Network Resiliency and Fault Tolerance through Digital Twins and Data Science
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47672/ajdikm.2682Keywords:
Digital Twins, Operations Research, Simulation-Based Optimization, Real-Time Analytics, Predictive Maintenance, Decision Support SystemsAbstract
Purpose: As telecom networks evolve with the integration of 5G, 6G, and IoT technologies, their increasing complexity presents significant challenges to maintaining network stability. Traditional management methods are no longer sufficient to ensure the resiliency required in these dynamic environments.
Materials and Methods: To address this, we explore the application of digital twin technology as a transformative solution for network operations. Digital twins enable real-time monitoring, predictive analytics, and scenario simulation by creating a dynamic, virtual representation of the telecom network. These capabilities allow for proactive identification and resolution of potential failures, enhancing predictive maintenance and supporting real-time decision-making during network anomalies. The digital twin continuously synchronizes with the live network through integration of data from diverse components, ensuring an up-to-date reflection of operational conditions.
Findings: Our analysis identifies key technical and organizational challenges in implementing this approach namely, the complexity of data integration, the demand for scalable architectures, and the necessity for advanced AI-driven analytics to interpret high-volume, high-velocity data effectively. Addressing these challenges is critical to unlocking the full potential of digital twins in telecom settings. The findings suggest that digital twin technology holds substantial promise in improving network resiliency and operational efficiency.
Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: By enabling telecom operators to shift from reactive to predictive and adaptive network management, this approach offers a robust framework for future-proofing infrastructure in the face of rising complexity. The study contributes to operations research by highlighting a scalable, data-driven pathway to more resilient and reliable telecom networks through the integration of digital twins.
Downloads
References
Jiang, W., et al., The Road Towards 6G: A Comprehensive Survey. IEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society, 2021. 2: p. 334-366.
Wong, R.T., Telecommunications network design: Technology impacts and future directions. Networks, 2021. 77(2): p. 205-224.
Sharkey, T.C., et al., In search of network resilience: An optimization-based view. Networks, 2021. 77(2): p. 225-254.
Batty, M., Digital twins. 2018, SAGE Publications Sage UK: London, England. p. 817-820.
Juarez, M.G., V.J. Botti, and A.S. Giret, Digital twins: Review and challenges. Journal of Computing and Information Science in Engineering, 2021. 21(3): p. 030802.
Grieves, M.W., Digital twins: past, present, and future, in The digital twin. 2023, Springer. p. 97-121.
Datta, S.P.A., Emergence of digital twins. arXiv preprint arXiv:1610.06467, 2016.
Jiang, Y., et al., Industrial applications of digital twins. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A, 2021. 379(2207): p. 20200360.
Budiardjo, A. and D. Migliori, Digital twin system interoperability framework. 2021, Tech. rep. Digital Twin Consortium, East Lansing, Michigan.
Lee, S., K. Levanti, and H.S. Kim, Network monitoring: Present and future. Computer Networks, 2014. 65: p. 84-98.
Othman, M.F. and K. Shazali, Wireless sensor network applications: A study in environment monitoring system. Procedia Engineering, 2012. 41: p. 1204-1210.
Aceto, G., et al., A comprehensive survey on internet outages. Journal of Network and Computer Applications, 2018. 113: p. 36-63.
Zhong, J., W. Guo, and Z. Wang. Study on network failure prediction based on alarm logs. in 2016 3rd MEC International Conference on Big Data and Smart City (ICBDSC). 2016. IEEE.
Butts, C.T., et al., Geographical variability and network structure. Social Networks, 2012. 34(1): p. 82-100.
Ghosh, R., et al., Performance analysis based on probability of false alarm and miss detection in cognitive radio network. International Journal of Wireless and Mobile Computing, 2021. 20(4): p. 390-400.
Seilov, S.Z., et al., The concept of building a network of digital twins to increase the efficiency of complex telecommunication systems. Complexity, 2021. 2021(1): p. 9480235.
El Saddik, A., Digital twins: The convergence of multimedia technologies. IEEE multimedia, 2018. 25(2): p. 87-92.
Hodavand, F., I.J. Ramaji, and N. Sadeghi, Digital twin for fault detection and diagnosis of building operations: a systematic review. Buildings, 2023. 13(6): p. 1426.
Sharma, A., et al., Digital twins: State of the art theory and practice, challenges, and open research questions. Journal of Industrial Information Integration, 2022. 30: p. 100383.
Mihai, S., et al., Digital twins: A survey on enabling technologies, challenges, trends and future prospects. IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials, 2022. 24(4): p. 2255-2291.
Darvishi, H., et al., Sensor-fault detection, isolation and accommodation for digital twins via modular data-driven architecture. IEEE Sensors Journal, 2020. 21(4): p. 4827-4838.
Correia, J.B., M. Abel, and K. Becker, Data management in digital twins: a systematic literature review. Knowledge and Information Systems, 2023. 65(8): p. 3165-3196.
Schmetz, A., et al., Evaluation of industry 4.0 data formats for digital twin of optical components. International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing-Green Technology, 2020. 7: p. 573-584.
Rice, L., Digital twins of smart cities: spatial data visualization tools, monitoring and sensing technologies, and virtual simulation modeling. Geopolitics, History, and International Relations, 2022. 14(1): p. 26-42.
