Higher Institute on Territorial Systems for Innovation
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Advanced digital modelling of the Torre del Mar (Borriana, Castellón): from digital fabrication to immersive experience through eXtended Reality (XR)
No full textThe sixteenth-century Mediterranean was neither a secure environment nor its coastlines, necessitating substantial defensive measures. To this end, fortifications were erected around urban centres and many towers were constructed to punctuate the coastal perimeter. The littoral of the Kingdom of Valencia was no exception; indeed, it was particularly affected by the presence of the Morisco population. Within this context emerges our case study: the Torre del Mar (Borriana, Castellón), an optimal site for the experimental methodology proposed in this investigation. Constructed between 1553 and 1558 by viceregal mandate, and subsequently documented by the engineer Giovanni Battista Antonelli in 1563, it constitutes a paradigmatic element of the coastal defensive system, whose comprehension may now be mediated through innovative communication forms. The principal objective of this research is the creation of a comprehensive and detailed digital model, which integrates data obtained through unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry (specifically processed to maximise the level of detail of the external envelope) with a point cloud acquired through high-resolution terrestrial laser scanning (TLS), for the geometric and material characterisation of internal spaces. The resulting digital model fulfils multiple interpretative and communicative functions. Firstly, it constitutes the foundation for realizing a physical scaled replica, produced through digital fabrication techniques. The physical model decomposes the structure into twelve components, assemblable via magnetic connections. This solution enables dynamic
exploration of the tower’s constructive elements. Secondly, the digital model is propaedeutic to the development of immersive eXtended Reality (XR) experiences: Virtual Reality (VR), accessible remotely; Augmented Reality (AR), for interaction with the physical model; and Mixed Reality (MR), aimed at creating collaborative environments. This research demonstrates how contemporary digital modelling methodologies offer innovative approaches for analyzing, interpreting, and disseminating fortified heritage
Advancing surgical cutting guide flexibility: A hybrid physical and Augmented Reality solution for cranio-maxillofacial surgery
Get PDFCutting guides are widely used in cranio-maxillofacial surgery by providing mechanical references for precise
bone resections and reducing intraoperative variability. Nevertheless, their rigid and patient-specific design
requires dedicated CAD modeling and fabrication, making them time-consuming to produce and difficult to
adapt when anatomical conditions or bone surfaces change. This work presents a hybrid surgical cutting guide
that combines a physically adjustable device with Augmented Reality (AR) feedback to support intraoperative
alignment in maxillofacial osteotomies. The concept merges the tactile reliability of conventional guides with
the adaptability of digital visualization, enabling surgeons to fine-tune the cutting plane directly through AR
tracking. Registration was performed using cephalometric landmarks and an inside-out tracking approach
with HoloLens 2, allowing precise superimposition of virtual cutting planes onto 3D-printed mandibular
models. The system was evaluated by both expert and novice operators under three feedback conditions: no
AR, holographic overlay, and real-time distance guidance. Results showed that AR feedback was associated
with improved positional accuracy, with mean linear deviations of 1.27 ± 0.71 mm and angular errors of
4.46 ± 3.27◦. Operator experience influenced overall performance, yet enhanced feedback compensated part
of this variability. Combining physical and digital guidance can yield more adaptable, precise, and reusable
osteotomy tools, paving the way for flexible surgical assistance in clinical settings
Characterizing BV- and BD-Ellipticity for a Class of Positively 1-Homogeneous Surface Energy Densities
No full textLower semicontinuity of surface energies in integral form is known to be equivalent to BV-ellipticity of the surface density. In this paper, we prove that BV-ellipticity coincides with the simpler notion of biconvexity for a class of densities that depend only on the jump height and jump normal, and are positively 1-homogeneous in the first argument. The second main result is the analogous statement in the setting of bounded deformations, where we show that BD-ellipticity reduces to symmetric biconvexity. Our techniques are primarily inspired by constructions from the analysis of structured deformations and the general theory of free discontinuity problems
Design and in-field application of a monitoring system for indoor environmental quality and occupants' comfort assessment
No full textL'abstract è presente nell'allegato / the abstract is in the attachmen
Analysis of multi-source satellite-derived displacement data for structural monitoring of masonry heritage buildings
No full textHistorical masonry structures, such as churches and towers, represent a fundamental part of our cultural heritage but are particularly vulnerable due to both aging and the external influences they are subjected to. In this context, Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) plays a crucial role in assessing structural integrity and preventing damage. In recent years, satellite remote sensing data, such as those obtained through interferometric techniques (InSAR), have gained increasing relevance in SHM applications, also due to the free availability of pre-processed datasets fro missions like Sentinel-1 (European Ground Motion Service - EGMS). However, the direct use of such data may often be limited, as they are provided in a pre-processed form, reducing the user ability to customize and adapt the analysis. This study presents a comparison between pre-processed EGMS data and data obtained through user-controlled processing using dedicated software, with the aim of evaluating the advantages and limitations of each approach. Using data obtained through user-controlled processing allows for the targeted selection of reliable points while discarding those considered inconsistent or of low quality, thus ensuring a more robust and tailored analysis. This processed data could be useful to calibrate a numerical model, enabling the joint optimization of mechanical parameters and external imposed actions (e.g., displacements), thus improving the prediction of structural behaviour and supporting more robust SHM models
Three-dimensional pollutant dispersion in tree-lined urban canyons: Combined wind-tunnel and LES analysis
