Publications
OUR RESEARCH
Scientific Publications
Here you can find the comprehensive list of publications from the members of the Research Center on Computer Vision and eXtended Reality (xRAI).
Use the tag cloud to filter papers based on specific research topics, or use the menus to filter by year, type of publication, or authors.
For each paper, you have the option to view additional details such as the Abstract, Links, and BibTex record.
Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose
Zora Neale Hurston
2025
Naeem, Tariq; Pirani, Massimiliano; Spalazzi, Luca
Evidence-Based Oracles Using Bayesian Network Proceedings Article
In: 2025 21st International Conference on Distributed Computing in Smart Systems and the Internet of Things (DCOSS-IoT), pp. 1–6, IEEE, Lucca, Italy, 2025, ISBN: 979-8-3315-4372-3.
@inproceedings{naeem_evidence-based_2025,
title = {Evidence-Based Oracles Using Bayesian Network},
author = {Tariq Naeem and Massimiliano Pirani and Luca Spalazzi},
url = {https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11096167/},
doi = {10.1109/DCOSS-IoT65416.2025.00151},
isbn = {979-8-3315-4372-3},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-06-01},
urldate = {2025-09-30},
booktitle = {2025 21st International Conference on Distributed Computing in Smart Systems and the Internet of Things (DCOSS-IoT)},
pages = {1–6},
publisher = {IEEE},
address = {Lucca, Italy},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
Pirani, Massimiliano; Cucchiarelli, Alessandro; Naeem, Tariq; Spalazzi, Luca
Verifiable Actor Model Systems Through Relational-Model Multi-Agent System and Zero-Knowledge Proofs Proceedings Article
In: 2025 IEEE 8th International Conference on Industrial Cyber-Physical Systems (ICPS), pp. 01–06, IEEE, Emden, Germany, 2025, ISBN: 979-8-3315-4299-3.
@inproceedings{pirani_verifiable_2025,
title = {Verifiable Actor Model Systems Through Relational-Model Multi-Agent System and Zero-Knowledge Proofs},
author = {Massimiliano Pirani and Alessandro Cucchiarelli and Tariq Naeem and Luca Spalazzi},
url = {https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11087864/},
doi = {10.1109/ICPS65515.2025.11087864},
isbn = {979-8-3315-4299-3},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-05-01},
urldate = {2025-09-30},
booktitle = {2025 IEEE 8th International Conference on Industrial Cyber-Physical Systems (ICPS)},
pages = {01–06},
publisher = {IEEE},
address = {Emden, Germany},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
Pirani, Massimiliano; Cucchiarelli, Alessandro; Naeem, Tariq; Spalazzi, Luca
A Blockchain-Driven Cyber-Systemic Approach to Hybrid Reality Journal Article
In: Systems, vol. 13, no. 4, pp. 294, 2025, ISSN: 2079-8954.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags:
@article{pirani_blockchain-driven_2025,
title = {A Blockchain-Driven Cyber-Systemic Approach to Hybrid Reality},
author = {Massimiliano Pirani and Alessandro Cucchiarelli and Tariq Naeem and Luca Spalazzi},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2079-8954/13/4/294},
doi = {10.3390/systems13040294},
issn = {2079-8954},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-04-01},
urldate = {2025-09-30},
journal = {Systems},
volume = {13},
number = {4},
pages = {294},
abstract = {Hybrid Reality (HyR) is the place where human beings and artificial entities interact. HyR modelling relies simultaneously on the cognitive power of humans and artificial entities. In addition, HyR is an evolving paradigm where natural and artificial intelligence can intervene in processes that demand proper control. This work aims to lay the foundation for a systematic approach to understanding and modeling present and future human–machine symbiosis under a systems engineering perspective. It introduces a novel cyber-systemic methodology for managing the engineering of purposeful regulation for HyR phenomena by integrating the Blockchain technology framework and principled methods of cybernetics. This formalized interdisciplinary methodology integrates system dynamics, agent-based computation, artificial intelligence, and Blockchain-powered security and safety layers. The Blockchain framework, seen under a new cyber-systemic perspective, provides new opportunities and tools for the organization and control of HyR. A Cybersystemic Security Kit is here defined as a major component of the methodology, representing a candidate to offer viable breakthroughs in the field with respect to the best practices of Industry 5.0 when a systemically augmented perspective is adopted. Ongoing research and experimentation in the real field of sustainable supply chains is used as a motivating use case to support the proposed position. The industrial target is the primary one in its multi-dimensional and multi-faceted sustainability impacts, but this study will also reveal other potential societal areas of intervention.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Hybrid Reality (HyR) is the place where human beings and artificial entities interact. HyR modelling relies simultaneously on the cognitive power of humans and artificial entities. In addition, HyR is an evolving paradigm where natural and artificial intelligence can intervene in processes that demand proper control. This work aims to lay the foundation for a systematic approach to understanding and modeling present and future human–machine symbiosis under a systems engineering perspective. It introduces a novel cyber-systemic methodology for managing the engineering of purposeful regulation for HyR phenomena by integrating the Blockchain technology framework and principled methods of cybernetics. This formalized interdisciplinary methodology integrates system dynamics, agent-based computation, artificial intelligence, and Blockchain-powered security and safety layers. The Blockchain framework, seen under a new cyber-systemic perspective, provides new opportunities and tools for the organization and control of HyR. A Cybersystemic Security Kit is here defined as a major component of the methodology, representing a candidate to offer viable breakthroughs in the field with respect to the best practices of Industry 5.0 when a systemically augmented perspective is adopted. Ongoing research and experimentation in the real field of sustainable supply chains is used as a motivating use case to support the proposed position. The industrial target is the primary one in its multi-dimensional and multi-faceted sustainability impacts, but this study will also reveal other potential societal areas of intervention.
Pirani, Massimiliano; Generosi, Andrea; Spalazzi, Luca
A perspective on generative artificial intelligence for the enhancement of methods in system dynamics Proceedings Article
In: 20th IRDO International Conference: Innovative, sustainable & socially responsible society 2025, I. Perko, M. Mulej, P. Glavic, A. Hrast, & T. Jere Jakulin (Eds.), 2025, ISBN: 978-961-7141-11-5.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags:
@inproceedings{pirani_perspective_2025,
title = {A perspective on generative artificial intelligence for the enhancement of methods in system dynamics},
author = {Massimiliano Pirani and Andrea Generosi and Luca Spalazzi},
url = {https://www.irdo.si/irdo2025/posters/45.pdf},
isbn = {978-961-7141-11-5},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-01-01},
urldate = {2025-11-05},
booktitle = {20th IRDO International Conference: Innovative, sustainable & socially responsible society 2025, I. Perko, M. Mulej, P. Glavic, A. Hrast, & T. Jere Jakulin (Eds.)},
abstract = {System Dynamics (SD) offers a set of indispensable tools for systems engineering, systems thinking, and cybernetics. To date, the development of such valuable models — crucial for ensuring causality and reproducibility in studies addressing socio-technical and social sustainability issues — has been predominantly manual. Furthermore, the criteria and processes involved in creating models such as Causal Loop Diagrams (CLD) and Stock and Flow Diagrams (SFD) are, in many cases, neither explainable nor reproducible. Recently, some studies have expressed some potential for generative artificial intelligence to be considered as a valuable tool for the automated construction of CLD models. Although promising, still many problems affect this technique but, most of all, there is a clear gap in the construction of SFD and in the transformation of a CLD into an equivalent SFD. SFDs are indeed essential when a dynamic has to be encoded into a mathematical system, in order to allow simulations, predictions and, most of all, synthesis of some control system. In this work, we would like to provide a perspective on the envisioned methodologies that have the potential to provide breakthroughs in this area, with a special focus on generative artificial intelligence, which is currently the best available technology for these kinds of transformations.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
System Dynamics (SD) offers a set of indispensable tools for systems engineering, systems thinking, and cybernetics. To date, the development of such valuable models — crucial for ensuring causality and reproducibility in studies addressing socio-technical and social sustainability issues — has been predominantly manual. Furthermore, the criteria and processes involved in creating models such as Causal Loop Diagrams (CLD) and Stock and Flow Diagrams (SFD) are, in many cases, neither explainable nor reproducible. Recently, some studies have expressed some potential for generative artificial intelligence to be considered as a valuable tool for the automated construction of CLD models. Although promising, still many problems affect this technique but, most of all, there is a clear gap in the construction of SFD and in the transformation of a CLD into an equivalent SFD. SFDs are indeed essential when a dynamic has to be encoded into a mathematical system, in order to allow simulations, predictions and, most of all, synthesis of some control system. In this work, we would like to provide a perspective on the envisioned methodologies that have the potential to provide breakthroughs in this area, with a special focus on generative artificial intelligence, which is currently the best available technology for these kinds of transformations.
