Academic PoCs

Following the pandemic, many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have developed forms of remote work and agile work (which we call flexible remote work). After the pandemic phase, many SMEs have opted for hybrid forms of work, where employees have the opportunity to work remotely typically up to 2 or 3 days a week. This change has required new organizational forms and weekly goal setting. However, due to complexity and costs, only a few SMEs have equipped themselves with suitable management tools to measure and evaluate the effects of this organizational change. This critical issue particularly affects businesses located in mountainous regions. The project aims to refine the Activity-Based Costing (ABC) methodology and develop a prototype of a low-cost cloud-accessible application that enables SMEs to evaluate work performance by breaking down activities into processes, considering hybrid work modes. The project is structured in 4 phases: - In the first phase, the ABC methodology is adapted to account for flexible remote work. - In the second phase, a new methodology called Activity Multidimensional Performance (AMP) is developed to comprehensively assess activity performance: this includes parameters such as efficiency, output quality, recipient satisfaction, and completion times. - The third phase develops a new methodology called Process Performance Management (PPM), which combines the results of the previous two methodologies (ABC and AMP) to measure and design or redesign the allocation of different activities between flexible remote work and in-person work. - In the final phase, an application is developed that allows for the collection, processing, analysis of data, and reorganization of activities based on these new methodologies.  

Nature-based Solutions (NBS) contribute to the recovery of mountainous areas through local water treatment, thermal control of buildings, and reduction of small landslides. The PoC aims to apply NBS technology for wastewater treatment in a mountain village, acting on building scale across multiple fronts: water management and energy aspects, slope stabilization, landscape value, economic attractiveness of buildings, and data collection for monitoring and managing properties and infrastructure. Building on previous research, interactive thematic maps will be developed to classify areas based on resource availability and terrain configuration. Within a case study, an architectural project managed through Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology will be formulated, integrating the installation of a green wall demonstrator for water management in mountain environments and terraces for rainwater management. Installation of IoT sensors facilitating the management of mountain and autonomous energy communities will also be planned. The construction and development of a versatile tool for use in sustainable building renovations will lead to the creation of an online platform with a section dedicated to graphical boards, interactive maps, informative sheets, and multi-target events to stimulate investments and co-design, two pillars of a virtuous circle in environmental protection, combating climate change, adapting to extreme events, and ecological and digital transition. At the heart of the proposed technology will also be the design and implementation of demonstrators aimed at developing vegetated system modules for thermal control and air quality, to be integrated into a high-value, low-impact architectural project. The proposed project will pass through phases of design, implementation, monitoring, installation, and monitoring for demonstrators. The development of the decision-making flow chart for the value proposition will pass through the creation of the online platform, which will encompass the results of territorial analyses and architectural proposals. At the end of the project, all elements will be available to propose a methodology for use in the revitalization of mountain villages both in the decision-making phase and in terms of architectural archetypes, integrating Nature-based Solutions into the value proposition. The developed technology will offer cutting-edge construction and plant solutions to increase the resilience of mountain living environments, benefiting entrepreneurship, citizenship, and administrations.  

At the conclusion of the project, we expect to have an advanced and fully functional technology that synergistically integrates augmented reality, BIM/GIS platform, and IoT network for natural disaster prevention. Compared to current technology, there will be several significant differences. Firstly, our system will feature greater scalability and flexibility through the integration of static and dynamic data from IoT devices, enabling real-time monitoring and continuous updates of environmental conditions. Furthermore, the virtual environment will be significantly enhanced, offering a more accurate and interactive representation of natural hazards and emergency procedures. User interfaces will be intuitive and engaging, facilitating user understanding and interaction with the system. Ultimately, we anticipate that our technology will have a significant impact on natural disaster prevention and management, enhancing the safety and resilience of vulnerable communities worldwide. 1. Implementation of IoT Network Integration: During the project, a key step will be implementing a robust IoT network to enable scalability of the BIM/GIS/IoT platform. This will involve designing and installing IoT devices for continuous monitoring of static and dynamic data related to flood and landslide risks. Additionally, developing a data management system will be necessary to ensure regular updates and real-time accessibility of this information. This step is crucial for effectively connecting the virtual and real worlds, providing users with the ability to interpret and utilize monitored data for disaster prevention and management. 2. Development of Interactive Virtual Environment: Another key step of the project will be the development of an interactive and innovative virtual environment. This process will require creating an accurate digital representation of the area of interest, integrating geospatial data and BIM models to provide a detailed overview of existing natural hazards. It will also be important to design and implement intuitive and engaging user interfaces that allow users to explore the virtual environment, access information on risks, and learn proper alarm and emergency procedures. This virtual environment will play a fundamental role in educating and raising awareness among the local population about natural hazards, and instilling safe and responsive behaviors in case of emergencies. Once proven effective and versatile, this technology could find numerous applications beyond the initial project scope. For example, it could be adopted in other geographical areas prone to similar natural risks, adapting BIM and GIS models to local specifications. Additionally, IoT network integration could be expanded to other environmental monitoring situations, such as seismic risk management or extreme weather conditions. The interactive virtual environment could also be used for educational and training purposes outside the context of natural disaster prevention. For instance, it could be used for emergency responders' training, environmental education in schools, or public awareness campaigns on climate change and environmental sustainability. Moreover, considering the growing popularity of augmented reality and wearable devices, there may be a market for customized applications that provide real-time safety and environmental condition information to individuals during their daily activities, such as mountain hikes or walks in potentially hazardous areas. In summary, the potential future applications of this technology are broad and varied, and could significantly contribute to safety, education, and environmental awareness in various contexts.    

