Defining a Digital Twin: A Data Science-Based Unification
The concept of a digital twin (DT) has gained significant attention in academia and industry because of its perceived potential to address critical global challenges, such as climate change, healthcare, and economic crises. Originally introduced in manufacturing, many attempts have been made to pres...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Machine Learning and Knowledge Extraction |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-4990/5/3/54 |
| _version_ | 1797579127780278272 |
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| author | Frank Emmert-Streib |
| author_facet | Frank Emmert-Streib |
| author_sort | Frank Emmert-Streib |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The concept of a digital twin (DT) has gained significant attention in academia and industry because of its perceived potential to address critical global challenges, such as climate change, healthcare, and economic crises. Originally introduced in manufacturing, many attempts have been made to present proper definitions of this concept. Unfortunately, there remains a great deal of confusion surrounding the underlying concept, with many scientists still uncertain about the distinction between a simulation, a mathematical model and a DT. The aim of this paper is to propose a formal definition of a digital twin. To achieve this goal, we utilize a data science framework that facilitates a functional representation of a DT and other components that can be combined together to form a larger entity we refer to as a digital twin system (DTS). In our framework, a DT is an open dynamical system with an updating mechanism, also referred to as complex adaptive system (CAS). Its primary function is to generate data via simulations, ideally, indistinguishable from its physical counterpart. On the other hand, a DTS provides techniques for analyzing data and decision-making based on the generated data. Interestingly, we find that a DTS shares similarities to the principles of general systems theory. This multi-faceted view of a DTS explains its versatility in adapting to a wide range of problems in various application domains such as engineering, manufacturing, urban planning, and personalized medicine. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:32:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f4c854c877c74c6cb5e3c29b347027bb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2504-4990 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:32:30Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Machine Learning and Knowledge Extraction |
| spelling | doaj.art-f4c854c877c74c6cb5e3c29b347027bb2023-11-19T11:41:46ZengMDPI AGMachine Learning and Knowledge Extraction2504-49902023-08-01531036105410.3390/make5030054Defining a Digital Twin: A Data Science-Based UnificationFrank Emmert-Streib0Predictive Society and Data Analytics Lab., Faculty of Information Technology and Communications, Tampere University, 33100 Tampere, FinlandThe concept of a digital twin (DT) has gained significant attention in academia and industry because of its perceived potential to address critical global challenges, such as climate change, healthcare, and economic crises. Originally introduced in manufacturing, many attempts have been made to present proper definitions of this concept. Unfortunately, there remains a great deal of confusion surrounding the underlying concept, with many scientists still uncertain about the distinction between a simulation, a mathematical model and a DT. The aim of this paper is to propose a formal definition of a digital twin. To achieve this goal, we utilize a data science framework that facilitates a functional representation of a DT and other components that can be combined together to form a larger entity we refer to as a digital twin system (DTS). In our framework, a DT is an open dynamical system with an updating mechanism, also referred to as complex adaptive system (CAS). Its primary function is to generate data via simulations, ideally, indistinguishable from its physical counterpart. On the other hand, a DTS provides techniques for analyzing data and decision-making based on the generated data. Interestingly, we find that a DTS shares similarities to the principles of general systems theory. This multi-faceted view of a DTS explains its versatility in adapting to a wide range of problems in various application domains such as engineering, manufacturing, urban planning, and personalized medicine.https://www.mdpi.com/2504-4990/5/3/54digital twindata sciencemachine learningcomplex adaptive systemsgeneral systems theory |
| spellingShingle | Frank Emmert-Streib Defining a Digital Twin: A Data Science-Based Unification Machine Learning and Knowledge Extraction digital twin data science machine learning complex adaptive systems general systems theory |
| title | Defining a Digital Twin: A Data Science-Based Unification |
| title_full | Defining a Digital Twin: A Data Science-Based Unification |
| title_fullStr | Defining a Digital Twin: A Data Science-Based Unification |
| title_full_unstemmed | Defining a Digital Twin: A Data Science-Based Unification |
| title_short | Defining a Digital Twin: A Data Science-Based Unification |
| title_sort | defining a digital twin a data science based unification |
| topic | digital twin data science machine learning complex adaptive systems general systems theory |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-4990/5/3/54 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT frankemmertstreib definingadigitaltwinadatasciencebasedunification |