2024
Pirani, Massimiliano; Cucchiarelli, Alessandro; Spalazzi, Luca
A Role of RMAS, Blockchain, and Zero-Knowledge Proof in Sustainable Supply Chains Proceedings Article
In: IECON 2024 - 50th Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society, pp. 1–4, IEEE, Chicago, IL, USA, 2024, ISBN: 978-1-6654-6454-3.
@inproceedings{pirani_role_2024,
title = {A Role of RMAS, Blockchain, and Zero-Knowledge Proof in Sustainable Supply Chains},
author = {Massimiliano Pirani and Alessandro Cucchiarelli and Luca Spalazzi},
url = {https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10905212/},
doi = {10.1109/IECON55916.2024.10905212},
isbn = {978-1-6654-6454-3},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-11-01},
urldate = {2025-09-30},
booktitle = {IECON 2024 - 50th Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society},
pages = {1–4},
publisher = {IEEE},
address = {Chicago, IL, USA},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
Pirani, Massimiliano; Carbonari, Alessandro; Cucchiarelli, Alessandro; Giretti, Alberto; Spalazzi, Luca
The Meta Holonic Management Tree: review, steps, and roadmap to industrial Cybernetics 5.0 Journal Article
In: Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, 2024, ISSN: 0956-5515, 1572-8145.
@article{pirani_meta_2024,
title = {The Meta Holonic Management Tree: review, steps, and roadmap to industrial Cybernetics 5.0},
author = {Massimiliano Pirani and Alessandro Carbonari and Alessandro Cucchiarelli and Alberto Giretti and Luca Spalazzi},
url = {https://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10845-024-02510-3},
doi = {10.1007/s10845-024-02510-3},
issn = {0956-5515, 1572-8145},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-11-01},
urldate = {2025-09-30},
journal = {Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Vaccarini, Massimo; Spegni, Francesco; Giretti, Alberto; Pirani, Massimiliano; Carbonari, Alessandro
Interoperable mixed reality for facility management: a cyber-physical perspective Journal Article
In: Journal of Information Technology in Construction (ITcon), vol. 29, no. 26, pp. 573–595, 2024.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Building Commissioning, Cyber-Physical Systems, Interoperability, Mixed Reality
@article{vaccariniInteroperableMixedReality2024,
title = {Interoperable mixed reality for facility management: a cyber-physical perspective},
author = {Massimo Vaccarini and Francesco Spegni and Alberto Giretti and Massimiliano Pirani and Alessandro Carbonari},
url = {http://www.itcon.org/paper/2024/26},
doi = {10.36680/j.itcon.2024.026},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-08-01},
urldate = {2024-10-05},
journal = {Journal of Information Technology in Construction (ITcon)},
volume = {29},
number = {26},
pages = {573–595},
abstract = {The management of building commissioning requires specialists from different organizations and with different skills. Collaboration processes involves several actors and decision-making at different levels. As building commissioning has already been described as systems-of-systems (SoS), the research reported in this paper claims that this definition can be extended into cyber-physical system-of-systems (CPSoS), requiring identification and support of both human-machine and machine-machine interactions in a hybrid environment. These requirements give rise to several challenges, such as capturing information about the existing facility, visualizing, comparing, and validating the compliance of alternative commissioning projects. The study presented in this paper reports methodological and technological solutions that are built on the integration between BIM and mixed reality, to actualize a CPSoS paradigm and to implement human-machine interaction for situated cognition towards an immersive collaborative working environment. The results of the experimental platform have been showcased in a full-scale real-life demonstrator.},
keywords = {Building Commissioning, Cyber-Physical Systems, Interoperability, Mixed Reality},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The management of building commissioning requires specialists from different organizations and with different skills. Collaboration processes involves several actors and decision-making at different levels. As building commissioning has already been described as systems-of-systems (SoS), the research reported in this paper claims that this definition can be extended into cyber-physical system-of-systems (CPSoS), requiring identification and support of both human-machine and machine-machine interactions in a hybrid environment. These requirements give rise to several challenges, such as capturing information about the existing facility, visualizing, comparing, and validating the compliance of alternative commissioning projects. The study presented in this paper reports methodological and technological solutions that are built on the integration between BIM and mixed reality, to actualize a CPSoS paradigm and to implement human-machine interaction for situated cognition towards an immersive collaborative working environment. The results of the experimental platform have been showcased in a full-scale real-life demonstrator.
Raikov, Aleksandr; Giretti, Alberto; Pirani, Massimiliano; Spalazzi, Luca; Guo, Meng
Accelerating human–computer interaction through convergent conditions for LLM explanation Journal Article
In: Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence, vol. 7, 2024, ISSN: 2624-8212, (Publisher: Frontiers).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Artificial Intelligence, Causal Loop Dynamics, Cognitive semantics, Eigenform, Explainable AI, Hybrid reality, LLM
@article{raikovAcceleratingHumanComputer2024,
title = {Accelerating human–computer interaction through convergent conditions for LLM explanation},
author = {Aleksandr Raikov and Alberto Giretti and Massimiliano Pirani and Luca Spalazzi and Meng Guo},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/artificial-intelligence/articles/10.3389/frai.2024.1406773/full},
doi = {10.3389/frai.2024.1406773},
issn = {2624-8212},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-05-01},
urldate = {2024-10-05},
journal = {Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence},
volume = {7},
publisher = {Frontiers},
abstract = {<p>The article addresses the accelerating human–machine interaction using the large language model (LLM). It goes beyond the traditional logical paradigms of explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) by considering poor-formalizable cognitive semantical interpretations of LLM. XAI is immersed in a hybrid space, where humans and machines have crucial distinctions during the digitisation of the interaction process. The author's convergent methodology ensures the conditions for making XAI purposeful and sustainable. This methodology is based on the inverse problem-solving method, cognitive modeling, genetic algorithm, neural network, causal loop dynamics, and eigenform realization. It has been shown that decision-makers need to create unique structural conditions for information processes, using LLM to accelerate the convergence of collective problem solving. The implementations have been carried out during the collective strategic planning in situational centers. The study is helpful for the advancement of explainable LLM in many branches of economy, science and technology.</p>},
note = {Publisher: Frontiers},
keywords = {Artificial Intelligence, Causal Loop Dynamics, Cognitive semantics, Eigenform, Explainable AI, Hybrid reality, LLM},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
<p>The article addresses the accelerating human–machine interaction using the large language model (LLM). It goes beyond the traditional logical paradigms of explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) by considering poor-formalizable cognitive semantical interpretations of LLM. XAI is immersed in a hybrid space, where humans and machines have crucial distinctions during the digitisation of the interaction process. The author's convergent methodology ensures the conditions for making XAI purposeful and sustainable. This methodology is based on the inverse problem-solving method, cognitive modeling, genetic algorithm, neural network, causal loop dynamics, and eigenform realization. It has been shown that decision-makers need to create unique structural conditions for information processes, using LLM to accelerate the convergence of collective problem solving. The implementations have been carried out during the collective strategic planning in situational centers. The study is helpful for the advancement of explainable LLM in many branches of economy, science and technology.</p>
