Energy-Autonomous Sensing and Digital Twin for Sustainable Infrastructure

Dear Colleagues,

Recent advances in energy harvesting technologies, low-power electronics, and wireless communication have enabled the development of autonomous sensing systems for sustainable monitoring of infrastructure and environmental conditions. At the same time, thermal energy conversion and thermal management technologies—such as thermofluidic systems, phase change materials (PCMs), and energy-efficient thermal control strategies—are gaining increasing attention for improving energy utilization and system reliability in distributed sensing and electronic systems. In parallel, digital twin technologies are emerging as powerful tools that integrate real-time sensing data with computational models to simulate, predict, and optimize the behavior of complex physical systems.

This Special Issue aims to bring together recent advances in energy harvesting technologies, thermal energy conversion systems, and their integration with digital twin frameworks for sustainable monitoring applications. Topics include energy harvesting devices and systems, thermally driven energy conversion strategies, PCM-based thermal energy storage, low-power IoT sensing platforms, and data-driven digital twin models for intelligent monitoring and predictive maintenance. By bridging device-level innovations with system-level digital modeling and analytics, this issue seeks to highlight interdisciplinary approaches that improve sustainability, efficiency, and resilience in monitoring and managing infrastructure and environmental systems.

(1) Introduction, including scientific background and highlighting the importance of this research area.

Recent advances in energy harvesting technologies, low-power electronics, and wireless sensing systems have enabled the development of autonomous monitoring platforms that operate without conventional power infrastructure. Such self-powered sensing systems are increasingly important for long-term monitoring of infrastructure, environmental conditions, and remote systems. In addition, thermal energy conversion technologies—including thermofluidic energy systems, phase change material (PCM)-based thermal storage, and advanced thermal management strategies—are gaining attention as promising solutions for improving energy efficiency and reliability in distributed sensing and electronic systems. Meanwhile, digital twin technologies are rapidly emerging as powerful tools that integrate real-time sensing data with computational models to simulate, predict, and optimize the behavior of complex physical systems.

(2) Aim of the Special issue and how the subject relates to the journal scope.

This Special Issue aims to present recent advances in energy harvesting technologies, thermal energy conversion strategies, and self-powered sensing systems, as well as their integration with digital twin frameworks for sustainable monitoring applications. The topic aligns closely with the scope of Sustainability (MDPI journal), which emphasizes sustainable technologies, smart infrastructure, environmental monitoring, and data-driven system management. By bringing together contributions from researchers working on energy harvesting devices, thermally driven energy systems, low-power IoT platforms, sensing networks, and digital twin technologies, this issue aims to highlight emerging interdisciplinary approaches that enhance sustainability, resilience, and operational efficiency in monitoring and managing complex infrastructure and environmental systems.

(3) Suggest themes.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Energy harvesting technologies for autonomous sensing systems;
• Self-powered IoT platforms and low-power sensor networks;
• Digital twin technologies for infrastructure and environmental monitoring;
• Data-driven predictive maintenance and system optimization;
• Cyber–physical systems for sustainable monitoring applications;
• Smart infrastructure and smart city monitoring systems;
• Ocean and environmental monitoring using energy-autonomous sensors;
• Integration of sensing data with digital twin models;
• Thermo-fluidic analysis for energy conversion strategy;
• Energy-efficient thermal management of battery/electronics;
• Phase change material (PCM)-based energy storage/conversion.

I/We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Hyunjun Jung
Dr. Seong Kwang Hong
Dr. Wongon Kim
Dr. Seokkan Ki
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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• energy harvesting
• self-powered sensing systems
• digital twin
• autonomous sensor networks
• low-power IoT systems
• sustainable monitoring
• smart infrastructure
• environmental monitoring
• cyber–physical systems
• heat transfer
• energy-efficient thermal management
• vapor chambers
• phase change materials
• gallium-based liquid metal
• thermal interface materials