Towards Digital Twin-Oriented Complex Networked Systems: Introducing heterogeneous node features and interaction rules

PLoS One. 2024 Jan 2;19(1):e0296426. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296426. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

This study proposes an extendable modelling framework for Digital Twin-Oriented Complex Networked Systems (DT-CNSs) with a goal of generating networks that faithfully represent real-world social networked systems. Modelling process focuses on (i) features of nodes and (ii) interaction rules for creating connections that are built based on individual node's preferences. We conduct experiments on simulation-based DT-CNSs that incorporate various features and rules about network growth and different transmissibilities related to an epidemic spread on these networks. We present a case study on disaster resilience of social networks given an epidemic outbreak by investigating the infection occurrence within specific time and social distance. The experimental results show how different levels of the structural and dynamics complexities, concerned with feature diversity and flexibility of interaction rules respectively, influence network growth and epidemic spread. The analysis revealed that, to achieve maximum disaster resilience, mitigation policies should be targeted at nodes with preferred features as they have higher infection risks and should be the focus of the epidemic control.

MeSH terms

  • Computer Simulation
  • Disasters*
  • Disease Susceptibility
  • Epidemics*
  • Humans

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Australian Research Council, “Dynamics and Control of Complex Social Networks” under Grant DP190101087. The lead investigator is Prof Katarzyna Musial-Gabrys. The detailed information can be seen on website: https://dataportal.arc.gov.au/NCGP/Web/Grant/Grants#/20/1//DP190101087/ The funder is Australian Research Council. The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.