Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1539150
7 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 5 SEPTEMBER 2025 CULTURE working to balance nature and tourism ue. Tourism in Malta has long been a source of pride and pros- perity, and the island recognises the importance of safeguarding the very landscapes that attract visitors. Blue Lagoon, with its Natura 2000 habitats and rich biodiversity, is under unprece- dented ecological pressure. "Blue Lagoon is the heart of our islands, our child, and like any child we must protect it. Ex- ploring the boundaries of Digi- tal Twin technology has given us an unprecedented ability to design with the greatest level of sensitivity to context. It allows us to understand our ecologi- cal and visual impacts in ways that would never have been possible before, ensuring that every intervention is respectful. Globally, many destinations are grappling with the pressures of rising tourism and environmen- tal change but through careful design and planning, solutions can be found." said Jonathan Mizzi, Director of Mizzi Studio and Project Architect The project was initiated through LIDAR scanning of the site in collaboration with the University of Malta's Foren- sics Department. Mizzi Studio moved into 3d photogrammetry scanning, creating a photorealis- tic Digital Twin to millimeter ac- curacy. Architectural plans are often unreadable by non-archi- tects; the Digital Twin becomes a valuable democratic tool for ensuring everyone involved in the process to restore the Blue Lagoon has a voice strengthened by a deep understanding of the place. The Digital Twin of the Blue Lagoon helps us under- stand and appreciate the deli- cate ecosystem of the site, from the natural garrigue landscape to the animal and bird life that inhabit the island. The Blue Lagoon Digital Twin is a walkable, immersive, mil- limetre-accurate replica of the site, built from over 4,500 drone photos, 30 hours of footage, and 2 billion data points. The digi- tal model enables the studio to thoroughly understand the site to best assess the visual impact of proposed designs from up close to the iconic aerial shots above the island. The Digital Twin allows Malta to study, plan and act sensitively within its context: Study: This digital replica re- veals the current state of eco- logical health of the Garrigue landscape and shows how visi- tors have impacted the site with unprecedented accuracy Plan: It allowed the studio to design interventions in harmony with nature, directly within the existing site and coastal param- eters Act: These tools mean that they are able to fully share their proposals with stakeholders and the Maltese public with full transparency and clarity for consultation. Setting a global precedent Restoring the Blue Lagoon through sensitive and rigorous planning represents a paradigm shift. Using Digital Twins for nature conservation and public participation offers opportuni- ties and solutions that can be ap- plied to all other global areas of outstanding natural beauty that are in need of protection and ecological rehabilitation.