• Energy Research

This paper presents an Internet-of-Things software infrastructure that enables energy management and simulation of new control policies in a city district. The proposed platform enables the interoperability and the correlation of (near-)real-time building energy profiles with environmental data from sensors as well as building and grid models. In a smart city context, this platform fulfills 1) the integration of heterogeneous data sources at the building and district level, and 2) the simulation of novel energy policies at the district level aimed at the optimization of the energy usage accounting also for its impact on building comfort. The platform has been deployed in a real-world district and a novel control policy for the heating distribution network has been developed and tested. Results are presented and discussed in the paper.

In the context of Real Estate management, the importance of education in new working and collaborating method is crucial as it has an impact on the entire value chain of the construction industry. The main purpose of this paper is to promote a training method for the public administration aimed at providing the toolkit to achieve system optimisation by making the best use of Building Information Modelling methodology and new technologies. The idea is to invest in human capital to activate virtuous processes that can improve the quality of works and services, leading the market towards increasingly integrated and interdisciplinary procedures. A knowledge society can generate savings that can be re-invested in social, economic and environmental development.

AbstractInnovative technologies such as ICTs (Information and Communications Technologies) are recognized as being a key player against climate change and the use of sensors and actuators can efficiently control the whole energy chain in the Smart Thermal Grids at district level. On the other side, advances on 3D modelling, visualization and interaction technologies enable user profiling and represent part of the holistic approach which aims at integrating renewable energy solutions in the existing building stock. To unlock the potentiality of these technologies, the case study selected for this research focuses on interoperability between Building Information Models (BIM), GIS (Geographic Information System) models and Energy Analysis Models (EAM) for designing Renewable Energy Strategies (RES) among the demonstrator. The objectives aim at making a whole series of data concerning the energy efficiency and reduction at district level usable for various stakeholders, by creating a District Information Model (DIM). The described system also integrates BIM and district level 3D models with real-time data from sensors to analyse and correlate buildings utilization and provide real-time energy-related behaviours. An important role is played by the energy simulation through the EAM for matching measured and simulated data and to assess the energy performance of buildings starting from a BIM model or shared data. With this purpose interoperability tests are carried out between the BIM models and quasi-steady energy analysis tools in order to optimize the calculation of the energy demand according to the Italian technical specification UNI TS 11300. Information about the roofs slope and their orientation from the GIS model are used to predict the use of renewable energy – solar thermal and PV – within the selected buildings (both public and private) of the demonstrator in Turin, Italy.The expected results are a consistent reduction in both energy consumption and CO2 emissions by enabling a more efficient energy distribution policies, according to the real characteristics of district buildings as well as a more efficient utilization and maintenance of the energy distribution network, based on social behaviour and users attitudes and demand. In the future the project will allow open access with personal devices and A/R visualization of energy-related information to client applications for energy and cost-analysis, tariff planning and evaluation, failure identification and maintenance, energy information sharing in order to increase the user's awareness in the field of energy consumption.

In this paper, we report a methodology, developed in the context of Smart Energy Efficient Middleware for Public Spaces European Project, aimed at exploiting ICT monitoring and control services to reduce energy usage and CO2 footprint in existing buildings. The approach does not require significant construction work as it is based on commercial-off-the-shelf devices and, where present, it exploits and integrates existing building management systems with new sensors and actuator networks. To make this possible, the proposed approach leverages upon the following main contributions: (a) to develop an integrated building automation and control system, (b) to implement a middleware for the energy-efficient buildings domain, (c) to provide a multi-dimensional building information modelling-based visualisation, and (d) to raise people’s awareness about energy efficiency. The research approach adopted in the project started with the selection, as case studies, of representative test and reference rooms in modern and historical buildings chosen for having different requirements and constraints in term of sensing and control technologies. Then, according to the features of the selected rooms, the strategies to reduce the energy consumptions were defined, taking into account the potential savings related to lighting, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems and other device loads (PC, printers, etc.). The strategies include both the control of building services and devices and the monitoring of environmental conditions and energy consumption. In the paper, the energy savings estimated through simulation, for both HVAC and lighting, are presented to highlight the potential of the designed system. After the implementation of the system in the demonstrator, results will be compared with the monitored data.

