<p>Our generation is currently at the juncture of the fourth industrial revolution - Industry 4.0. Emergent technology such as Augmented Reality (AR), Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), cloud computing, big data, and ore are at the center of this. Amidst all these, the concept of  digital Twinning is a promising technology for realizing Industry 4.0. Simply put, a Digital Twin is a virtual representation of a real task, action, or object. This thesis explores the parameters and details required to generate a Digital Twin. Using these insights, we propose two applications that utilize digital twinning - EditAR and AnnotateXR. EditAR is an AR workflow for authoring kinesthetic instructions for spatial tasks. AnnotateXR is an Extended Reality (XR) workflow for automating data annotation to support multiple Computer Vision (CV) applications. We evaluate these systems through user studies and report the results on the usability and viability of these workflows. From an evaluation study, EditAR received an average system usability score (SUS) of 82.0. Over the course of a user study, using AnnotateXR, users were able to generate a total of 112,737 semantically segmented images and 144 videos annotated for action segmentation in 66.55 minutes. AnnotateXR received an average SUS score of 91.0.</p>

The Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry is known to be overwhelmed with resource planning, risk management, and logistic challenges, resulting in design defects, project delivery delays, cost overruns, and contractual disputes. These challenges have instigated research in the application of advanced machine learning algorithms such as Deep learning (DL) to help with diagnostic and prescriptive analysis of causes and preventive measures. Construction 4.0 develops through continuous innovations towards digitalization and intelligence, in order to realize a considerable boost in automation, productivity, and reliability. The Digital Twins, as the next level of planning and process control and automation towards Construction 4.0, will incorporate cognitive features that enable sensing complex and unpredicted behavior and reason about dynamic strategies for process optimization to support decision-making. However, there is still a lack of awareness regarding the real impact of DT integration, DL, and IoT, all connected to self-learning hybrid models with proactive cognitive capabilities for smart planning and construction. This study investigates the potential integration of DT and DL to facilitate smart planning and construction through an explorative analysis to identify and close this gap. Data were collected from global industry experts in a mixed approach with interviews, focus groups, and a survey focusing on the applicability and interoperability of DL integrated DT with decision-support capabilities for process optimization. Based on the results of quantitative and qualitative analyses, a conceptual model of the framework has been developed. The evaluations support that the DL integrated DT model will incorporate cognitive abilities to detect complex and unpredictable actions and reasoning about dynamic process optimization strategies to support decision-making in smart planning and construction. / Pre-study for SPARK-SBE potential project

<p dir="ltr">We present a systematic approach for integrating reduced-order models of tableting with upstream pharmaceutical unit operations. This method identifies critical material attributes (CMAs) and process parameters (CPPs) from upstream operations, describing their coupling to both first and second orders, while selecting the appropriate mathematical forms and estimating parameters. The coupling is modeled using normalized bivariate rational functions.</p><p dir="ltr">The approach is demonstrated for dry granulation, a process that enhances powder flowability but compromises tabletability by reducing particle porosity and increasing plastic work. Using a formulation of 10\% w/w acetaminophen and 90\% w/w microcrystalline cellulose, granules with varying densities and size distributions are produced, and tablets of different relative densities are fabricated. This work provides essential insights for end-to-end process integration, control, and optimization of dry granulation and tableting. It also identifies granule properties that predominantly influence the four stages of powder compaction: die filling, compaction, unloading, and ejection.</p><p dir="ltr">Furthermore, we examine the effects of excipients such as lubricants (magnesium stearate) and glidants (silica) on tablet critical quality attributes (CQAs) in continuous manufacturing. Lubricants were found to affect all compaction stages, with sensitivity to mixing time, while glidants influenced bulk density and tensile strength without significantly impacting tablet density or compaction force. Reduced-order models are developed to predict tablet weight, density, and tensile strength based on excipient concentration and mixing time. These models are integral to implementing real-time control under the quality-by-control paradigm.</p>

