Mario Sanz Rodrigo, Ph.D. in Telematic System Engineering

On July 12th, our colleague Mario Sanz Rodrigo obtained the title of Ph.D. in Telematic Systems Engineering. The dissertation, titled “Contribution to the Design and Deployment of Digital Network Twins,” was supervised by Dr. José Ignacio Morneo Novella and Dr. Diego Rivera Pinto.

The research is based on the paradigm of Digital Twins (DT) applied to the field of communication networks, addressing all phases, from the initial data collection to the interconnection of twins and the exchange of data between both environments.

Through the analysis of the state of the art, the characteristics and requirements associated with Digital Twins (DT) are initially identified, followed by a review of the specific case of Network Digital Twins (NDT), with a focus on identifying unmet needs and unresolved challenges. As a result of this study, a methodology is proposed to standardize, through various phases, the creation and deployment of network digital twins and their integration with physical twins.

Following the formal definition of the methodology, the first phase leads to the second contribution, which focuses on the challenges associated with acquiring the data required for modelling both the topology and behaviour of network devices. These challenges stem from the heterogeneity of devices and virtualization technologies, as well as diverse network topologies. To address this, the design and development of the DANA system (Digital Agent for Network Data Acquisition) is proposed. This system is capable of collecting data regardless of the type of end device or network within the physical twin. It becomes a key component of the NDT ecosystem, present both in the physical twin environment and in the digital twin environment after its creation. In later stages, it enables actions on the twins to facilitate the joint co-evolution of the ecosystem, a fundamental feature of the paradigm.

Regarding the need to implement the proposed methodology, and based on the enabling technologies reviewed during the state-of-the-art study, a platform is designed and developed to facilitate its application. This platform enables both the creation and deployment of the complete NDT ecosystem and the implementation of a bidirectional communication channel. This channel ensures data collection and information exchange, supporting the joint co-evolution of both environments.

In summary, the Doctoral Thesis provides both a methodology and a platform capable of facilitating the deployment of this technology. It also addresses different proposals that cover specific phases, such as automated data collection, modelling/adaptation, and a bidirectional communication channel to enable interaction between the physical twin and the digital twin.