Schluse, M., et al., Experimentable digital twins Streamlining simulation-based systems engineering for industry 4.0. IEEE Transactions on industrial informatics, 2018. 14(4): p. 1722-1731.
Kasztelnik, M., et al. Digital Twin Simulation Development and Execution on HPC Infrastructures. in International Conference on Computational Science. 2023. Springer.
Kumar, P., et al., Digital twin-driven SDN for smart grid: A deep learning integrated blockchain for cybersecurity. Solar Energy, 2023. 263: p. 111921.
Wu, Y., et al., Dynamic network topology portrait for digital twin optical network. Journal of Lightwave Technology, 2023. 41(10): p. 2953-2968.
Castellani, A., S. Schmitt, and S. Squartini, Real-world anomaly detection by using digital twin systems and weakly supervised learning. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics, 2020. 17(7): p. 4733-4742.
Booyse, W., D.N. Wilke, and S. Heyns, Deep digital twins for detection, diagnostics and prognostics. Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing, 2020. 140: p. 106612.
Bikkasani, D.c., AI-Driven 5G Network Optimization: A Comprehensive Review of Resource Allocation, Traffic Management, and Dynamic Network Slicing, in Preprints. 2024, Preprints.
Zhao, F. and I. Ubaka, Transit network optimization–minimizing transfers and optimizing route directness. Journal of public transportation, 2004. 7(1): p. 63-82.
Es-haghi, M.S., C. Anitescu, and T. Rabczuk, Methods for enabling real-time analysis in digital twins: A literature review. Computers & Structures, 2024. 297: p. 107342.
Kumbhar, M., A.H. Ng, and S. Bandaru, A digital twin based framework for detection, diagnosis, and improvement of throughput bottlenecks. Journal of manufacturing systems, 2023. 66: p. 92-106.
Liu, W., et al., Exploiting a Real-Time Self-Correcting Digital Twin Model for the Middle Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project of China. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 2023. 149(7): p. 04023023.
Pires, F., et al. Digital twin based what-if simulation for energy management. in 2021 4th IEEE International Conference on Industrial Cyber-Physical Systems (ICPS). 2021. IEEE.
Rozhok, A., et al. The use of digital twin in the industrial sector. in IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. 2021. IOP Publishing.
Cho, H., et al., Facing to wireless network densification in 6G: Challenges and opportunities. ICT Express, 2023. 9(3): p. 517-524.
Lin, X., et al., 6G digital twin networks: From theory to practice. IEEE Communications Magazine, 2023. 61(11): p. 72-78.
Nativi, S., P. Mazzetti, and M. Craglia, Digital ecosystems for developing digital twins of the earth: The destination earth case. Remote Sensing, 2021. 13(11): p. 2119.
Bofill, J., et al., Exploring Digital Twin-Based Fault Monitoring: Challenges and Opportunities. Sensors, 2023. 23(16): p. 7087.
chandra Bikkasani, D., Data Science and Machine Learning for Network Management in Telecommunication Systems: Trends and Opportunities. 2024.
Jordan, S., L. Linsbauer, and I. Schaefer. Autoarx: Digital twins of living architectures. in European Conference on Software Architecture. 2022. Springer.
Feng, Q., et al., Multi-level predictive maintenance of smart manufacturing systems driven by digital twin: a matheuristics approach. Journal of Manufacturing Systems, 2023. 68: p. 443-454.
Chataut, R., A. Phoummalayvane, and R. Akl, Unleashing the power of IoT: A comprehensive review of IoT applications and future prospects in healthcare, agriculture, smart homes, smart cities, and industry 4.0. Sensors, 2023. 23(16): p. 7194.
Rak, J., et al., Fundamentals of communication networks resilience to disasters and massive disruptions. Guide to disaster-resilient communication networks, 2020: p. 1-43.
Erkoyuncu, J.A., M. Farsi, and D. Ariansyah, An intelligent agent-based architecture for resilient digital twins in manufacturing. CIRP annals, 2021. 70(1): p. 349-352.
Emmert-Streib, F., What is the role of AI for digital twins? AI, 2023. 4(3): p. 721-728.
Jeon, C.-H., et al., Prescriptive maintenance of prestressed concrete bridges considering digital twin and key performance indicator. Engineering Structures, 2024. 302: p. 117383.
Segovia, M. and J. Garcia-Alfaro, Design, modeling and implementation of digital twins. Sensors, 2022. 22(14): p. 5396.
Nzeako, G., et al., Security paradigms for IoT in telecom networks: Conceptual challenges and solution pathways. Engineering Science & Technology Journal, 2024. 5(5): p. 1606-1626.
San, O., S. Pawar, and A. Rasheed, Decentralized digital twins of complex dynamical systems. Scientific Reports, 2023. 13(1): p. 20087.
Wu, Y., K. Zhang, and Y. Zhang, Digital twin networks: A survey. IEEE Internet of Things Journal, 2021. 8(18): p. 13789-13804.
Kaigom, E.G. and J. Roßmann, Value-driven robotic digital twins in cyber–physical applications. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics, 2020. 17(5): p. 3609-3619.
Rathore, M.M., et al., The role of ai, machine learning, and big data in digital twinning: A systematic literature review, challenges, and opportunities. IEEE Access, 2021. 9: p. 32030-32052.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Dileesh Chandra Bikkasani

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.