As organisations adapt to the rigorous demands set by global markets, the supply chains that constitute their logistics networks become increasingly complex. This often has a detrimental effect on the supply chain visibility within the organisation, which may in turn have a negative impact on the core business of the organisation. This paper aims to determine how organisations can benefit in terms of improving their logistical supply chain visibility by implementing a Digital Twin — an all-encompassing virtual representation of the physical assets that constitute the logistics system. Furthermore, challenges related to implementation and the necessary steps to overcome these challenges were examined.  The results of the study are that Digital Twins may prove beneficial to organisations in terms of improving metrics of analytics, diagnostics, predictions and descriptions of physical assets. However, these benefits come with notable challenges — managing implementation and maintenance costs, ensuring proper information modelling, adopting new technology and leading the organisation through the changes that an implementation would entail.  In conclusion, a Digital Twin is a powerful tool suitable for organisations where the benefits outweigh the challenges of the initial implementation. Therefore, careful consideration must be taken to ensure that the investment is worthwhile. Further research is required to determine the most efficient way of introducing a Digital Twin to a logistical supply chain. / I takt med att organisationer anpassar sig till de hårda krav som ställs av den globala marknaden ökar också komplexiteten i deras logistiknätverk. Detta har ofta en negativ effekt på synligheten inom logistikkedjan i organisationen, vilken i sin tur kan ha en negativ påverkan på organisationens kärnverksamhet. Målet med denna studie är att utröna de fördelar som organisationer kan uppnå vad gäller att förbättra synligheten inom deras logistikkedjor genom att implementera en Digital Tvilling — en allomfattande virtuell representation av de fysiska tillgångar som utgör logistikkedjan.  Resultaten av studien är att Digitala Tvillingar kan vara gynnsamma för organisationer när det gäller att förbättra analys, diagnostik, prognoser och beskrivningar av fysiska tillgångar. Implementationen medför dock utmaningar — hantering av implementations- och driftskostnader, utformning av informationsmodellering, anammandet av ny teknik och ledarskap genom förändringsarbetet som en implementering skulle innebära.  Sammanfattningsvis är en Digital Tvilling ett verktyg som lämpar sig för organisationer där fördelarna överväger de utmaningar som tillkommer med implementationen. Därmed bör beslutet om en eventuell implementation endast ske efter noggrant övervägande. Vidare forskning behöver genomföras för att utröna den mest effektiva metoden för att introducera en Digital Tvilling till en logistikkedja.

Patients not responding to therapy as expected is one of the most pressing healthcare concerns of today. It causes economical, medical and societal issues along with suffering for patients. This project aimed to address this problem and evaluate how to find the best suited drug treatments for individual patients to treat Covid-19. This project was carried out in collaboration with the company AB Mavatar, that have two networks, one experimental and one predicted, which produce drug treatment rankings differently. Different methods are used to connect drug targets to disease associated genes and thus evaluate what drugs are best suited for specific patients to treat Covid-19. The aim of this project is to examine how network, method and drug category affect the ranking of a drug treatment for four mapped Covid-19 patients. Which drug category a drug belongs to did not seem to significantly affect the drug ranking. Yet, certain drug subcategories were closely correlated. However, these subcategories were not those that are typically associated with Covid-19. The method used to connect drug targets to disease associated genes heavily impacts the ranking of the drug treatment. The methods should be further evaluated to see if some should be excluded or weighted less in drug ranking calculations. The two networks are similar in how they rank different drugs, especially in severely ill patients. Through this project and the evaluation of the impact of method choice, one can start to figure out what should be prioritized among disease related changes. Also, important parameters for personalized treatment can be evaluated. / Patienter som inte svarar på terapi som förväntat är en av de största utmaningarna inom hälso- och sjukvård idag. Det orsakar ekonomiska, medicinska och samhälleliga problem samt lidande för patienter. Det här projektet adresserade detta problem och evaluerade hur man kan hitta det bäst lämpade läkemedlet för specifika patienter för att behandla Covid-19. Projektet gjordes tillsammans med företaget AB Mavatar, som har två interaktom, en experimentell och en datadriven, som rangordnar läkemedelsrekommendationer på olika sätt. Olika metoder används för att koppla samman läkemedelsmål med sjukdomsrelaterade gener och således evaluera vilka läkemedel som är bäst lämpade för specifika patienter för behandling av Covid-19. Syftet med projektet var att undersöka hur nätverk, metod och läkemedelskategori påverkar hur läkemedel rangordnas för fyra kartlagda Covid-19-patienter.  Vilken läkemedelskategori ett läkemedel tillhör tycks inte märkbart påverka läkemedelsrangordning. Trots detta var vissa läkemedelsunderkategorier nära korrelerade. Dock var dessa underkategorier inte typiskt associerade med Covid-19. Metoden för att koppla samman läkemedelsmål med sjukdomsassocierade gener påverkade läkemedelsrangordningen väsentligt. Metoderna borde dock evalueras ytterligare för att eventuellt exkludera eller vikta vissa mindre i uträkningar av läkemedelsrang. De två nätverken är lika i hur de rangordnar olika läkemedel, särskilt för svårt sjuka patienter. Genom detta projekt och genom evaluering av metodvalets påverkan kan man börja begripa hur man borde priorita bland sjukdomsrelaterade förändringar. Dessutom kunde viktiga parametrar inom personlig behandling evalueras.

