'Digital Earth' Could Help Predict Effects of Climate Change Scientists are building a digital model of the Earth that will act as an information system for better decision-making on development and environmental issues within the European Union. Mar. 9, 2021 A team of scientists and researchers from ETH Zurich University have created a high-precision virtual representation of Earth to simulate the effects of climate change. Named Destination Earth, the so-called digital twin of the planet will model the impacts of natural and human activities on the planet.