Keynote Talks

Keynote Speaker I

Dr. Diletta Romana Cacciagrano, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy

Biography

Diletta Romana Cacciagrano received the Computer Science degree in 1999 from the University of L’Aquila (Italy), and the Ph.D. degree in Computer Science in 2003 from the University of Roma La Sapienza (Italy). She moved to the University of Penn State (State College, Pennsylvania, USA) in 2002, collaborating with Catuscia Palamidessi on the communication topic in concurrent and distributed systems, by means of suitable process algebras. She also moved to the Ecole Polytechnique (Paris, France]) several months in 2005-2006-2007-2008, collaborating with Catuscia Palamidessi and Frank Valencia in an expressiveness study of linearity and persistence in concurrency, by means of suitable process algebras. Since 2004 she is a Researcher in the COmplex SYstems Research Group, (Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Camerino, Italy). She is the UNICAM delegate at the Student Advisory Service for the Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree course in Computer Science. Her research interests are principles of theory of concurrency, formal description techniques and analysis tools for concurrent systems, agent technologies for GRID architectures, formal description and automated testing and verification of Web services, knowledge modeling and ontology languages, operating systems principles and development.

Title: The CPSs modeling challenge: from real (possibly chaotic, continuum and nondeterministic) systems to computational artifacts.

Abstract: Cyber Physical system (CPS) is a new generation of digital systems, composed of computational and physical capability that engages with humans like never before. It's designed to act like a network of multiple variables with both physical input and output – rather than standalone technology. This talk examines the role of modeling in the engineering of cyber-physical systems (CPSs). Through several examples, it investigates how chaotic behavior, i.e., the inability of computers to numerically handle a continuum and the incompleteness of determinism, can limit the possibility to build a faithful model- driven approach for engineering CPSs.

Keynote Speaker II

Prof. Fatos Xhafa, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Barcelona, Spain

Biography

Fatos Xhafa, PhD in Computer Science, is Full Professor at the Technical University of Catalonia (UPC), Barcelona, Spain. He has held various tenured and visiting professorship positions. He was a Visiting Professor at the University of Surrey, UK (2019/2020), Visiting Professor at the Birkbeck College, University of London, UK (2009/2010) and a Research Associate at Drexel University, Philadelphia, USA (2004/2005). Prof. Xhafa has widely published in peer reviewed international journals, conferences/workshops, book chapters, edited books and proceedings in the field (H-index 62). Prof. Xhafa has an extensive editorial service. He is founder and Editor-In-Chief of Internet of Things - Journal - Elsevier (Scopus and WoS Science) and of International Journal of Grid and Utility Computing, (Scopus and WoS Science). Prof. Xhafa is a member of the IEEE Communications Society, IEEE Systems, Man & Cybernetics Society and Founder Member of Emerging Technical Subcommittee of Internet of Things. His research interests include IoT and Cloud-to-thing continuum computing, massive data processing and collective intelligence, optimization, and machine learning, among others. He can be reached at fatos@cs.upc.edu. Please visit http://www.cs.upc.edu/~fatos/ and http://dblp.uni-trier.de/pers/hd/x/Xhafa:Fatos

Title: Offloading in Cloud-to-Thing Continuum

Abstract: With the fast widespread and adoption of Internet technologies, Cloud computing has become a digital ecosystem, referred to as Cloud-to-thing continuum computing, embracing an array of computing paradigms and infrastructures, from large servers and data centers to tiny sensors and actuators at the Edges of the Internet. Thereby, the Intelligent Edge aims at placing intelligence to the end devices, at the edges of the Internet. The premise is that collective intelligence from the IoT data deluge can be achieved and used at the edges of the Internet by offloading the computation burden from the Cloud systems and leveraging real time intelligence. While (parallel) task offloading is a well-known problem from traditional distributed computing, it is more challenging in Cloud-to-thing continuum. In this talk, we will discuss some offloading computing models in Cloud-to-thing continuum, its challenges and opportunities for the Intelligent Edge. In particular, we will discuss the challenges of processing and analyzing the IoT data streams in real time and how offloading and agile optimization can be useful to harnessing the power of the intelligent edge. We will exemplify the discussion by a real-life scenario from augmented workspace based on affective computing and federated learning.

Keynote Speaker III

Prof. Inès CHIHI, University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg

Biography

Prof. Inès Chihi earned her PhD in Electrical Engineering from the National Engineering School of Tunis, Tunisia in 2013, followed by her "Habilitation Universitaire" in Electrical Engineering in 2019. From 2013 to 2022, she served as an associate professor in Tunisia. From 2017 to 2022, Prof. Chihi was the founder and president of Association of Energy Efficiency and Environment and played a pivotal role as a member of the first Tunisian Network for Energy Transition. She was also actively involved in the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World, under the UNESCO Program Unit, from 2017 to 2021. In January 2022, she joined the Department of Engineering at the University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg where she leads cutting-edge research in smart sensors and measurement technologies. As the head of Advanced Engineering and Smart Sensors Solutions (AE3S) lab, she focuses on tackling significant scientific challenges by developing innovative approaches in electrical measurement and sensors. The lab's work is distinguished by a deep integration of both methodological and applied research, with a particular focus on the creation of advanced smart sensors designed to monitor, model, and identify complex systems with unpredictable behaviors. The contributions from Prof. Chihi and her team are not only advancing the field of smart sensing but also driving progress toward a sustainable future, with applications across diverse sectors such as bioengineering, energy, and Industry 5.0.

Title: Advanced Diagnostic Techniques and Self-healing Approaches for Enhancing Resilience of Smart Manufacturing Systems

Abstract: Smart manufacturing systems, while transformative, are inherently vulnerable to various faults and failures in hardware, software, or communication networks. These vulnerabilities not only disrupt the operational efficiency of manufacturing systems but also have far reaching implications on sustainability, including increased machine runtime, higher energy consumption, elevated maintenance costs, reduced equipment lifespan, and have greater economic and environmental waste. This talk focuses on the presentation of a new holistic conceptual model designed to address these challenges. The focus will be on advanced diagnostic techniques and self-healing approaches that can significantly enhance the resilience of smart manufacturing systems. By integrating these strategies, we can improve system reliability, reduce downtime, and contribute to more sustainable manufacturing practices.