The perspective of procurement and supply chain management is changing dramatically; traditionally, it was seen as a support function; however, the procurement function is receiving increased attention and investment as an essential contributor to the strategic success and a business enabler. While an end-to-end digital supply chain is an opportunity as it unleashes the next level of strategic growth and involves minimal investment in infrastructure, it is still a challenge to optimize and transform. Furthermore, the recent pandemics and geopolitical disruptions of Covid-19, the Ukraine-Russian war, Brexit and the US-China trade war; have structurally changed the global economy and revealed a new risk assessment that will result in the re-introduction of buffers, boundaries across industries and a partial return to regionalization with sort of de-globalization in which existing just-in-time getting replaced by just-in-case strategy.

Thèse produite en partenariat avec la Ferme d'hiver, centre de recherche industrielle pour l'agriculture en environnement contrôlé. / L’agriculture en environnement contrôlé (AEC) est une pratique agricole de haute technologie où la culture de plantes et son environnement sont soumis à une certaine forme de contrôle afin d’obtenir des rendements plus élevés et une efficacité de production accrue. L’AEC est essentielle en raison de son impact sur la disponibilité des terres arables, l’utilisation de l’eau et l’efficacité énergétique face à l’augmentation de l’insécurité alimentaire mondiale. Les systèmes de AEC sont contrôlés par le biais d’indicateurs de performance clés (IPC) complexes que les experts de plusieurs domaines, dont les ingénieurs et les agronomes, doivent optimiser. L’optimisation des IPC nécessite l’exploration de l’immense espace d’états du système d’AEC. Étant donné que ces systèmes sont complexes et hétérogènes, ils nécessitent une approche de modélisation et de co-simulation multi-paradigme dans laquelle les modèles utilisent les formalismes et les niveaux d’abstraction les plus appropriés. Nous proposons une architecture de co-simulation de AEC capable de capturer la dynamique des entités qui composent notre système à plusieurs niveaux d’abstraction. Nous présentons nos résultats démontrant la validité de notre approche / Controlled environment agriculture (CEA) is a high-tech agricultural practice where the crop and its environment are subject to some form of control to achieve higher yields and produc- tion efficiency. CEA is critical for its impacts on arable land availability, water usage, and energy efficiency amid the rise of global food insecurity. CEA systems are controlled through complex key performance indicators (KPI) that experts of multiple domains, including engi- neers and agronomists, must optimize. The optimization of KPI requires exploring the vast state space of the CEA system. As such systems are complex and heterogeneous, they re- quire a multi-paradigm modeling and co-simulation approach in which models use the most appropriate formalisms and levels of abstraction. We provide a co-simulation architecture for CEA to capture the dynamics of the entities that comprise our system at multiple levels of abstraction and present our results showing the validity of our approach.