No full textVegetation is increasingly used in urban areas to improve microclimate and reduce pollutant exposure, yet its effect on pollutant dispersion within street canyons remains complex. This study combines high-resolution wind tunnel experiments and Large-Eddy Simulations (LES) using uDALES to provide a detailed three-dimensional characterization of airflow and pollutant concentration along the canyon. Special attention is given to the consistent scaling of velocity and scalar fields, using friction velocity and canyon geometry as reference quantities, and to the role of tree drag length in aligning the aerodynamic resistance of physical and numerical vegetation. The simulations reproduce key mean-flow structures, including large-scale recirculations, but tend to underestimate turbulent kinetic energy and local scalar fluxes. By jointly analyzing high-resolution wind-tunnel experiments and LES, we (i) confirm the spanwise and longitudinal concentration patterns observed experimentally, (ii) assess their sensitivity to the modeled tree drag, (iii) provide the first detailed experimental–numerical comparison of rooftop mean and turbulent mass fluxes, showing that bulk canyon ventilation exhibits no systematic dependence on tree number or drag intensity, and (iv) identify the specific strengths and limitations of each approach. This integrated analysis offers novel insights into the interplay between trees, turbulence, and boundary-layer forcing, informing strategies for modeling urban ventilation and pollutant dispersion in tree-lined streets
A Survey-Assisted Time-Domain Characterization of the Power Patterns of Main Household Appliances
No full textThe characterisation of power curves for individual household appliances needs to consider technical and user behaviour-based aspects. To assess the impact of an aggregation of appliances, the combination of non-synchronised power curves of multiple appliances with different types of usage in different households has to be represented. This article sets up a framework of analysis that incorporates survey-based indications on the user's behaviour, taken from a dedicated questionnaire, and the measured characteristics of main appliances with user-based activation. A Monte Carlo approach is formulated to determine the specific contribution of a given number of similar appliances to the aggregate power curve. Examples are shown, considering examples taken from the aggregate usage of washing machines and dishwashers as two exemplificative types of main household appliances with user-based activation. The analysis is then extended to power curves defined with different time steps to determine indications such as the peak power and the 99% and 95% non-exceeding probability of the aggregate demand for the same type of appliances. The availability of information on the aggregation of the main appliances is useful to refine demand response programmes and assess the interaction between appliances, local generation and local storage in the household
Europe’s Sovereignty Paradox in the new Age of Empires
No full textThis paper argues that the international system is entering a neo-imperial phase marked by eroding legal constraints the return of spheres of influence and systematic military economic and political coercion. We begin by proposing a novel definition of empire, applying it to the United States, Russia and China. We then argue that the European Union faces a sovereignty paradox, since fragmented authority and national vetoes expose Europe to external pressures while preventing the creation of joint capabilities. Nonetheless, we suggest that the European Commission has been able to negotiate, within the narrow legal spaces it has been afforded, a series of foundational steps upon which a novel European geopolitical architecture could be built. We conclude assessing short- and medium-term reforms which could be enacted in the years to come to prepare the European Union for a more dangerous and more competitive global environment
Some obstacle problems for partially hinged plates and related optimization issues
No full textWe study optimization problems for partially hinged rectangular plates, modeling bridge roadways, in the presence of real and artificial obstacles. Real obstacles represent structural constraints to avoid, while artificial ones are introduced to enhance stability. For the former, aiming to prevent collisions, we set up a worst-case optimization problem in which we minimize the amplitude of oscillations with respect to the density distribution; for the latter, aiming to improve the torsional stability, we minimize, with respect to the obstacles, the maximum of a gap function quantifying the displacement between the long edges of the plate. For both problems, existence results are provided, along with a discussion about qualitative properties of optimal density distributions and obstacles
Clean Clothes, Dirty Oceans: Microplastic fiber emissions from synthetic fabrics
No full textThe textile industry is a major contributor to microplastic pollution, responsible for up to 35% of
primary microplastics released into the environment—primarily through household laundering. The
Ellen MacArthur Foundation estimates that one-third of all primary microplastics in the oceans
originate from textile washing, projecting 22 million tonnes of microfibers to enter marine ecosystems
between 2015 and 2055. This study quantified microplastic fibers (MPFs) emissions from ten synthetic
fabric samples—acrylic, polyamide, polyester, recycled polyester, and polypropylene—washed under
standardized conditions. The influence of raw material, fabric properties (structure, basis weight,
thickness), and washing stage (pre-wash vs. soaping/rinsing) was systematically analyzed.
Across all tests, 468–2405 MPFs were released per sample. Normalized emission rates were
consistently higher during the pre-wash phase (2–17 MPF g−1 min−1) than during the main wash (1–9
MPF g−1 min−1), suggesting that omitting pre-washing could halve total emissions. Woven fabrics
released up to 55% more MPFs than equivalent knitted fabrics. Yarn diameter and fabric thickness
showed strong positive correlations with fiber release (r > 0.85). Recycled polyester emitted 31% more
MPFs than virgin polyester due to polymer chain degradation during thermal-mechanical recycling.
These findings offer a robust comparative assessment of MPF shedding, emphasizing the importance
of fiber type, structural characteristics, and laundering practices. The results advocate for material-
conscious textile design, discourage unnecessary pre-washing, and highlight the need to improve
recycling processes to mitigate microfiber release from recycled fibers. These insights inform
sustainable innovation in textiles, and consumer behavior