together multiple data sets including socio-economic and physical measurements to demonstrate how powerful these advanced technologies can be for solving today’s most pressing challenges. The precursor will be developed by an industrial and scientific team including Oxford University Innovation, Trillium and IIASA. A wide ranging stakeholder group of scientists and users will support the precursor to ensure that the precursor is truly state-of-the-art, fit-for-purpose and builds momentum towards ground-breaking digital innovation in Europe.
Gordon Campbell at ESA said: ‘‘This is an extremely challenging development activity linking diverse analysis capabilities to provide a step change in the information available to decision makers in domains such as food security, protecting ecosystems and biodiversity, planning energy production and managing resource utilisation within the framework of the European Green Deal. The range of competencies within the team is well suited to addressing this challenge and developing a prototype system to enable target stakeholders to explore the opportunities afforded by these new analysis tools.”
Shaun Stretton, Senior Vice President for UK & Australia Space Control and Information Solutions at CGI said: “We are excited to be part of the ESA Digital Twin Earth programme which will enable the scientific community to better understand the environmental changes impacting our global food supply. This project builds on our ongoing support to the European Space Agency and Thematic Exploitation Platforms.”
CGI has been delivering complex, mission-critical space software systems for clients across Europe, Asia and North America supporting satellite navigation, communications and operations, to space enabled applications for over 40 years.
About CGI
Founded in 1976, CGI is among the largest independent IT and business consulting services firms in the world. With 76,000 consultants and other professionals across the globe, CGI delivers an end-to-end portfolio of capabilities, from strategic IT and business consulting to systems integration, managed IT and business process services and intellectual property solutions. CGI works with clients through a local relationship model complemented by a global delivery network that helps clients digitally transform their organizations and accelerate results. CGI Fiscal 2020 reported revenue is C$12.16 billion and CGI shares are listed on the TSX (GIB.A) and the NYSE (GIB). Learn more at cgi.com
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Paul Butler
External Communications Manager
p.butler@cgi.com
+44 (0)7920 784199
