Keynote Speakers

Fabio Tosti
University of West London, UK

Prof. Dr. Fabio Tosti (IEEE M’17–SM’19) received the M.Sc. and Eng. degrees (cum laude) in Infrastructure and Transportation Engineering from Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy, in 2010, and the Ph.D. degree in Civil Engineering with European Doctorate Label (excellent rating) from Roma Tre University, in 2014. A registered Chartered Engineer, he is a Professor of Civil Engineering at the School of Computing and Engineering, University of West London (UWL), London, U.K., and the Director of “The Faringdon Research Centre for Non-Destructive Testing and Remote Sensing” at UWL. His research interests include the development of new algorithms, methodologies, and models for geoscience applications and the non-destructive and satellite remote sensing assessment, repair, and maintenance of civil and green infrastructure. He has authored/co-authored over 220 research publication records in international journals, conferences, and books and delivered numerous keynote and invited lectures. Prof. Tosti was a recipient of the ECSs Award by the European Geosciences Union (EGU) in 2017 and several Best Paper Awards at International Conferences, including the 2023 International Conference on Geographic Information and Remote Sensing Technology (GIRST 2023), the 2021 IEEE Asia–Pacific Conference on Geoscience, Electronics and Remote Sensing Technology (AGERS2021) and the IEEE 2020 43rd International Conference on Telecommunications and Signal Processing (TSP2020). He was the General Co-Chair of the 3rd and 2nd International Workshop on Signal Processing Techniques for Ground Penetrating Radar Applications in 2022 and 2020 (TSP—IEEE Conf. Record 49548), respectively, and he served as the main organiser, scientific committee member and chair of technical sessions in 50+ international conferences and workshops. He served as the managing guest editor for various journals. He is the Editor-in-Chief of NDT (MDPI), and an Associate Editor of the International Journal of Pavement Engineering (IJPE), Remote Sensing (MDPI), Frontiers in Remote Sensing, Geoscientific Instrumentation, Methods and Data Systems (GI), and the Journal of Railway Engineering.


 

Alberto T. Estévez
Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Spain

Alberto T. Estévez (Barcelona, 1960), Architect (UPC, 1983), Architecture Ph.D. of Sciences (UPC, 1990), Art Historian (UB, 1994), Art History Ph.D. of Arts (UB, 2008). With a professional office of architecture and design (Barcelona, 1983-today). Chairman-Professor (Catedrático) in Architecture, teaching in different universities, in the knowledge’s areas of architectural design, architectural theory and art history (UPC, TU Wien, UB, UPF Elisava, HSAK Vienna, UDEM, UdG, USTA Bucaramanga). Founding as first Director the ESARQ School of Architecture (UIC Barcelona, 1996), as an avant-garde international school in its first 10 years: it was then the first school in the world with an architecture curriculum including –among other things– mandatory subjects of sustainability and international cooperation, as well as laboratories for biological architecture (genetics) and digital architecture (manufacturing). He also founded two research lines there, with two officially accredited research groups, two masters’ degrees and Ph.D. programs: “History, Architecture and Design” (UIC Barcelona, 1998- today) and “Genetic Architectures / Biodigital Architecture” (UIC Barcelona, 2000-today). As well as the Master of International Cooperation with Alex Levi and Amanda Schachter (UIC Barcelona, 2004-today). He was also the Founder and 1st Director of the UIC Barcelona PhD Program of Architecture. Director of 31 PhD Thesis. He has written more than three hundred publications, and has participated in a large number of exhibitions, congresses and committees. Invited to give more than one hundred lectures around the world, presenting his ideas, research, projects and works of architecture and design (in the last two decades on biodigital architecture & genetics). He was also Vice-Chancellor / General-Manager of UIC Barcelona (Universitat Internacional de Catalunya), where he is currently the Director of iBAG-UIC Barcelona (Institute for Biodigital Architecture & Genetics) after founding it.


 

Ernest Kian Jon Chua
National University of Singapore, Singapore

Dr. Ernest Kian Jon Chua is a faculty in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the National University of Singapore (NUS), where he has been at the forefront of research in innovative cooling and dehumidification, renewable energy and heat recovery systems. His expertise spans both modelling and experimental work, with a strong emphasis on applying AI and machine learning to sustainable cooling and thermal energy systems. Dr. Chua has authored over 280 SCI-indexed journal publications, eight monographs, and holds more than 10 patents in innovative cooling and dehumidification technologies. A Fellow of the Royal Society, IET, Energy Institute, and IMechE, consistently ranks among the top 1% of scientists globally (USR Network), top 2% of energy researchers in the Stanford list since 2021, with over 17,500 citations and an h-index of 71. He is currently the founding Editor-in-Chief of Thermal Science and Engineering, a new Nature-based journal and serves as Associate Editor and editorial board member for leading journals published by Elsevier, Springer, Wiley, Taylor & Francis, and MDPI. Dr. Chua has received numerous prestigious awards, including the IChemE Energy Award (2017), WSSET Innovation Award (2016, 2018), ASEAN Outstanding Engineering Achievement Award (2018, 2019), and the IET Innovation Grand Winner Award – Sustainability Category. A two-term Dean’s Chair holder at NUS, he is the Principal Investigator of several multi-million-dollar competitive research grants and is frequently invited to deliver keynote lectures and serve on technical committees at major international conferences.

Speech title "Redefining Urban Engineering with Low-Carbon Thermal Energy Innovations"

Abstract-This presentation examines cutting-edge cooling and dehumidification approaches that enhance the sustainability, resilience, and urban engineering of green buildings. It showcases membrane-based dehumidification systems for efficient moisture control and heat-driven chillers that capitalize on low-grade thermal energy to curb electrical consumption. The integration of advanced superabsorbent desiccants, offering high moisture uptake and regeneration at low temperatures, is also explored. These technologies collectively address both sensible and latent heat loads while minimizing environmental impact. By aligning with the principles of urban engineering, they support the development of low-carbon, climate-responsive buildings; particularly critical in dense, warm, and humid urban environments where conventional HVAC systems are often inefficient and energy-intensive.