The idea of TeleFragMont 4.0 to experiment with an integrated telemedicine system aimed at strengthening healthcare in marginal and remote areas arises from the need to overcome the challenges faced by mountainous regions, often treated as peripheral. Mountainous territories are facing significant challenges, such as demographic trends due to the combined effects of aging and migration, as well as socio-economic impoverishment. The distance between peripheral mountainous areas and hospital facilities exacerbates their fragility, leading to critical conditions for healthcare provision to the fragile population, elderly, and individuals with chronic conditions requiring assistance. Through a remote monitoring system of vital parameters, teleconsultation for the correct administration of therapies, and specialized medical visits, TeleFragMont 4.0 aims to reduce discomfort for the elderly and those most in need of care and assistance. This initiative offers them the opportunity to access adequate services without having to travel to larger centers with suitable healthcare and social facilities, thereby helping to counteract the depopulation phenomenon in mountainous and remote areas. Moreover, the telemedicine system will greatly support early diagnosis and prompt, personalized interventions tailored to the specific needs of individuals, making it easier to address the complex needs of frail, chronically ill patients. The project is characterized by its multidisciplinary approach, involving two departments of the University of Turin and integrating aspects related to the health of individuals residing in remote areas with informatics, organizational, and economic dimensions. State of advancement Currently, the project has addressed privacy-related aspects to enable monitoring of individuals interested in participating in the experimentation while complying with regulations. Research has been initiated to explore telemedicine solutions available on the market to assess their suitability in terms of detectable parameters and data availability.

In cases where work activities are carried out in contexts different from company premises, such as in the case of smart working, the protection of the health and safety of the worker is the responsibility of the employer. The employer is indeed accountable for the proper functioning of the technological tools assigned to the worker for smart working activities; moreover, they are required to ensure adequate training on the correct execution of work activities in agile mode. In fact, the Protocol for the private sector (as well as the Guidelines for the public sector) envisages specific training initiatives for personnel engaged in smart working, particularly on the technical tools to be used, the characteristics of this organizational form, and the health and safety aspects related to performing work outside the workplace environment (such as adequacy of workspaces, correct ergonomics, and use of appropriate furniture and equipment). The primary objective of the SHAKE project is to support companies in meeting their obligations to inform and train employees who perform their work activities in agile mode. To achieve this goal, SHAKE aims to develop a modular online training course that addresses the multifaceted aspects of smart working, including technical-legal aspects and components related to the psychophysical well-being of workers. To this end, the SHAKE project relies on an interdisciplinary team composed of legal experts, engineers, occupational psychologists, and physiologists. Each researcher will provide qualified input based on their expertise to define the individual modules of the course and develop training materials. The course will be delivered through a dedicated digital e-learning platform specifically designed for the SHAKE project. State of advancement The project started on November 15, 2023, and proceeded with the organization of the kick-off meeting with the project team. On December 15, 2023, there was a detailed reorganization and distribution of the budget across the involved departments and resources necessary for project activities. Procedures were then implemented for consolidating personnel resources for project activities in January 2024 by all working groups from various departments. On February 9, 2024, participation occurred in the presentation meeting for the training course NODESL - Entrepreneurship in Action, from idea to execution.

The project aims to build and test a blockchain-based platform to support the tourism sector, particularly to encourage travel to lesser-known locations and activities in mountainous areas. The tokenization capability offered by blockchain technology enables the creation of an incentive system to encourage tourists to visit less-known mountain places and make purchases at local businesses offering typical and zero-mile products. The project's starting point will be the CommonsHood blockchain platform developed by the project leader at the University of Turin. CommonsHood is a wallet app that allows citizens, institutions, and merchants to create new types of cryptographic tokens from templates without technical knowledge, using a no-code approach. It enables the creation of tokens representing assets such as customer loyalty tools (discount coupons, cashback), crowdfunding tools (crowdsales), NFTs, and complementary currencies. CommonsHood is integrated with FirstLife, a georeferenced civic social network, an interactive map also developed by the project leader, which can be used to discover and share the tourist resources and opportunities offered by a city or region. It allows interaction with visitors, for instance, by signaling events that might interest them. The challenge addressed is to increase tourist flows in mountainous areas, particularly in lesser-known zones, by offering economic incentives to tourists and giving local businesses and other stakeholders the ability to create a blockchain-based economic ecosystem. The project will lead to an increase in the TRL (Technology Readiness Level) of the platform applied to the new field of tourism and the evaluation of the establishment of an academic spin-off. The spin-off's business model will be based on the sale of tokens and collaboration with tourism stakeholders. State of advancement Currently, the project is in the phase of gathering and specifying functional and non-functional requirements, which will lead to the system specification that will define the architectural and technological design of the system. The tokenization model to be used in the experiments is also under study.