In the last decades, climate and environmental changes have highlighted the fragility and vulnerability of the landscape, especially in mountain areas where the effects are most severe. This study promotes the methodological setup of a landscape digital twin to establish a multi-disciplinary and multi-scalar hazard overview according to a matrix framework implementable over time and space. The original contribution to the research addresses a holistic vision that combines meaningfully qualitative with quantitative approaches within a multi-hazard framework from the socio-economic perspective. This contribution presents road network risk analysis by exploiting flooding and landslide scenarios. The critical road segments or nodes most vulnerable or impacted by network performance and accessibility can be identified with minimal preprocessing from credible open-source sources. Service maps are used to show the spatial distribution of risk scores for different typologies of points of interest and hazards. Origin-destination matrix graphs display changes in travel time between facilities under various scenarios. Using a risk scores formula to generate risk maps has made it possible to effectively represent the interconnectedness among natural hazards, infrastructure, and socio-economic factors, fostering more resilient decision-making processes. The method’s applicability is tested through a case study in northern Italy’s Piedmont Region.

Advances in Science, Technology & Innovation (ASTI) est une série de livres évalués par des pairs basés sur d'importantes recherches émergentes qui redéfinissent les frontières disciplinaires actuelles en science, technologie et innovation (STI) afin de développer des concepts intégrés pour le développement durable. Il traite non seulement des progrès réalisés pour obtenir plus de ressources, allouer des solutions plus intelligentes et rééquilibrer la relation entre la nature et les personnes, mais fournit également des informations approfondies issues d'une recherche complète qui aborde les 17 objectifs de développement durable (ODD) tel qu'établi par les Nations Unies pour 2030. La série s'appuie sur les meilleurs documents de recherche de diverses conférences IEREK et d'autres conférences internationales pour promouvoir la création et le développement de solutions viables pour un avenir durable et une transformation sociétale positive à l'aide d'approches scientifiques intégrées et innovantes. Y compris des contributions interdisciplinaires, elle présente des approches innovantes et souligne comment elles peuvent soutenir au mieux le développement économique et durable, grâce à une meilleure utilisation des données, des institutions plus efficaces et une action mondiale, locale et individuelle, pour le bien-être de toutes les sociétés. La série présente en particulier des contributions conceptuelles et empiriques de diverses les domaines interdépendants de la science, de la technologie et de l'innovation, en mettant l'accent sur la transformation numérique, qui se concentrent sur la fourniture de solutions pratiques pour assurer la sécurité alimentaire, hydrique et énergétique afin d'atteindre les ODD. Il présente également de nouvelles études de cas offrant des exemples concrets de la façon de résoudre l'urbanisation durable et les problèmes environnementaux dans différentes régions du monde. La série est destinée aux professionnels de la recherche et de l'enseignement, aux consultants et à l'industrie, ainsi qu'aux organisations gouvernementales et internationales. Advances in Science, Technology & Innovation (ASTI) es una serie de libros revisados por pares basados en importantes investigaciones emergentes que redefinen los límites disciplinarios actuales en ciencia, tecnología e innovación (CTI) para desarrollar conceptos integrados para el desarrollo sostenible. No solo discute el progreso realizado para asegurar más recursos, asignar soluciones más inteligentes y reequilibrar la relación entre la naturaleza y las personas, sino que también proporciona información en profundidad a partir de una investigación integral que aborda los 17 objetivos de desarrollo sostenible (ODS) según lo establecido por la ONU para 2030. La serie se basa en los mejores trabajos de investigación de varias conferencias IEREK y otras conferencias internacionales para promover la creación y el desarrollo de soluciones viables para un futuro sostenible y una transformación social positiva con la ayuda de enfoques integrados e innovadores basados en la ciencia. Incluyendo contribuciones interdisciplinarias, presenta enfoques innovadores y destaca cómo pueden apoyar mejor el desarrollo económico y sostenible, a través de un mejor uso de los datos, instituciones más efectivas y acción global, local e individual, para el bienestar de todas las sociedades. La serie presenta particularmente contribuciones conceptuales y empíricas de varios campos interrelacionados de la ciencia, la tecnología y la innovación, con énfasis en la transformación digital, que se centran en proporcionar soluciones prácticas para garantizar la seguridad alimentaria, hídrica y energética para alcanzar los ODS. También presenta nuevos estudios de casos que ofrecen ejemplos concretos de cómo resolver la urbanización sostenible y los problemas ambientales en diferentes regiones del mundo. La serie está dirigida a profesionales de la investigación y la enseñanza, consultorías e industria, y organizaciones gubernamentales e internacionales. Advances in Science, Technology & Innovation (ASTI) is a series of peer-reviewed books based on important emerging research that redefines the current disciplinary boundaries in science, technology and innovation (STI) in order to develop integrated concepts for sustainable development.It not only discusses the progress made towards securing more resources, allocating smarter solutions, and rebalancing the relationship between nature and people, but also provides in-depth insights from comprehensive research that addresses the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) as set out by the UN for 2030.The series draws on the best research papers from various IEREK and other international conferences to promote the creation and development of viable solutions for a sustainable future and a positive societal transformation with the help of integrated and innovative science-based approaches.Including interdisciplinary contributions, it presents innovative approaches and highlights how they can best support both economic and sustainable development, through better use of data, more effective institutions, and global, local and individual action, for the welfare of all societies.The series particularly features conceptual and empirical contributions from various interrelated fields of science, technology and innovation, with an emphasis on digital transformation, that focus on providing practical solutions to ensure food, water and energy security to achieve the SDGs.It also presents new case studies offering concrete examples of how to resolve sustainable urbanization and environmental issues in different regions of the world.The series is intended for professionals in research and teaching, consultancies and industry, and government and international organizations. التقدم في العلوم والتكنولوجيا والابتكار (ASTI) هي سلسلة من الكتب التي تمت مراجعتها من قبل الأقران بناءً على أبحاث ناشئة مهمة تعيد تعريف الحدود التأديبية الحالية في العلوم والتكنولوجيا والابتكار (STI) من أجل تطوير مفاهيم متكاملة للتنمية المستدامة. وهي لا تناقش فقط التقدم المحرز نحو تأمين المزيد من الموارد، وتخصيص حلول أكثر ذكاءً، وإعادة التوازن بين الطبيعة والناس، ولكنها تقدم أيضًا رؤى متعمقة من البحوث الشاملة التي تتناول أهداف التنمية المستدامة السبعة عشر (SDGs) على النحو الذي حددته الأمم المتحدة لعام 2030. تعتمد السلسلة على أفضل الأوراق البحثية من مختلف المؤتمرات الدولية لتعزيز إنشاء وتطوير حلول قابلة للتطبيق من أجل مستقبل مستدام وتحول مجتمعي إيجابي بمساعدة مناهج متكاملة ومبتكرة قائمة على العلم. بما في ذلك المساهمات متعددة التخصصات، فإنها تقدم مناهج مبتكرة وتسلط الضوء على أفضل السبل لدعم التنمية الاقتصادية والمستدامة، من خلال الاستخدام الأفضل للبيانات، والمؤسسات الأكثر فعالية، والعمل العالمي والمحلي والفردي، من أجل رفاهية جميع المجتمعات. تتميز السلسلة بشكل خاص بمساهمات مفاهيمية وتجريبية من مختلف المجتمعات. مجالات العلوم والتكنولوجيا والابتكار المترابطة، مع التركيز على التحول الرقمي، التي تركز على توفير حلول عملية لضمان الأمن الغذائي والمائي وأمن الطاقة لتحقيق أهداف التنمية المستدامة. كما تقدم دراسات حالة جديدة تقدم أمثلة ملموسة لكيفية حل قضايا التحضر والبيئة المستدامة في مناطق مختلفة من العالم. السلسلة مخصصة للمهنيين في مجال البحث والتدريس، والاستشارات والصناعة، والمنظمات الحكومية والدولية.