2023
Stadnicka, Dorota; Bonci, Andrea; Longhi, Sauro; Pirani, Massimiliano; Dec, Grzegorz
A Concept of an SME Focused Edge Computing Self-managingCyber-physical System Journal Article
In: Management and Production Engineering Review, 2023, ISSN: 2080-8208, 2082-1344.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Cyber-Physical Systems, E-kanban, Edge computing, Information communication, Knowledge management
@article{stadnickaConceptSMEFocused2023,
title = {A Concept of an SME Focused Edge Computing Self-managingCyber-physical System},
author = {Dorota Stadnicka and Andrea Bonci and Sauro Longhi and Massimiliano Pirani and Grzegorz Dec},
url = {https://journals.pan.pl/dlibra/publication/147186/edition/128801/content},
doi = {10.24425/mper.2023.147186},
issn = {2080-8208, 2082-1344},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-08-01},
urldate = {2024-10-05},
journal = {Management and Production Engineering Review},
abstract = {The dynamically changing environment forces companies to introduce changes in production processes and the need for employees to adapt quickly to new tasks. Therefore, it is expected to implement solutions to support employees. The system that will manage the work on a manufacturing line should work in real time to support the ongoing activities and, to be implemented in SMEs, must not be expensive. The authors identified important system components and expected functionalities. The methodology of the work is based on humancentered design. A concept of a cyber-physical system is proposed. The aim of the proposed edge computing-based system is to manage the work on the manufacturing line in which certain elements communicate with each other to achieve common goals. The paper presents what the system can consist of, how information and knowledge are managed in the system, and what can be the benefits for enterprises from its implementation.},
keywords = {Cyber-Physical Systems, E-kanban, Edge computing, Information communication, Knowledge management},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The dynamically changing environment forces companies to introduce changes in production processes and the need for employees to adapt quickly to new tasks. Therefore, it is expected to implement solutions to support employees. The system that will manage the work on a manufacturing line should work in real time to support the ongoing activities and, to be implemented in SMEs, must not be expensive. The authors identified important system components and expected functionalities. The methodology of the work is based on humancentered design. A concept of a cyber-physical system is proposed. The aim of the proposed edge computing-based system is to manage the work on the manufacturing line in which certain elements communicate with each other to achieve common goals. The paper presents what the system can consist of, how information and knowledge are managed in the system, and what can be the benefits for enterprises from its implementation.
Pirani, Massimiliano; Cucchiarelli, Alessandro; Spalazzi, Luca
Paradigms for database-centric application interfaces Proceedings Article
In: 2022 4th international conference on industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing, ISM 2022, pp. 835–845, Elsevier B.V., 2023.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Active Database Management Systems, Database-Centric Applications, Human Computer Interaction, Multi-Agent Systems
@inproceedings{20.500.12607_24523,
title = {Paradigms for database-centric application interfaces},
author = {Massimiliano Pirani and Alessandro Cucchiarelli and Luca Spalazzi},
doi = {10.1016/j.procs.2022.12.280},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-01-01},
booktitle = {2022 4th international conference on industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing, ISM 2022},
volume = {217},
pages = {835–845},
publisher = {Elsevier B.V.},
series = {PROCEDIA COMPUTER SCIENCE},
abstract = {The database-centric approach for industrial applications in the fourth industrial revolution has been proposed as a viable possibility in view of new trends towards distributed, autonomic, and intelligent control systems. In particular, with the RMAS architecture and its compliance to the new directions envisioned by the IEC 61499 standard, a suitable advanced instance of the database-centric paradigm was achieved. In this work, the focus is on the aspects that concern the impact of the database-centric paradigm in the realm of design of human-machine and machine-to-machine interfaces. A discussion of the implications and an example are provided in order to let the industrial informatics community start with an assessment of the proposed vision.},
keywords = {Active Database Management Systems, Database-Centric Applications, Human Computer Interaction, Multi-Agent Systems},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
The database-centric approach for industrial applications in the fourth industrial revolution has been proposed as a viable possibility in view of new trends towards distributed, autonomic, and intelligent control systems. In particular, with the RMAS architecture and its compliance to the new directions envisioned by the IEC 61499 standard, a suitable advanced instance of the database-centric paradigm was achieved. In this work, the focus is on the aspects that concern the impact of the database-centric paradigm in the realm of design of human-machine and machine-to-machine interfaces. A discussion of the implications and an example are provided in order to let the industrial informatics community start with an assessment of the proposed vision.
Pirani, Massimiliano; Cacopardo, Alessio; Cucchiarelli, Alessandro; Spalazzi, Luca
A soulbound token-based reputation system in sustainable supply chains Proceedings Article
In: International conference on embedded wireless systems and networks 2023, Junction Publishing, 2023.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Blockchain, Distributed Ledger Technology, Industry 5.0, Soulbound Token, Supply Chain
@inproceedings{20.500.12607_24501,
title = {A soulbound token-based reputation system in sustainable supply chains},
author = {Massimiliano Pirani and Alessio Cacopardo and Alessandro Cucchiarelli and Luca Spalazzi},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85200554115&partnerID=40&md5=38f1a6d4fbb0b387940d6c8ee8374c99},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-01-01},
booktitle = {International conference on embedded wireless systems and networks 2023},
publisher = {Junction Publishing},
abstract = {This paper aims to provide novel insights in the use of re- cent advances about non-fungible and Soulbound tokens, as they are a growing reality in the context of the DLT frame- work. In particular, this work discusses how these techno- logical provisions can enable a renovated and strengthened role of the Internet of Everything concept in the complex processes of the Industry 5.0, where the social, societal, and technical dimensions merge into an irreducible applicative context. The potentialities of the approach are expressed by means of a simple but meaningful example on an industrial case study concerning the food supply chain.},
keywords = {Blockchain, Distributed Ledger Technology, Industry 5.0, Soulbound Token, Supply Chain},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
This paper aims to provide novel insights in the use of re- cent advances about non-fungible and Soulbound tokens, as they are a growing reality in the context of the DLT frame- work. In particular, this work discusses how these techno- logical provisions can enable a renovated and strengthened role of the Internet of Everything concept in the complex processes of the Industry 5.0, where the social, societal, and technical dimensions merge into an irreducible applicative context. The potentialities of the approach are expressed by means of a simple but meaningful example on an industrial case study concerning the food supply chain.
