Toward Digital Twin Oriented Modeling of Complex Networked Systems and Their Dynamics: A Comprehensive Survey

Abstract

This paper aims to provide a comprehensive critical overview on how entities and their interactions in Complex Networked Systems (CNS) are modelled across disciplines as they approach their ultimate goal of creating a Digital Twin (DT) that perfectly matches the reality. We propose four complexity dimensions for the network representation and five generations of models for the dynamics modelling to describe the increasing complexity level of the CNS that will be developed towards achieving DT (e.g. CNS dynamics modelled offline in the 1st generation v.s. CNS dynamics modelled simultaneously with a twoway real time feedback between reality and the CNS in the 5th generation). Based on that, we propose a new framework to conceptually compare diverse existing modelling paradigms from different perspectives and create unified assessment criteria to evaluate their respective capabilities of reaching such an ultimate goal. Using the proposed criteria, we also appraise how far the reviewed current state-of-the-art approaches are from the idealised DTs. Finally, we identify and propose potential directions and ways of building a DT-orientated CNS based on the convergence and integration of CNS and DT utilising a variety of crossdisciplinary techniques.

Identification Codes: A Topical Review With Design Guidelines for Practical Systems

“…Another avenue for future research is to examine ID coding in the context of specific application contexts, e.g., in the smart labels [6], [7], [8], [9] context or the digital twin context [29], [30], [31], [32], [33], [34], [35]. These future examinations should consider typical operational scenarios with data from real-life systems in operational practice, e.g., smart label data exchanges from operational large-scale warehouses, or digital twin data exchanges from operational robots in industrial production lines.…”

“…Also, in multi-access edge computing (MEC), the computing instances that execute a mobile computing application need consistent application state information as the computing instances are moved among MEC servers to remain in close vicinity of the mobile application [25], [26], [27], [28]. Similarly, in digital twin systems [29], [30], [31], [32], [33], [34], [35], the real physical system and the corresponding digital twin (simulation of the real physical system) need to stay synchronized. ID can achieve exponential gains in efficiency compared to conventional Shannon data transmission for such verifications whether distributed systems have consistent state information.…”

A Survey on Digital Twins: Architecture, Enabling Technologies, Security and Privacy, and Future Prospects

“…Kuruvatti et al [17] survey the potentials and challenges in applying digital twin technology toward constructing future 6G communication systems. Wen et al [18] review existing approaches in realizing digital twins for efficient system and dynamics modeling of the complex networked systems. Tang et al [19] discuss the supporting technologies and key issues in the deployment and update of cyber twins under edge environments.…”

Are general circulation models obsolete?

“… 94 ), where it originally meant an exact digital copy of an engineered system and its specifications. It has been increasingly used to describe complex systems, including living systems ( 95 ). But, as noted in ref.…”

“…But, as noted in ref. 95 , for sufficiently complex systems, we need simulations at multiple levels of abstraction and complexity.…”