[ES] La puesta en valor y disfrute del patrimonio arquitectónico a menudo son obstaculizados por limitaciones físicas del entorno, burocráticas, legales, etcétera. En esta "era figital" (phygital) la tecnología digital puede fácilmente complementar a la realidad física para solventar estas limitaciones y además mejorar las experiencias de acercamiento que el usuario valora como inolvidables. La accesibilidad, en sus diferentes acepciones, y el adjetivo "inteligente" (smart) son conceptos muy presentes en esta investigación porque en la era tecnológica en la cual nos encontramos la sociedad así lo demanda y así lo recogen todos los sectores económicos y culturales. Los rápidos avances tecnológicos y el abaratamiento de los dispositivos han fomentado en los últimos años un afán de investigación y creación de experiencias digitales sin precedentes, a veces sin un rumbo preciso, a veces con gran confusión en uso de términos, conceptos y resultados. Para ello, esta investigación tiene como objetivo diseñar una metodología que ayude a los gestores y conservadores del patrimonio arquitectónico temáticamente interconectado en la realización de unas rutas integradas, reales y virtuales, que pueda disfrutar un usuario no experto. El campo de experimentación de la metodología será la línea de Torres de Telegrafía Óptica de Madrid a Valencia. Se trata de un conjunto de treinta torres declaradas Bienes de Interés Cultural pertenecientes al siglo XIX que representan un hito físico en el territorio así como un hito tecnológico en la historia y arquitectura industrial y militar españolas. Se ha elegido este caso de estudio por ser una red sistémica, por la amplia casuística de estados de conservación y contextos que permiten diseñar una metodología lo suficientemente flexible y extrapolable a diferentes situaciones del patrimonio arquitectónico. A esto, cabe añadir, la experiencia profesional y de investigación que el investigador ha ido desarrollando en los últimos años en este tipo de patrimonio. De la revisión bibliográfica a la identificación de tendencias metodológicas, del esclarecimiento de conceptos a la elección de las tecnologías más adecuadas, se llega a definir estrategias y generar resultados teóricos y prácticos testados sobre el objeto de experimentación, con el fin de evaluar su viabilidad técnica y su calidad cultural. Un punto de partida para la experimentación e investigaciones futuras. / [CA] La posada en valor i fruïció del patrimoni arquitectònic sovint són obstaculitzats per limitacions físiques de l'entorn, burocràtiques, legals, etcètera. En aquesta "era figital" (phygital) la tecnologia digital pot fàcilment complementar a la realitat física per a solucionar aquestes limitacions i a més millorar les experiències d'acostament que l'usuari valora com a inoblidables. L'accessibilitat, en les seues diferents accepcions, i l'adjectiu "intel·ligent" (smart) són conceptes molt presents en esta investigació perquè en l'era tecnològica en la qual ens trobem la societat així ho demana i així ho arrepleguen tots els sectors econòmics i culturals. Els ràpids avanços tecnològics i l'abaratiment dels dispositius han fomentat en els últims anys un afany d'investigació i creació d'experiències digitals sense precedents, a vegades sense un rumb precís, a vegades amb gran confusió fent ús de termes, conceptes i resultats. Per a això, esta investigació té com a objectiu dissenyar una metodologia que ajude als gestors i conservadors del patrimoni arquitectònic temàticament interconnectat en la realització d'unes rutes integrades, reals i virtuals, que puga gaudir un usuari no expert. El camp d'experimentació de la metodologia serà la línia de Torres de Telegrafia Òptica de Madrid a València. Es tracta d'un conjunt de trenta torres declarades Béns d'Interés Cultural pertanyents al segle XIX que representen una fita física en el territori així com una fita tecnològica en la història i arquitectura industrial i militar espanyoles. S'ha triat aquest cas d'estudi per ser una xarxa sistèmica, per l'àmplia casuística d'estats de conservació i contextos que permeten dissenyar una metodologia prou flexible i extrapolable a diferents situacions del patrimoni arquitectònic. A això, cal afegir, l'experiència professional i d'investigació que l'investigador ha anat desenvolupant en els últims anys en aquesta mena de patrimoni. De la revisió bibliogràfica a la identificació de tendències metodològiques, de l'esclariment de conceptes a l'elecció de les tecnologies més adequades, s'arriba a definir estratègies i generar resultats teòrics i pràctics testats sobre l'objecte d'experimentació, amb la finalitat d'avaluar la seua viabilitat tècnica i la seua qualitat cultural. Un punt de partida per a l'experimentació i investigacions futures. / [EN] The enhancement and enjoyment of architectural heritage are often hindered by certain physical constraints of the environment, bureaucratic constraints, legal constraints, etc. In this "Phygital Era", digital technology can easily complement physical reality to overcome these limitations and improve the experiences of approach that the user values as unforgettable. Accessibility, in its different