Carbonari, Alessandro; Pirani, Massimiliano; Giretti, Alberto
Leveraging BIM and Mixed Reality to Actualize Lean Construction Proceedings Article
In: 31st Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC 31), pp. 116–127, 2023, ISSN: 2789-0015, (ISSN: 2789-0015).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: BIM, Collaboration, Lean Construction, Mixed Reality
@inproceedings{carbonariLeveragingBIMMixed2023,
title = {Leveraging BIM and Mixed Reality to Actualize Lean Construction},
author = {Alessandro Carbonari and Massimiliano Pirani and Alberto Giretti},
url = {https://www.iglc.net/papers/details/2111},
issn = {2789-0015},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-01-01},
urldate = {2024-10-05},
booktitle = {31st Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC 31)},
pages = {116–127},
abstract = {Lean construction is made of principles, measures and methods that aim at maximizing process efficiency. Several tools have been developed to minimize waste, maximize customer value, improve the conduction of processes, and pursue other sub-objectives in construction. This effort is becoming more and more important due to the rising construction project size and variety, displacement of resources in diverse geographic locations, high-performance pressure. This paper reports the development and on-site tests in a real-life demonstrator of two management tools, which apply some principles of lean construction management at the design and delivery phases. The first one takes advantage of the integration between BIM and mixed reality, having the final aim of improving collaboration and communication among the actors involved. The second one exploits BIM modelling and search algorithms within a process-based management platform, in order to facilitate short-cycle planning and distributed decision-making in the production process. Both tools have been tested in the case of a building renovation project. The results show that they can improve communication efficiency, reduce rework, speed up work monitoring, control and supervising in construction management, and that they can address several of Liker's lean principles, as classified by the 4P model.},
note = {ISSN: 2789-0015},
keywords = {BIM, Collaboration, Lean Construction, Mixed Reality},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
Lean construction is made of principles, measures and methods that aim at maximizing process efficiency. Several tools have been developed to minimize waste, maximize customer value, improve the conduction of processes, and pursue other sub-objectives in construction. This effort is becoming more and more important due to the rising construction project size and variety, displacement of resources in diverse geographic locations, high-performance pressure. This paper reports the development and on-site tests in a real-life demonstrator of two management tools, which apply some principles of lean construction management at the design and delivery phases. The first one takes advantage of the integration between BIM and mixed reality, having the final aim of improving collaboration and communication among the actors involved. The second one exploits BIM modelling and search algorithms within a process-based management platform, in order to facilitate short-cycle planning and distributed decision-making in the production process. Both tools have been tested in the case of a building renovation project. The results show that they can improve communication efficiency, reduce rework, speed up work monitoring, control and supervising in construction management, and that they can address several of Liker's lean principles, as classified by the 4P model.
Spegni, Francesco; Fratini, Lorenzo; Pirani, Massimiliano; Spalazzi, Luca
ChoEn: a smart contract based choreography enforcer Proceedings Article
In: 2023 IEEE international conference on pervasive computing and communications workshops and other affiliated events, PerCom workshops, pp. 86–91, 2023, ISBN: 978-1-6654-5381-3.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: BPMN Choreography, Runtime Enforcement, Smart Contract Generation
@inproceedings{20.500.12607_24502,
title = {ChoEn: a smart contract based choreography enforcer},
author = {Francesco Spegni and Lorenzo Fratini and Massimiliano Pirani and Luca Spalazzi},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/record/display.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85164198540&origin=resultslist&sort=plf-f},
doi = {10.1109/PerComWorkshops56833.2023.10150284},
isbn = {978-1-6654-5381-3},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-01-01},
booktitle = {2023 IEEE international conference on pervasive computing and communications workshops and other affiliated events, PerCom workshops},
pages = {86–91},
abstract = {his work deals with the automatic generation of smart contracts to enforce compliance to a given BPMN choreography of requests sent by a set of independent actors. The choice of smart contracts is justified by the desire not to centralize the enforcement process when there are multiple independent actors characterized by low mutual trust. The choice of BPMN choreographies as an alternative to BPMN processes and collaborations is instead justified by the desire to leave the actors free to dynamically organize their internal processes in the way they prefer, provided that the interactions with the other actors respect some agreed protocol. This work proposes a formal framework to interpret choreographies and translate them onto smart contract enforcers. The framework has been implemented on a free open-source tool named ChoEn and tested by means of a running example.},
keywords = {BPMN Choreography, Runtime Enforcement, Smart Contract Generation},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
his work deals with the automatic generation of smart contracts to enforce compliance to a given BPMN choreography of requests sent by a set of independent actors. The choice of smart contracts is justified by the desire not to centralize the enforcement process when there are multiple independent actors characterized by low mutual trust. The choice of BPMN choreographies as an alternative to BPMN processes and collaborations is instead justified by the desire to leave the actors free to dynamically organize their internal processes in the way they prefer, provided that the interactions with the other actors respect some agreed protocol. This work proposes a formal framework to interpret choreographies and translate them onto smart contract enforcers. The framework has been implemented on a free open-source tool named ChoEn and tested by means of a running example.
2022
Pirani, Massimiliano; Carbonari, Alessandro; Spalazzi, Luca
On holonic observers of human-AI sustainable symbiosis Proceedings Article
In: Proceedings of 17th IRDO, 2022, ISBN: 978-961-7141-02-3.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Artificial Intelligence, Cybernetics, Eigenform, Epistemology, Holon, Hybrid reality
@inproceedings{20.500.12607_24721,
title = {On holonic observers of human-AI sustainable symbiosis},
author = {Massimiliano Pirani and Alessandro Carbonari and Luca Spalazzi},
url = {https://irdo.si/irdo2022/referati/day1-2022-paper-pirani-ok.pdf},
isbn = {978-961-7141-02-3},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-01-01},
booktitle = {Proceedings of 17th IRDO},
abstract = {Societal dynamics are increasingly driven by the encounter between humans and their artefacts, with AI (artificial intelligence) being a prominent actor in such a socio-technical phenomenology. Nonetheless, the desirable phenomenon of sustainable symbiosis between humans and AI is still hidden either from the scientific inquiry perspective, or from the normative, due to its novelty, ineffability, and complexity. In this work, a new scientific perspective is elicited with the proposition of a methodology and related technology that aims to a step-change in the discovery of principle deep implications and dynamics shaping the human-AI complex. The proposed methodology stems from the simultaneous apprehension of two epistemologies. The first is the usual epistemology of humans that uses digital realities as epistemic ground. The second is an epistemology of the machines, which can realize cognitive actors when they learn, ascertain, and control physical reality with causal models, and related affordances. This is achievable with a technology that materializes holons as intermediary and amphibian entities that straddle two realities and harness the emergence of a new hybrid phenomenon. Such an entity is conceived as an eigensystem that implements a relational transformation between algorithmic processes and causal dynamic representations. The holonic observer becomes a means for scientific inquiry that is in search of effective control of the social upheavals caused by the digital transformation era. A new modelling framework of AI-human symbiosis will result from the expected advances.},
keywords = {Artificial Intelligence, Cybernetics, Eigenform, Epistemology, Holon, Hybrid reality},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
Societal dynamics are increasingly driven by the encounter between humans and their artefacts, with AI (artificial intelligence) being a prominent actor in such a socio-technical phenomenology. Nonetheless, the desirable phenomenon of sustainable symbiosis between humans and AI is still hidden either from the scientific inquiry perspective, or from the normative, due to its novelty, ineffability, and complexity. In this work, a new scientific perspective is elicited with the proposition of a methodology and related technology that aims to a step-change in the discovery of principle deep implications and dynamics shaping the human-AI complex. The proposed methodology stems from the simultaneous apprehension of two epistemologies. The first is the usual epistemology of humans that uses digital realities as epistemic ground. The second is an epistemology of the machines, which can realize cognitive actors when they learn, ascertain, and control physical reality with causal models, and related affordances. This is achievable with a technology that materializes holons as intermediary and amphibian entities that straddle two realities and harness the emergence of a new hybrid phenomenon. Such an entity is conceived as an eigensystem that implements a relational transformation between algorithmic processes and causal dynamic representations. The holonic observer becomes a means for scientific inquiry that is in search of effective control of the social upheavals caused by the digital transformation era. A new modelling framework of AI-human symbiosis will result from the expected advances.
