Search results for " Smart"

Adaptive Materials Research for Architecture

2018

The volume "Adaptive Materials Research for Architecture" is a Special Issue of the journal "Advanced Material Research". The goal of this volume is to spread knowledge on studies, analyses and results of scientific research carried out from academics, researchers, and scientists regarding the soundest issues related to smart materials, innovative technologies and ongoing researches in the field of adaptive materials in past and current architectural practice.

Fast prototyping of a SoC-based smart-camera: a real-time fall detection case study

2014

International audience; Smart camera, i.e. cameras that are able to acquire and process images in real-time, is a typical example of the new embedded computer vision systems. A key example of application is automatic fall detection, which can be useful for helping elderly people in daily life. In this paper, we propose a methodology for development and fast-prototyping of a fall detection system based on such a smart camera, which allows to reduce the development time compared to standard approaches. Founded on a supervised classification approach, we propose a HW/SW implementation to detect falls in a home environment using a single camera and an optimized descriptor adapted to real-time t…

Challenges in Energy Systems for the Smart-Cities of the Future

2012

In the last years the European Union has actively promoted the renewable energies and the Combined Heat and Power (CHP) also for residential and tertiary buildings. The exploitation of renewable sources and cogeneration seems hampered by the regulatory wall that prohibit for residential, tertiary and commercial buildings the constitution of users clusters. In fact, the unification up to a threshold value of some tens of kVA, at least, can facilitate the installation of renewable energy power plants as solar PV modules or CHP systems (cogeneration) or CCHP systems (tri-generation), overcoming technical and economical barriers and combining several load profiles. The actual distribution syste…

ANALYSIS OF IMPACTS ON ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEM OPERATION OF LOAD MANAGEMENT IN RESIDENTIAL AND TERTIARY BUILDINGS

2012

Load management includes all the techniques, logics, actions and programs through which the electric utilities and the customers are able to manage loads absorption in a more prudent and efficient way; it determines economic benefits for the users, but also allows a network management and operation simpler and cheaper, determining technical and economic benefits. The present paper constitutes a detailed study of interventions and techniques to control demand in the residential and tertiary sectors and the effects that these actions have on the entire electrical system and its management. It discusses the implications of such control actions in terms of reduction of network losses and relate…

Benefits of a translucent building envelope made of DSC-integrated glass blocks

2015

The aim of this paper is to analyse the benefits deriving from the replacement of the glazed façades of an office building located in Palermo (Sicily) with a new translucent BIPV envelope made of multifunctional glass block panels integrated with Dye-sensitized Solar Cells (DSCs). The analysed 11-storey building is cladded by a curtain wall determining high management costs, especially during summer, in order to maintain indoor comfort. After the design of the building envelope and of the components for the connection of the glass block panels with existing load bearing structure, the energy performance of the building, before and after the replacement of its envelope, were analysed with th…

Consumer attitude toward using smart shopping carts: a comparative analysis of Italian and Croatian consumer attitudes

2016

This paper aims to explore consumer attitudes toward using smart shopping cart, considering country of origin, gender, age, and intentions to use smart shopping carts while purchasing. Moreover, it investigates the influence of extracted factors on consumers' attitudes toward using smart shopping carts and the users' levels of digital competence. The data was collected through survey questionnaires using a purposive sample of 313 Croatian and Italian respondents. To this end, we applied statistical methodologies such as binary logistic regression, factor analysis, and analysis of variance. We found that, compared with Croatians, Italian respondents have a more positive attitude toward using…

La domotica assistiva per la rivitalizzazione di centri urbani minori

2022

Multitemporal Monitoring of Plant Area Index in the Valencia Rice District with PocketLAI

2016

Leaf area index (LAI) is a key biophysical parameter used to determine foliage cover and crop growth in environmental studies in order to assess crop yield. Frequently, plant canopy analyzers (LAI-2000) and digital cameras for hemispherical photography (DHP) are used for indirect effective plant area index (PAI(eff)) estimates. Nevertheless, these instruments are expensive and have the disadvantages of low portability and maintenance. Recently, a smartphone app called PocketLAI was presented and tested for acquiring PAI(eff) measurements. It was used during an entire rice season for indirect PAI(eff) estimations and for deriving reference high-resolution PAI(eff) maps. Ground PAI(eff) value…

Palermo: ricerca scientifica e sostenibilità per la social innovation

2016

Nonostante le mancanze strutturali e i risultati negativi osservati attraverso l’analisi degli indicatori statistici sulla smartness, specialmente nel confronto con i risultati alla scala nazionale, la Città Metropolitana di Palermo sembra essere interessata da una sempre crescente consapevolezza sul tema della Smart City. Anche se attualmente manca una cornice governativa che coordini il mosaico di iniziative portate avanti in vari campi della smartness, il bisogno e la volontà di andare verso lo sviluppo di una città più intelligente stanno attivando e richiamando all’azione sia le istituzioni - come l’Università, gli organismi di governo locale e gli istituti di ricerca - che le associaz…

A new low cost power line communication solution for smart grid monitoring and management

2018

Modern smart grids require the improvement of measurement and communication infrastructures of distribution networks, at both medium voltage (MV) and low voltage (LV) levels. Distributed sensing and measurement systems are needed to provide all necessary data for grid monitoring, control and management, as well as for the implementation of a number of smart functionalities, such as remote control of distributed generators (DGs), real time analysis of power flows, automatic meter reading (AMR), demand side management (DSM), grid automation and so on [1]-[6]. Acquired network data include typical electrical network quantities and status variables (such as powers, voltages, currents, switches …