Carbon-Aware Orchestration of Integrated Satellite Aerial Terrestrial Networks via Digital Twin

TL;DR

This paper proposes a digital twin-based, carbon-aware orchestration framework for integrated satellite-aerial-terrestrial networks, significantly reducing carbon emissions while maintaining quality of service.

Contribution

It introduces a novel digital twin-enabled framework that optimizes ISATN operations for sustainability using multi-timescale adaptive control and specific emission-reduction strategies.

Findings

Achieves up to 29% reduction in carbon emissions compared to QoS-only methods.

Improves renewable energy utilization and network resilience.

Demonstrates effectiveness with real carbon intensity data.

Abstract

Integrated Satellite Aerial Terrestrial Networks (ISATNs) are envisioned as key enablers of 6G, providing global connectivity for applications such as autonomous transportation, Industrial IoT, and disaster response. Their large-scale deployment, however, risks unsustainable energy use and carbon emissions. This work advances prior energy-aware studies by proposing a carbon-aware orchestration framework for ISATNs that leverages Digital Twin (DT) technology. The framework adopts grams of CO$_2$-equivalent per bit (gCO$_2$/bit) as a primary sustainability metric and implements a multi timescale Plan Do Check Act (PDCA) loop that combines day-ahead forecasting with real-time adaptive optimization. ISATN-specific control knobs, including carbon-aware handovers, UAV duty cycling, and renewable-aware edge placement, are exploited to reduce emissions. Simulation results with real carbon intensity data show up to 29\% lower gCO$_2$/bit than QoS-only orchestration, while improving renewable utilization and resilience under adverse events.