Raikov, Alexander Nikolaevich; Pirani, Massimiliano
Contradiction of modern and social-humanitarian artificial intelligence Journal Article
In: Kybernetes. The International Journal of Cybernetics, Systems and Management Sciences, vol. 51, no. 13, pp. 186–198, 2022, ISSN: 0368-492X, (Publisher: Emerald Publishing Limited).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Artificial Intelligence, Autonomous agent, Cognitive semantics, Collective behavior, Constructivism, Convergent methodology, Eigenform, Embodied Intelligence, Holonic Systems, Hybrid reality, Reflexive-active environment, Third-order cybernetics
@article{raikovContradictionModernSocialhumanitarian2022,
title = {Contradiction of modern and social-humanitarian artificial intelligence},
author = {Alexander Nikolaevich Raikov and Massimiliano Pirani},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1108/K-01-2022-0057},
doi = {10.1108/K-01-2022-0057},
issn = {0368-492X},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-01-01},
urldate = {2024-10-05},
journal = {Kybernetes. The International Journal of Cybernetics, Systems and Management Sciences},
volume = {51},
number = {13},
pages = {186–198},
publisher = {Emerald Publishing Limited},
abstract = {Purpose The purpose of the paper is to propose an effective approach of artificial intelligence (AI) addressing social-humanitarian reality comprising non-formalizable representation. The new task is to describe processes of integration of AI and humans in the hybrid systems framework. Design/methodology/approach Social-humanitarian dynamics contradict traditional characteristics of AI. Suggested methodology embraces formalized and non-formalized parts as a whole. Holonic and special convergent approaches are combined to ensure purposefulness and sustainability of collective decision-making. Inverse problem solving on topology spaces, control thermodynamics and non-formalizable (considering quantum and relativistic) semantics include observers of eigenforms of reality. Findings Collective decision-making cannot be represented only by formal means. Thus, this paper suggests the equation of hybrid reality (HyR), which integrates formalizable and non-formalizable parts conveying and coalescing holonic approaches, thermodynamic theory, cognitive modeling and inverse problem solving. The special convergent approach makes the solution of this equation purposeful and sustainable. Research limitations/implications The suggested approach is far reaching with respect of current state-of-the-art technology; medium-term limitations are expected in the creation of cognitive semantics. Practical implications Social-humanitarian events embrace all phenomena connected with individual and collective human behavior and decision-making. The paper will impact deeply networked experts, groups of crowds, rescue teams, researchers, professional communities, society and environment. Originality/value New possibilities for advanced AI to enable purposeful and sustainable social-humanitarian subjects. The special convergent information structuring during collective decision-making creates necessary conditions toward the goals.},
note = {Publisher: Emerald Publishing Limited},
keywords = {Artificial Intelligence, Autonomous agent, Cognitive semantics, Collective behavior, Constructivism, Convergent methodology, Eigenform, Embodied Intelligence, Holonic Systems, Hybrid reality, Reflexive-active environment, Third-order cybernetics},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Purpose The purpose of the paper is to propose an effective approach of artificial intelligence (AI) addressing social-humanitarian reality comprising non-formalizable representation. The new task is to describe processes of integration of AI and humans in the hybrid systems framework. Design/methodology/approach Social-humanitarian dynamics contradict traditional characteristics of AI. Suggested methodology embraces formalized and non-formalized parts as a whole. Holonic and special convergent approaches are combined to ensure purposefulness and sustainability of collective decision-making. Inverse problem solving on topology spaces, control thermodynamics and non-formalizable (considering quantum and relativistic) semantics include observers of eigenforms of reality. Findings Collective decision-making cannot be represented only by formal means. Thus, this paper suggests the equation of hybrid reality (HyR), which integrates formalizable and non-formalizable parts conveying and coalescing holonic approaches, thermodynamic theory, cognitive modeling and inverse problem solving. The special convergent approach makes the solution of this equation purposeful and sustainable. Research limitations/implications The suggested approach is far reaching with respect of current state-of-the-art technology; medium-term limitations are expected in the creation of cognitive semantics. Practical implications Social-humanitarian events embrace all phenomena connected with individual and collective human behavior and decision-making. The paper will impact deeply networked experts, groups of crowds, rescue teams, researchers, professional communities, society and environment. Originality/value New possibilities for advanced AI to enable purposeful and sustainable social-humanitarian subjects. The special convergent information structuring during collective decision-making creates necessary conditions toward the goals.
Raikov, Alexander N.; Pirani, Massimiliano
Human-Machine Duality: What's Next in Cognitive Aspects of Artificial Intelligence? Journal Article
In: IEEE access : practical innovations, open solutions, vol. 10, pp. 56296–56315, 2022, ISSN: 2169-3536.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Artificial Intelligence, Category Theory, Cognition, Cognitive semantics, Correlation, Ethics, Holonic Systems, Human Computer Interaction, Semantics
@article{raikovHumanMachineDualityWhats2022,
title = {Human-Machine Duality: What's Next in Cognitive Aspects of Artificial Intelligence?},
author = {Alexander N. Raikov and Massimiliano Pirani},
url = {https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9780404},
doi = {10.1109/ACCESS.2022.3177657},
issn = {2169-3536},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-01-01},
urldate = {2024-10-05},
journal = {IEEE access : practical innovations, open solutions},
volume = {10},
pages = {56296–56315},
abstract = {The goal of the paper is to find means for the unification of human-machine duality in collective behavior of people and machines, by conciliating approaches that proceed in opposite directions. The first approach proceeds top-down from non-formalizable, cognitive, uncaused, and chaotic human consciousness towards purposeful and sustainable human-machine interaction. The second approach proceeds bottom-up from intelligent machines towards high-end computing and is based on formalizable models leveraging multi-agent architectures. The resulting work reviews the extent, the merging points, and the potential of hybrid artificial intelligence frameworks that accept the idea of strong artificial intelligence. These models concern the pairing of connectionist and cognitive architectures, conscious and unconscious actions, symbolic and conceptual realizations, emergent and brain-based computing, and automata and subjects. The special authors' convergent methodology is considered, which is based on the integration of inverse problem-solving on topological spaces, cognitive modelling, quantum field theory, category theory methods, and holonic approaches. It aims to a more purposeful and sustainable human-machine interaction in form of algorithms or requirements, rules of strategic conversations or network brainstorming, and cognitive semantics. The paper addresses the reduction of the impact of AI development on ethics violation. The findings delivered are used to provide perspectives on the shaping of societal, ethical, and normative aspects in the symbiosis between humans and machines. Implementations in real practice are represented.},
keywords = {Artificial Intelligence, Category Theory, Cognition, Cognitive semantics, Correlation, Ethics, Holonic Systems, Human Computer Interaction, Semantics},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The goal of the paper is to find means for the unification of human-machine duality in collective behavior of people and machines, by conciliating approaches that proceed in opposite directions. The first approach proceeds top-down from non-formalizable, cognitive, uncaused, and chaotic human consciousness towards purposeful and sustainable human-machine interaction. The second approach proceeds bottom-up from intelligent machines towards high-end computing and is based on formalizable models leveraging multi-agent architectures. The resulting work reviews the extent, the merging points, and the potential of hybrid artificial intelligence frameworks that accept the idea of strong artificial intelligence. These models concern the pairing of connectionist and cognitive architectures, conscious and unconscious actions, symbolic and conceptual realizations, emergent and brain-based computing, and automata and subjects. The special authors' convergent methodology is considered, which is based on the integration of inverse problem-solving on topological spaces, cognitive modelling, quantum field theory, category theory methods, and holonic approaches. It aims to a more purposeful and sustainable human-machine interaction in form of algorithms or requirements, rules of strategic conversations or network brainstorming, and cognitive semantics. The paper addresses the reduction of the impact of AI development on ethics violation. The findings delivered are used to provide perspectives on the shaping of societal, ethical, and normative aspects in the symbiosis between humans and machines. Implementations in real practice are represented.
