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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 remote sensing assessment of civil and green infrastructure, and cultural heritage assets. He has authored/co-authored over 250 research publication records in international journals, conferences, and books and delivered numerous keynotes 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 Chair of the 1st International Conference on Advanced Remote Sensing (ICARS 2025), and the International Workshop on Signal Processing Techniques for Ground Penetrating Radar Applications in 2024, 2022 and 2020. He served as the main organiser, scientific committee member and chair of technical sessions at 60+ international conferences and workshops. He served as the managing guest editor for various journals. He is the Founding 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.
Speech title "Emerging
Technologies for the Observation of
Natural, Built and Heritage
Environments: New Developments at
the UWL Faringdon Research Centre"
Abstract-Safeguarding the natural and built environment's quality and preserving the cultural value of historical assets are paramount, intertwined objectives. Achieving these goals requires robust health monitoring and efficient asset management systems. Early detection of structural decay and changes in ecosystems or green spaces is critical to ensuring the long-term integrity and functionality of these assets. These needs are further intensified by the impacts of climate change and the pressures of a growing global population, which demand innovative and globally coordinated monitoring approaches.
Emerging technologies offer powerful solutions to these challenges. Non-destructive testing (NDT) has been a transformative force for decades, continually aligning with industry requirements. On a broader scale, remote sensing has emerged as a powerful method for the high-frequency and high accuracy monitoring of civil infrastructure and urban green spaces. More recently, digitalisation has accelerated the efficiency of information exchange and strengthened decision-support systems.
This keynote will review significant developments at the Faringdon Research Centre for Non-Destructive Testing and Remote Sensing, University of West London, in advancing observation techniques for natural, built, and cultural heritage environments. A special emphasis will be placed on Gound Penetrating Radar (GPR) methods, remote sensing applications, and immersive technologies such as augmented and virtual reality. The talk will also highlight key challenges and outline future directions for research and industry practice.
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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.
Speech title-Biodigital
Architecture & Design: "From DNA to
the Planet"
Abstract:The Modern Movement of
the 20th century worked to design
"from the spoon to the city." We,
the inhabitants of the 21st century,
can transcend working only on the
surface of things, as has been done
for millennia. Now it is time to
design "from the DNA to the planet".
From the cell and the bit, to
beyond, to the entire Solar System.
Thus, is shown here, on some ideas,
multi-scalar and trans-disciplinary
works of Alberto T. Estévez, around
the fusion of the biological world
and the digital world, applies to
architecture & design, genetics and
computation, natural intelligence
and artificial intelligence,
bio-learning and machine-learning,
biological techniques and digital
techniques, bio-manufacturing and
digital-manufacturing.
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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.
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