This document discusses emerging technologies in synthetic representation and digital twins presented by Dr. Liming Zhu from CSIRO's Data61. It covers digital twins, synthetic representations, emerging technologies like federated learning and simulation, and examples of spatial digital twins in Australia. It emphasizes securely and privately connecting digital twins through techniques like federated analytics, sharing without access, desensitized and synthetic data. Future focus areas discussed include trusted data sharing, federated data and models, cross-domain security, and synthetic representation of supply chains.

1. Australia’s National Science Agency
Emerging Technologies in
Synthetic Representation
and Digital Twin
Dr/Prof Liming Zhu, Research Director
CSIRO’s Data61

2. Digital Twins & Synthetic Representations
Digital Twin – virtual representation of a
physical object or system
Synthetic Representation
• digital vs non-digital
• authentic vs obfuscated
Emerging Tech
• Federated Learning/Simulation
• Securely connected DT and SR
• Sharing without Access
• Desensitised & Synthetic Data
• Energy-domain Example
Example: Spatially-enabled Digital Twins
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3. Platform implementations informing perspectives include:
• National Map https://nationalmap.gov.au/
• VIC Spatial Digital Twin https://vic.digitaltwin.terria.io/
• NSW Spatial Digital Twin https://nsw.digitaltwin.terria.io/
• QLD Spatial Digital Twin https://qld.digitaltwin.terria.io/
Ecosystem Enablers for Urban Scale Digital Twins:
• Trusted/Secure data sharing, standards, powerful visualisation
Data61’s Spatially-Enabled Digital Twin
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4. ‘Reality Mesh’ / 3D Imagery
Lidar Underground, Utilities Live traffic & public transport Volumetric cadastre
Strata cadastre
Buildings
Building Information Models
Data Types, including Synthetic Data
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5. Vision: Securely Connected Digital Twins
The National Digital Twin will
not be a single large model but
an ecosystem of securely
connected digital twins which
can enable system of system
analysis.
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6. Future and Data61’s focus
• Support advancement in
trusted data sharing
• Federated analytics
• Data use without sharing
• Federated data/model
• Synthetic + desensitised data
• Cross-domain security
• data, model and simulation
Connected Representation/DT Enabler
Source: Diagram 6, Framework for Spatially Enabled Digital Twins:
Information Paper, CSIRO Data61, Australia.
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7. When there are cultural, legislative, security
restrictions to sharing, consider alternatives!
Federated Model:
• No centralised data repositories and simulation
• Edge Simulation, AI and Analytics
Scientific Approaches
• Zero-knowledge proofs, homomorphic
encryption, secure-multi-party computation
Sharing without Access - Federated Learning/Simulation
From limited access to full encryption during use
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Other Case Studies at Data61
• Edge analytics/simulation of devices
• Bank + Telco for fraud analytics
• Two gov departments for joint insights
Data61 work: SK Lo, Q Lu, L Zhu, HY Paik, X Xu, C Wang: Architectural patterns for the
design of federated learning systems, Journal of Systems and Software (2021)
Data61 work: SK Lo, Q Lu, HY Paik, L Zhu, FLRA: A Reference Architecture for Federated
Learning Systems, European Conference on Software Architecture (2021)

8. Analytics/Simulation to Data: Data Airlock
Not Data to Analytics/Simulation
• Analytics/Simulation requests to
data -> Insights back
• No data sharing
• Automated vetting of insights
• Case Studies: Major government
agency
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Data is kept away in vaults.
All analytics models and simulation results are vetted.

9. Safe Data Sharing: Provable Desensitization & Synthetic Data
Quantified risks assessment, mitigation and compliance, synthetic data sets
§ Provably desensitized data sharing/release for joint analytics and simulation
§ Synthetic datasets that balance authenticity and obfustication
§ Quantified risks and mitigation
§ Case Studies: Worked with 30+ Gov agencies
R4: Re-identification Risks Ready-Reckoner
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10. Synthetic Representation/DT of Supply Chains
Critical Infrastructure Protection & Resilience
Cross-sector solutions & supply chains
New resilience tactics, controllability, trusted supply chain
Cyber + Physical Security
Supply Chain
Integrity
Cyber-physical integrity
Cross-chain data sharing
Certificate tech
Supply Chain
Risk Analytics
Robustness + Resilience
Risk frameworks
Software/AI
Supply Chain
SBOM/AI-SBOM
Vulnerability Impact
Trustworthy AI
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11. Major Collaborations & Partners
• ..
• ..
• ..
Supply Chain Analytics
Key science
• Graph theory + Bayesian networks +
Optimisation + Simulation
• Deep domain/sector knowledge
Risk assessment framework
• Resilience
• Robustness
• Reliability
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Example Gov/Industry Projects
• Energy, Water, Food
• Telecommunications
• Ports
• Defence infrastructure
• …

12. Major Collaborations & Partners
• ..
• ..
• ..
• ..
Software Supply Chain
Key Science
• Vulnerability detection + dependency
analysis + dark patterns (via ML+ NLP+ knowledge graph)
• AI-SBOM, trustworthy AI in data + model +
code supply chain
Example Gov/Industry Projects
• Secure & Modular IoT (for supply chain)
• US Army public software vulnerability scan
• ~20+ projects/dual-use tech with DST
[1] In sync with US DoD Responsible AI implementation pathways; NSF-CSIRO Call https://www.csiro.au/NSF-AI
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Critical Infrastructure Protection &
Resilience
Cross-sector solutions & supply chains
New resilience tactics, Digital Twin, trusted supply chain
Cyber + Physical Security

13. Example: Energy Critical Infrastructure
Digital Twin &
Synthetic
Representations
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14. Attacks to Critical Infrastructures
Source: https://airbus-cyber-security.com/
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15. Energy Infrastructure Digital Twin for Cybersecurity
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16. Source: https://jpt.spe.org/control-room-future Source: http://www.age.co.za
Sources: https://www.reutersevents.com/nuclear/digital-twin-
technology-identified-key-increased-safety-and-efficiency
https://www.smart2zero.com/news/digital-twin-helps-protect-smart-
energy-grid
Panels Intelligent UIs Digital Twins
5G/6G provide hyperconnectivity at terabit scales, making digital twin based energy management systems feasible
Future Control/Simulation Rooms
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17. Device-level Simulator and Testing
Software Platform
Model
Attack scenario simulation Hardware Emulation
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18. Energy System-Level Simulation & Testing
Critical Infrastructure Protection & Resilience
Cross-sector solutions & supply chains
New resilience tactics, controllability, trusted supply chain
Cyber + Physical Security
Model-driven Engineering
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19. Collaborate with D61 on DT/Synthetic Representation
Collaborate on
innovation projects
with D61+ Network
(including 30+ Unis)
active
Trial and license the
enabling
technologies
Form deep
partnership via
shared technology
roadmaps
Join major
initiatives such as
critical
infrastructure
digital twins
Contact:
Liming.Zhu@data61.csiro.au
Wilma.James@data61.csiro.au
Pick a model & start today!
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Thanks!
Form Defence-
Data61-Industry (inc.
SMEs) partnership