Claudio Martani

Bio: Claudio Martani is an academic researcher from ETH Zurich. The author has contributed to research in topics: Risk management & User requirements document. The author has an hindex of 9, co-authored 31 publications receiving 867 citations. Previous affiliations of Claudio Martani include École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne & University of Cambridge.

Design with Uncertainty: The Role of Future Options for Infrastructure Integration

Abstract: Decision making for effective infrastructure integration is challenging because the performance of long-lasting facilities is often difficult to foresee or well beyond the designer's control. We propose a new approach for integrating the construction/retrofitting of two or more types of facilities. Infrastructure integration has many perceived benefits, but practitioners also express serious doubts, particularly when it comes to civil engineering works. To substantiate this approach, we test all of the major options for integrating a ground source heat pump system with the construction/retrofitting of an archetypal office building. We use actual data from the United Kingdom, which represent a middle-of-the-road setting among major developed countries. The model highlights the sensitivity of the range of cost-effective solutions to the embedding of future options. The findings point to a clear need for appropriate standards for managing infrastructure integration. We expect this kind of model to find increasing applications among infrastructure complexes, particularly as cities become denser and more multifunctional.

Pedestrian monitoring techniques for crowd-flow prediction

Abstract: The high concentration and flow rate of people in train stations during rush hours can pose a prominent risk to passenger safety and comfort. In situ counting systems are a critical element for predicting pedestrian flows in real time, and their capabilities must be rigorously tested in live environments. The focus of this paper is on evaluating the reliability of two alternative counting systems, the first using an array of infrared depth sensors and the second a visible light (RGB) camera. Both proposed systems were installed at a busy walkway in London Bridge station. The data were collected over a period of 2 months, after which, portions of the data set were labelled for quantitative evaluation against ground truth. In this paper, the implementation of the two different counting technologies is described, and the accuracy and limitations of both approaches under different conditions are discussed. The results show that the developed RGB-based system performs reliably across a wide range of conditions, while the depth-based approach proves to be a useful complement in conditions without significant ambient sunlight, such as underground passageways.

A Review of the State-of-the-Art in Railway Risk Management

Abstract: With railway in Europe carrying a consistent number of passengers and amount of goods on an aged infrastructure network, the risk related to infrastructure is high. When it is not possible to execute all of the interventions that are desired to offset deterioration, for example, due to budget constraints, the interventions that result in the largest risk reduction for the amount of resources available should be executed, i.e. included in the intervention program to be implemented. To determine the interventions to be executed, it is first necessary to assess the infrastructure related risk and then, second to determine which interventions should be executed. Two tasks that are currently done in the management of railway infrastructure relatively heterogeneously, and mainly at the object level. In this paper, a summary of the state-of-the-art of risk assessment and the development of intervention programs for railway infrastructure is presented. The summary is grouped in overviews of work done on the assessment of risk at both the network and object level, and on the development of intervention programs at both the network and object level. In the conclusion, attention is drawn to the work required to improve both, and steps for future research are given.

Development of intervention programs for inland waterway networks using genetic algorithms

Abstract: Inland waterways often consist of large numbers of man-made objects to ensure navigability. These objects are of many different types, ages and sizes, and deteriorate in uncountable of different wa...

An updated roadmap for the integration of metal–organic frameworks with electronic devices and chemical sensors

Abstract: Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are typically highlighted for their potential application in gas storage, separations and catalysis. In contrast, the unique prospects these porous and crystalline materials offer for application in electronic devices, although actively developed, are often underexposed. This review highlights the research aimed at the implementation of MOFs as an integral part of solid-state microelectronics. Manufacturing these devices will critically depend on the compatibility of MOFs with existing fabrication protocols and predominant standards. Therefore, it is important to focus in parallel on a fundamental understanding of the distinguishing properties of MOFs and eliminating fabrication-related obstacles for integration. The latter implies a shift from the microcrystalline powder synthesis in chemistry labs, towards film deposition and processing in a cleanroom environment. Both the fundamental and applied aspects of this two-pronged approach are discussed. Critical directions for future research are proposed in an updated high-level roadmap to stimulate the next steps towards MOF-based microelectronics within the community.

[ACM Press the 2nd ACM Workshop - Zurich, Switzerland (2010.11.02-2010.11.02)] Proceedings of the 2nd ACM Workshop on Embedded Sensing Systems for Energy-Efficiency in Building - BuildSys \'10 - Occupancy-driven energy management for smart building automation

Abstract: Buildings are among the largest consumers of electricity in the US. A significant portion of this energy use in buildings can be attributed to HVAC systems used to maintain comfort for occupants. In most cases these building HVAC systems run on fixed schedules and do not employ any fine grained control based on detailed occupancy information. In this paper we present the design and implementation of a presence sensor platform that can be used for accurate occupancy detection at the level of individual offices. Our presence sensor is low-cost, wireless, and incrementally deployable within existing buildings. Using a pilot deployment of our system across ten offices over a two week period we identify significant opportunities for energy savings due to periods of vacancy. Our energy measurements show that our presence node has an estimated battery lifetime of over five years, while detecting occupancy accurately. Furthermore, using a building simulation framework and the occupancy information from our testbed, we show potential energy savings from 10% to 15% using our system.