Dec 15, 2025 · cs.LGJ/K move · Enter open · S save
Eugenio Varetti, Matteo Torzoni, Marco Tezzele, Andrea Manzoni
MOX – Dipartimento di Matematica, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, 20133, Italy · Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile e Ambientale, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, 20133, Italy · Mathematics Department, Emory University, Atlanta, 30322, GA, United States
This work shows how adaptivity can enhance value realization of digital twins in civil engineering. We focus on adapting the state transition models within digital twins represented through probabilistic graphical models. The bi-directional interaction between the physical and virtual domains is modeled using dynamic Bayesian networks. By treating state transition probabilities as random variables endowed with conjugate priors, we enable hierarchical online learning of transition dynamics from a state to another through effortless Bayesian updates. We provide the mathematical framework to account for a larger class of distributions with respect to the current literature on digital twins. To compute dynamic policies with precision updates we solve parametric Markov decision processes through reinforcement learning. The proposed adaptive digital twin framework enjoys enhanced personalization, increased robustness, and improved cost-effectiveness. We assess our approach on a case study involving structural health monitoring and maintenance planning of a railway bridge.