Pirani, Massimiliano; Bonci, Andrea; Longhi, Sauro
Towards a formal model of computation for RMAS Journal Article
In: Procedia Computer Science, vol. 200, pp. 865–877, 2022, ISSN: 1877-0509.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Active Databases, Automatic Programming, Distributed Architectures, Multi-Agent Systems, Programming Paradigms
@article{piraniFormalModelComputation2022,
title = {Towards a formal model of computation for RMAS},
author = {Massimiliano Pirani and Andrea Bonci and Sauro Longhi},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877050922002939},
doi = {10.1016/j.procs.2022.01.284},
issn = {1877-0509},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-01-01},
urldate = {2024-10-05},
journal = {Procedia Computer Science},
volume = {200},
pages = {865–877},
series = {3rd International Conference on Industry 4.0 and Smart Manufacturing},
abstract = {RMAS is a multi-agent system architecture and associated model of computation that has been recently proposed as promising framework for autonomic computation and as viable implementation means for industrial agents. RMAS is proposed as an effective tool in the realization of the full-fledged concept of cyber-physical systems of systems, in agreement with new visions of the digital future and prominent standardization efforts like the IEC 61499. Currently, there is the need to establish a solid formalism for the model of computation of RMAS in order to harness and fully express its possibilities. In particular, this model should bridge the disciplines of control and systems engineering and computer science, whilst concerning artificial intelligence. This work proposes a first operational step in this direction. A formalism of the RMAS model of computation is established for the first time, and a complete definition of hierarchical nested levels of RMAS units is proposed. This work constitutes the ground for industry-ready technological instances of the RMAS architecture.},
keywords = {Active Databases, Automatic Programming, Distributed Architectures, Multi-Agent Systems, Programming Paradigms},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
RMAS is a multi-agent system architecture and associated model of computation that has been recently proposed as promising framework for autonomic computation and as viable implementation means for industrial agents. RMAS is proposed as an effective tool in the realization of the full-fledged concept of cyber-physical systems of systems, in agreement with new visions of the digital future and prominent standardization efforts like the IEC 61499. Currently, there is the need to establish a solid formalism for the model of computation of RMAS in order to harness and fully express its possibilities. In particular, this model should bridge the disciplines of control and systems engineering and computer science, whilst concerning artificial intelligence. This work proposes a first operational step in this direction. A formalism of the RMAS model of computation is established for the first time, and a complete definition of hierarchical nested levels of RMAS units is proposed. This work constitutes the ground for industry-ready technological instances of the RMAS architecture.
2021
Pirani, Massimiliano; Dragoni, Aldo Franco; Longhi, Sauro
Towards Sustainable Models of Computation for Artificial Intelligence in Cyber-Physical Systems Proceedings Article
In: IECON 2021 – 47th Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society, pp. 1–8, 2021, ISSN: 2577-1647, (ISSN: 2577-1647).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Artificial Intelligence, Computational Modeling, Cyber-Physical Systems, Embedded Computation, Embodiment, Organizations, Real-time systems, Reflection, Semantics
@inproceedings{piraniSustainableModelsComputation2021,
title = {Towards Sustainable Models of Computation for Artificial Intelligence in Cyber-Physical Systems},
author = {Massimiliano Pirani and Aldo Franco Dragoni and Sauro Longhi},
url = {https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9589594},
doi = {10.1109/IECON48115.2021.9589594},
issn = {2577-1647},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-10-01},
urldate = {2024-10-09},
booktitle = {IECON 2021 – 47th Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society},
pages = {1–8},
abstract = {This paper confronts with a reflection about a deep problem in computational models for cyber-physical systems (CPS). The problem arises in the contact between digital computing and the physical realm, and affects heavily the design, modeling, and implementation of CPS. Problems are exacerbated by the introduction of artificial intelligence and autonomy in industrial applications that have to meet sustainability of solutions, both in technical and societal sense. After a brief review, a new perspective and position on the future of sustainable CPS is addressed, and a pragmatic research path is presented. The RMAS (Relational-model Multi-Agent System) architecture is proposed as a test framework for the deep integration of real-world semantics into the advancements brought about by the digital transformation wave.},
note = {ISSN: 2577-1647},
keywords = {Artificial Intelligence, Computational Modeling, Cyber-Physical Systems, Embedded Computation, Embodiment, Organizations, Real-time systems, Reflection, Semantics},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
This paper confronts with a reflection about a deep problem in computational models for cyber-physical systems (CPS). The problem arises in the contact between digital computing and the physical realm, and affects heavily the design, modeling, and implementation of CPS. Problems are exacerbated by the introduction of artificial intelligence and autonomy in industrial applications that have to meet sustainability of solutions, both in technical and societal sense. After a brief review, a new perspective and position on the future of sustainable CPS is addressed, and a pragmatic research path is presented. The RMAS (Relational-model Multi-Agent System) architecture is proposed as a test framework for the deep integration of real-world semantics into the advancements brought about by the digital transformation wave.
Pirani, Massimiliano; Bonci, Andrea; Cervellieri, Alice; Longhi, Sauro
On the Synthesis of Holonic Management Trees Proceedings Article
In: 2021 26th IEEE International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation (ETFA ), pp. 1–4, 2021.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Artificial Intelligence, Complexity, Cyber-Physical Systems, Decision Making, Decision Support Systems, Holonic Management Tree, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
@inproceedings{piraniSynthesisHolonicManagement2021a,
title = {On the Synthesis of Holonic Management Trees},
author = {Massimiliano Pirani and Andrea Bonci and Alice Cervellieri and Sauro Longhi},
url = {https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9613585/keywords#keywords},
doi = {10.1109/ETFA45728.2021.9613585},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-09-01},
urldate = {2024-10-09},
booktitle = {2021 26th IEEE International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation (ETFA )},
pages = {1–4},
abstract = {This paper presents current research on automated synthesis in the context of the Holonic Management Tree (HMT) technique. HMT has been currently challenged in robotics, manufacturing, construction, but in general this technique concerns the management of complexity that emerges in cyber-physical systems context. Although effective, the technique lacks a systematic and possibly automatic process of construction of the HMT, which impinges with artificial and extended intelligence concerns. A methodological work-in-progress position for the automation of HMT synthesis is proposed for the first time, and as a first step for an enduring but disruptive research effort.},
keywords = {Artificial Intelligence, Complexity, Cyber-Physical Systems, Decision Making, Decision Support Systems, Holonic Management Tree, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
This paper presents current research on automated synthesis in the context of the Holonic Management Tree (HMT) technique. HMT has been currently challenged in robotics, manufacturing, construction, but in general this technique concerns the management of complexity that emerges in cyber-physical systems context. Although effective, the technique lacks a systematic and possibly automatic process of construction of the HMT, which impinges with artificial and extended intelligence concerns. A methodological work-in-progress position for the automation of HMT synthesis is proposed for the first time, and as a first step for an enduring but disruptive research effort.