This article aims to study the political, environmental and economic factors in contemporary society that influence new approaches and decision making in design in terms of carbon emissions and energy employment. These issues are increasingly influencing political decision making and public policy throughout every aspect of society, including the design practice. Managing this kind of complexity means adopting new forms of collaboration, methodologies and tools, knowledge and technology sharing. The article aims to narrate a PhD research experience grounded in academy–industry collaboration and aimed at creating a digital methodology for impact evaluation and investment planning. In particular, the digital methodology focuses on responding to international public policy for the sustainable growth of cities, in terms of footprint and energy demand, by including a holistic view of the design process made possible by the use of life-cycle assessment (LCA) procedures. To simplify the calculation, the methodology focuses on the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) data rather than the entire LCA. The EPD is a document that describes the environmental impacts linked to the production of a specific quantity of product or service. The objective was not to create another evaluation method but to employ the EPD results in combination with parametric and computational procedures. The integration of those procedures by using visual programming and scripting allowed the calculation of Embodied Carbon and Embodied Energy and created a user-friendly interface to query the results. The output obtained included automatic and dynamic diagrams able to identify impact scenarios in terms of CO2 emissions and MJ of embodied energy after the conceptual design stage. The strategic use of the charts lies in their potential to simulate impact conditions and, therefore, in the chance to create sustainable transformation scenarios in the early stages of design. At this point, the influence on choices is at its highest, and the costs are low. Moreover, the methodology represents a platform of collaboration that potentially increases the level of interaction between the actors of the construction process with the consequent improvement in design quality. In conclusion, building the design methodology and testing its performance within a specific sociotechnical context was important in critically evaluating certain topics, for example, the recent European strategies on new technology to reach sustainable objectives, the role of digital tools in proposing solutions towards contemporary social issues, the birth of new forms of partnership and collaboration and the new possibilities coming from digital evaluation approaches.