meanings, and the adjective "smart" are very present in this research because in the technological era in which we find ourselves, society demands it, a fact which is reflected in all economic and cultural sectors. Rapid technological advances and the cheapening of devices have fostered in recent years an unprecedented eagerness for research and the creation of digital experiences, sometimes without a precise direction, sometimes with great confusion in the use of terms, concepts and results. To this end, this research aims to design a methodology that helps managers and curators of thematically interconnected architectural heritage realise integrated, real and virtual routes that a non-expert user can enjoy. The field of methodology experimentation will be the line of Optical Telegraphy Towers from Madrid to Valencia. It is a set of thirty towers declared Assets of Cultural Interest belonging to the nineteenth century that represent a physical landmark in the territory and a technological milestone in Spain's history and industrial and military architecture. This case study has been chosen because it is a systemic network, because of the wide casuistry of conservation states and contexts that allow the design of a methodology that is sufficiently flexible and extrapolated to different situations of architectural heritage. It is worth mentioning the professional and research experience the researcher has developed in recent years into this type of heritage. From the literature review to the identification of methodological trends, from the clarification of concepts to the choice of the most appropriate technologies, strategies are defined and theoretical and practical results are generated on the object of experimentation to evaluate its technical feasibility and cultural quality. A starting point for future experimentation and research. / De Dato, P. (2024). Conservación y puesta en valor del patrimonio en la era Phygital: Metodología para rutas reales y virtuales mediante RA-RV [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/204144

Solid waste management is a global issue that affects everyone. The management of waste collection routes is a critical challenge in urban environments, primarily due to inefficient routing. This thesis investigates the use of real-time virtual replicas, namely Digital Twins to optimize waste collection routes. By leveraging the capabilities of digital twins, this study intends to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of waste collection operations. The ‘gap’ that the study aims to uncover is hence at the intersection of smart cities, Digital Twins, and waste collection routing. The research methodology comprises of three key components. First, an exploration of five widely used metaheuristic algorithms provides a qualitative understanding of their applicability in vehicle routing, and consecutively waste collection route optimization. Building on this foundation, a simple smart routing scenario for waste collection is presented, highlighting the limitations of a purely Internet of Things (IoT)-based approach. Next, the findings from this demonstration motivate the need for a more data-driven and intelligent solution, leading to the introduction of the Digital Twin concept. Subsequently, a twin framework is developed, which encompasses the technical anatomy and methodology required to create and utilize Digital Twins to optimize waste collection, considering factors such as real-time data integration, predictive analytics, and optimization algorithms. The outcome of this research contributes to the growing concept of smart cities and paves the way toward practical implementations in revolutionizing waste management and creating a sustainable future. / Sophantering är ett globalt problem som påverkar alla, och hantering av sophämtningsrutter är en kritisk utmaning i stadsmiljöer. Den här avhandlingen undersöker användningen av virtuella kopior i realtid, nämligen digitala tvillingar, för att optimera sophämtningsrutter. Genom att utnyttja digitala tvillingars förmågor, avser den här studien att förbättra effektiviteten av sophämtning. Forskningsmetoden består av tre nyckeldelar. Först, en undersökning av fem välanvända Metaheuristika algoritmer som ger en kvalitativ förståelse av deras applicerbarhet i fordonsdirigering och således i optimeringen av sophämtningsrutter. Baserat på detta presenteras ett enkelt smart ruttscenario för sophämtning som understryker bristerna av att bara använda Internet of Things (IoT). Sedan motiverar resultaten av demonstrationen nödvändigheten för en mer datadriven och intelligent lösning, vilket leder till introduktionen av konceptet med digitala tvillingar. Därefter utvecklas ett ramverk för digitala tvillingar som omfattar den tekniska anatomin och metod som krävs för att skapa och använda digitala tvillingar för att optimera sophämtningsrutter. Dessa tar i beaktning faktorer såsom realtidsdataintegrering, prediktiv analys och optimeringsalgoritmer. Slutsatserna av studien bidrar till det växande konceptet av smarta städer och banar väg för praktisk implementation i revolutionerande sophantering och för skapandet för en hållbar framtid.