Bonci, Andrea; Cervellieri, Alice; Longhi, Sauro; Pirani, Massimiliano
Innovative Approach in cyber physical system for smart building efficiency monitoring Proceedings Article
In: 2021 26th IEEE International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation (ETFA ), pp. 1–4, 2021.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Comfort Analysis, Cyber-Physical Systems, Decision Support Systems, Energy Efficiency, Energy Measurement, Position Measurement, Smart Buildings, Social factors, Time measurement
@inproceedings{bonciInnovativeApproachCyber2021,
title = {Innovative Approach in cyber physical system for smart building efficiency monitoring},
author = {Andrea Bonci and Alice Cervellieri and Sauro Longhi and Massimiliano Pirani},
url = {https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9613255},
doi = {10.1109/ETFA45728.2021.9613255},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-09-01},
urldate = {2024-10-09},
booktitle = {2021 26th IEEE International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation (ETFA )},
pages = {1–4},
abstract = {Innovative technologies and comfort-energy efficiency measures are nowadays well known and widely spread, and the main issue is to identify those that will be proven to be the more effective and reliable in the long term. With such a variety of proposed measures, the decision-maker has to compensate environmental, energy, financial and social factors to reach the best possible solution that will ensure the maximization of the comfort and energy efficiency of smart buildings satisfying at the same time the building's final user/occupant/owner needs. A work-in-progress methodological position investigates the feasibility of applying new techniques to improve the comfort and energy efficiency in smart buildings so that the maximum possible number of alternative solutions and energy efficiency measures may be considered. A simple example is used to identify the potential strengths and weaknesses of the proposed approach and highlight potential problems that may arise.},
keywords = {Comfort Analysis, Cyber-Physical Systems, Decision Support Systems, Energy Efficiency, Energy Measurement, Position Measurement, Smart Buildings, Social factors, Time measurement},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
Innovative technologies and comfort-energy efficiency measures are nowadays well known and widely spread, and the main issue is to identify those that will be proven to be the more effective and reliable in the long term. With such a variety of proposed measures, the decision-maker has to compensate environmental, energy, financial and social factors to reach the best possible solution that will ensure the maximization of the comfort and energy efficiency of smart buildings satisfying at the same time the building's final user/occupant/owner needs. A work-in-progress methodological position investigates the feasibility of applying new techniques to improve the comfort and energy efficiency in smart buildings so that the maximum possible number of alternative solutions and energy efficiency measures may be considered. A simple example is used to identify the potential strengths and weaknesses of the proposed approach and highlight potential problems that may arise.
Bonci, Andrea; Longhi, Sauro; Pirani, Massimiliano
IEC 61499 Device Management Model through the lenses of RMAS Journal Article
In: Procedia Computer Science, vol. 180, pp. 656–665, 2021, ISSN: 1877-0509.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Autonomic computing, Explainable AI, IEC 61499, Multi-Agent Systems, Relational Model
@article{bonciIEC61499Device2021,
title = {IEC 61499 Device Management Model through the lenses of RMAS},
author = {Andrea Bonci and Sauro Longhi and Massimiliano Pirani},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877050921003379},
doi = {10.1016/j.procs.2021.01.288},
issn = {1877-0509},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-01-01},
urldate = {2024-10-09},
journal = {Procedia Computer Science},
volume = {180},
pages = {656–665},
series = {Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Industry 4.0 and Smart Manufacturing (ISM 2020)},
abstract = {The RMAS (relational-model multi-agent system) architecture has been proven promising towards the introduction of autonomic intelligence for industrial agents, and suitable for the enforcement of some parts of the reference model in the IEC 61499 standard, for distributed adaptive automation and control systems, namely the Resource model and the Function Block model. In this paper, the analysis is extended to the Device Management model. The RMAS is overlaid on the structures of this model in order to demonstrate that it can constitute factual and promising means for the expression of essential self-* capabilities of autonomic industrial agents. The analysis here conducted covers also some aspects of the XAI (explainable artificial intelligence), due to their relevance in industrial context. RMAS results a fundamental step for the factual introduction of AI in industrial playground, as a technology framework for the explainability, controllability, and quality of the intelligent automation solutions for industry.},
keywords = {Autonomic computing, Explainable AI, IEC 61499, Multi-Agent Systems, Relational Model},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The RMAS (relational-model multi-agent system) architecture has been proven promising towards the introduction of autonomic intelligence for industrial agents, and suitable for the enforcement of some parts of the reference model in the IEC 61499 standard, for distributed adaptive automation and control systems, namely the Resource model and the Function Block model. In this paper, the analysis is extended to the Device Management model. The RMAS is overlaid on the structures of this model in order to demonstrate that it can constitute factual and promising means for the expression of essential self-* capabilities of autonomic industrial agents. The analysis here conducted covers also some aspects of the XAI (explainable artificial intelligence), due to their relevance in industrial context. RMAS results a fundamental step for the factual introduction of AI in industrial playground, as a technology framework for the explainability, controllability, and quality of the intelligent automation solutions for industry.
2020
Stadnicka, Dorota; Bonci, Andrea; Lorenzoni, Emanuele; Dec, Grzegorz; Pirani, Massimiliano
Symbiotic cyber-physical Kanban 4.0: An Approach for SMEs Proceedings Article
In: 2020 25th IEEE International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation (ETFA), pp. 140–147, 2020, ISSN: 1946-0759, (ISSN: 1946-0759).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Cyber-Physical Systems, E-kanban, Job Shop Scheduling, Manufacturing Processes, Performance Evaluation, Process control, protocols and information communication, Symbiosis, Workstations
@inproceedings{stadnickaSymbioticCyberphysicalKanban2020,
title = {Symbiotic cyber-physical Kanban 4.0: An Approach for SMEs},
author = {Dorota Stadnicka and Andrea Bonci and Emanuele Lorenzoni and Grzegorz Dec and Massimiliano Pirani},
url = {https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9212073?denied=},
doi = {10.1109/ETFA46521.2020.9212073},
issn = {1946-0759},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-09-01},
urldate = {2024-10-09},
booktitle = {2020 25th IEEE International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation (ETFA)},
volume = {1},
pages = {140–147},
abstract = {This paper discusses the problems of material and information flow in a complex product manufacturing process. It presents an ICT solution that augments Kanbans in order to enable flexible and pervasive control on state and delivery of material on workstations. The paper deliberates methods and tools that can be possibly applied in such production systems. The best-practices and modern technologies are taken into consideration in the context of small-medium enterprises (SMEs). It is assumed that important factors and constraints are: low costs, low instrumentations, and high flexibility. The complexity of products and the manufacturing systems makes the management and control process even more difficult. The deployment of distributed intelligence and decision support systems can facilitate the compliance with industrial standards and the migration towards the automation levels required by industry 4.0 also in SMEs.},
note = {ISSN: 1946-0759},
keywords = {Cyber-Physical Systems, E-kanban, Job Shop Scheduling, Manufacturing Processes, Performance Evaluation, Process control, protocols and information communication, Symbiosis, Workstations},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
This paper discusses the problems of material and information flow in a complex product manufacturing process. It presents an ICT solution that augments Kanbans in order to enable flexible and pervasive control on state and delivery of material on workstations. The paper deliberates methods and tools that can be possibly applied in such production systems. The best-practices and modern technologies are taken into consideration in the context of small-medium enterprises (SMEs). It is assumed that important factors and constraints are: low costs, low instrumentations, and high flexibility. The complexity of products and the manufacturing systems makes the management and control process even more difficult. The deployment of distributed intelligence and decision support systems can facilitate the compliance with industrial standards and the migration towards the automation levels required by industry 4.0 also in SMEs.
