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.

The Risks of Decisions with Long-Term Impacts Within the Building Process. The Uncertainty in Design Over a Set of Objectives for the Operation and Maintenance Phase

Abstract: The aim of this chapter is to underline the opportunity to control the uncertainty over important long-term objectives in architectural design by adopting risk management methods and techniques. Satisfaction with long-term objectives for buildings largely depends on the possibility to carry out due maintenance and the building process is characterized by a sequence of phases where decisions that strongly define adequacy of buildings to be properly maintained are taken at the early stages. Despite the key role of the brief and the design phases in defining building quality over time, the current practice of architectural design is characterized by a large uncertainty around the propensity of designed buildings to meet long-term objectives. This uncertainty is due to a difficulty in linking design features to the needs of use and maintenance. The operation and management phase is, then, the time after the design from which consequences of decision taken upstream appear. At this stage quality of buildings is visible and measurable and, therefore, feedback can help to track the origin of problems. This process of learning from past experiences is called learning by using. With reference to the set of problems that can arise from design the risk management process and techniques can support clients and designers by helping during both the design phase (in analysing the context, simulating events, anticipating possible scenarios) and the operation and management phase (in monitoring the performance of buildings in use in order to instruct actions to manage risks over time).

Risk Assessment Process for Railway Networks with Focus on Infrastructure Objects

Abstract: When railway infrastructure fails it can result in substantial consequences. These occur because the railway objects are part of a network and the service they provide depends on all objects providing adequate levels of service, simultaneously. Railway managers are interested in executing interventions on their railway network if the levels of risk are unacceptable or if they can execute interventions to reduce the probability of infrastructure failure in a way that the risk reduction is greater than the costs of the intervention. To determine whether the level of risk related to the infrastructure is acceptable, it is necessary to have a single process to assess the risk related to each object in the railway network in a consistent way and take into consideration the ramifications on the service provided by the network if there is an infrastructure failure. This is something that currently does not exist. Usually the risk related to infrastructure objects is examined inconsistently for objects of different types and with inadequate consideration of the service provided by the network. There has been no attempt to combine them. In this paper, a process is proposed for estimating the risk related to railway networks based on consistent analysis of possible events for objects of all types. It is the first level of a more comprehensive process in which four levels of the system are considered, i.e. object, section, route and network level, involving increasing complexity, but also accuracy. The proposed process includes a classification of stakeholders, cost types, and event types. It is demonstrated by conducting a risk assessment for all objects in an example network. The advantages and the disadvantages of the proposed process are discussed, as well as the future research being conducted at the section, route and network levels.

Evaluating highway designs considering uncertain mobility patterns and flexibility using real options

Abstract: Determining how infrastructure corridors are to be optimally designed and modified over time is challenging due to the considerable uncertainty associated with potential changes in mobility patterns. This is because of factors such as the dynamisms of urban areas and the potential of transitioning to autonomous vehicles. Although currently this future uncertainty is taken into consideration in decisions with respect to highway designs and modifications in a qualitative manner, there is potential benefit to using quantitative methods and explicitly considering how highways may be modified in the future as a function of the actual future that emerges. In this article, the use of a quantitative evaluation method using real options is explored to evaluate highway designs, considering uncertainties in future mobility patterns and management flexibility. The usefulness of the method is investigated on the fictive but realistic case study based on the completion of the A15 highway, in the canton of Zürich, Switzerland. The results of this exploratory work indicate significant value in the use of the proposed method to ensure that infrastructure networks are optimally prepared to support society in an unknown future, and it is expected that it can be used more extensively in future spatial planning.

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.