Bianconi, Carlo; Bonci, Andrea; Monteriù, Andrea; Pirani, Massimiliano; Prist, Mariorosario; Taccari, Leonardo
System Thinking Approach for Digital Twin Analysis Proceedings Article
In: 2020 IEEE International Conference on Engineering, Technology and Innovation (ICE/ITMC), pp. 1–7, 2020.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Digital Twin, Industry 4.0, Product Lifecycle Management, Production Facilities, Simulation, System Thinking, Unified modeling language
@inproceedings{bianconiSystemThinkingApproach2020,
title = {System Thinking Approach for Digital Twin Analysis},
author = {Carlo Bianconi and Andrea Bonci and Andrea Monteriù and Massimiliano Pirani and Mariorosario Prist and Leonardo Taccari},
url = {https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9198392?denied=},
doi = {10.1109/ICE/ITMC49519.2020.9198392},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-06-01},
urldate = {2024-10-09},
booktitle = {2020 IEEE International Conference on Engineering, Technology and Innovation (ICE/ITMC)},
pages = {1–7},
abstract = {The importance of Digital Twins in research and industry is continuously increasing. Their applications, studied and implemented to date, confirm that they are a valuable tool in the evolution process from the traditional factory towards the Smart Factory, in the direction promoted by Industry 4.0. Different definitions of Digital Twin have been proposed by the scientific community with the aim of providing the one that could uniquely and consistently describe all the applications already featured. Such effort to create a unique definition of Digital Twin is very important since it may allow researchers to have guidelines for better understanding the different aspects of its main concepts. The present paper reports a systematic research on the state of the art, especially from recent literature, to show the main issues that could not allow univocal definition of Digital Twin. The aim of this work is to apply the principles of System Thinking to the definitions of Digital Twins already presented in literature. The result of this approach has made possible to represent the well-known concepts in a completely new conceptual framework allowing a potential strengthening of both the theoretical foundations and the tools with the aim to support the development of Digital Twins.},
keywords = {Digital Twin, Industry 4.0, Product Lifecycle Management, Production Facilities, Simulation, System Thinking, Unified modeling language},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
The importance of Digital Twins in research and industry is continuously increasing. Their applications, studied and implemented to date, confirm that they are a valuable tool in the evolution process from the traditional factory towards the Smart Factory, in the direction promoted by Industry 4.0. Different definitions of Digital Twin have been proposed by the scientific community with the aim of providing the one that could uniquely and consistently describe all the applications already featured. Such effort to create a unique definition of Digital Twin is very important since it may allow researchers to have guidelines for better understanding the different aspects of its main concepts. The present paper reports a systematic research on the state of the art, especially from recent literature, to show the main issues that could not allow univocal definition of Digital Twin. The aim of this work is to apply the principles of System Thinking to the definitions of Digital Twins already presented in literature. The result of this approach has made possible to represent the well-known concepts in a completely new conceptual framework allowing a potential strengthening of both the theoretical foundations and the tools with the aim to support the development of Digital Twins.
Carbonari, Alessandro; Messi, Leonardo; Naticchia, Berardo; Vaccarini, Massimo; Pirani, Massimiliano
Development of a BIM-based holonic system for real-time monitoring of building operational efficiency Journal Article
In: Frontiers of Engineering Management, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 89–103, 2020, ISSN: 2096-0255.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: BIM, Building Management System, Cyber-Physical Systems, Facility Management, Holonic Systems
@article{carbonariDevelopmentBIMbasedHolonic2020,
title = {Development of a BIM-based holonic system for real-time monitoring of building operational efficiency},
author = {Alessandro Carbonari and Leonardo Messi and Berardo Naticchia and Massimo Vaccarini and Massimiliano Pirani},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s42524-019-0037-0},
doi = {10.1007/s42524-019-0037-0},
issn = {2096-0255},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-03-01},
urldate = {2024-10-09},
journal = {Frontiers of Engineering Management},
volume = {7},
number = {1},
pages = {89–103},
abstract = {In the wide context of facility management, several processes, such as operations, maintenance, retrofitting, and renovations, ensure that buildings comply with the principles of efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and indoor comfort. Apart from ordinary operation, facility management is responsible for the renovation of and long-term performance improvement of building facilities. In such a scenario, the cyber—physical system (CPS) paradigm with holonic architecture, which is the focus of this study, can successfully guide the operation management and long-term refurbishment processes of buildings. Analogous to the manufacturing field, the developed CPS maximizes holons' self-configuration and self-organization and overall throughput effectiveness metrics to detect the best corrective actions toward system improvements. Consequently, suggestions and lessons learned from the evaluation of building efficiency are redirected to the building information model. Hence, the digital model acts as a repository of currently available equipment for operations management and the history of diagnoses that support decision-making during the maintenance, retrofitting, and renovation processes. Evidently, the repeated detection of a specific issue, which is unaffected by operations management, should be considered an opportunity to act and enhance the performances of existing building components. Similar to a goods-producing industry, the building management system developed in this study applies the aforementioned methodology to provide services related to indoor comfort and building health. This approach indicates that a method for automatic real-time diagnosis is tested in a case study consisting of a multi-use and large public building. The current paper, which is an extended version of the one presented in the Creative Construction Conference 2018, deepens the decision support tool and the supervision policy. Moreover, the developed system is contextualized by providing an example of use case and highlighting the step forward in the field of smart buildings.},
keywords = {BIM, Building Management System, Cyber-Physical Systems, Facility Management, Holonic Systems},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
In the wide context of facility management, several processes, such as operations, maintenance, retrofitting, and renovations, ensure that buildings comply with the principles of efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and indoor comfort. Apart from ordinary operation, facility management is responsible for the renovation of and long-term performance improvement of building facilities. In such a scenario, the cyber—physical system (CPS) paradigm with holonic architecture, which is the focus of this study, can successfully guide the operation management and long-term refurbishment processes of buildings. Analogous to the manufacturing field, the developed CPS maximizes holons' self-configuration and self-organization and overall throughput effectiveness metrics to detect the best corrective actions toward system improvements. Consequently, suggestions and lessons learned from the evaluation of building efficiency are redirected to the building information model. Hence, the digital model acts as a repository of currently available equipment for operations management and the history of diagnoses that support decision-making during the maintenance, retrofitting, and renovation processes. Evidently, the repeated detection of a specific issue, which is unaffected by operations management, should be considered an opportunity to act and enhance the performances of existing building components. Similar to a goods-producing industry, the building management system developed in this study applies the aforementioned methodology to provide services related to indoor comfort and building health. This approach indicates that a method for automatic real-time diagnosis is tested in a case study consisting of a multi-use and large public building. The current paper, which is an extended version of the one presented in the Creative Construction Conference 2018, deepens the decision support tool and the supervision policy. Moreover, the developed system is contextualized by providing an example of use case and highlighting the step forward in the field of smart buildings.
Bonci, Andrea; Longhi, Sauro; Lorenzoni, Emanuele; Pirani, Massimiliano
RMAS architecture for industrial agents in IEC 61499 Journal Article
In: Procedia Manufacturing, vol. 42, pp. 84–90, 2020, ISSN: 2351-9789.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Actor Model, Cyber-Physical Systems, IEC 61499, Multi-Agent Systems, Relational Model
@article{bonciRMASArchitectureIndustrial2020,
title = {RMAS architecture for industrial agents in IEC 61499},
author = {Andrea Bonci and Sauro Longhi and Emanuele Lorenzoni and Massimiliano Pirani},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351978920305655},
doi = {10.1016/j.promfg.2020.02.026},
issn = {2351-9789},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-01-01},
urldate = {2024-10-09},
journal = {Procedia Manufacturing},
volume = {42},
pages = {84–90},
series = {International Conference on Industry 4.0 and Smart Manufacturing (ISM 2019)},
abstract = {This paper analyses an architecture, recently proposed and under development, that aims to render the design and the development of multi-agent systems viable for the vision and the needs of the industry in the cyber-physical systems era. Prominent standardization work is currently focusing on the IEC 61499 standard as a most promising basis for the integration of industrial agents in the real field. In this context, authors propose RMAS (Relational Multi-Agent System) as a possible useful aid and means for the researches and the practices in the field. On this purpose, the compliances and the possible overlaps between the major features and capabilities of RMAS and IEC 61499 are assessed and discussed. This work aims to constitute a position paper for the future possible developments around IEC 61499.},
keywords = {Actor Model, Cyber-Physical Systems, IEC 61499, Multi-Agent Systems, Relational Model},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
This paper analyses an architecture, recently proposed and under development, that aims to render the design and the development of multi-agent systems viable for the vision and the needs of the industry in the cyber-physical systems era. Prominent standardization work is currently focusing on the IEC 61499 standard as a most promising basis for the integration of industrial agents in the real field. In this context, authors propose RMAS (Relational Multi-Agent System) as a possible useful aid and means for the researches and the practices in the field. On this purpose, the compliances and the possible overlaps between the major features and capabilities of RMAS and IEC 61499 are assessed and discussed. This work aims to constitute a position paper for the future possible developments around IEC 61499.