Make bridges, buildings and critical infrastructures safer by integrating structural modeling and artificial intelligence. This is the objective of SHIELD (Structural Hybrid Intelligence for Enhanced Learning and Diagnostics), the research project with which Umberto De Maio, researcher at the Department of Civil Engineering of the University of Calabria, won a Starting Grant from the Italian Fund for Science (FIS 3). Promoted by the Ministry of University and Research, the FIS supports high-impact fundamental research projects, drawing inspiration from the European programs of the European Research Council.
SHIELD, financed with 1,155,960 euros for five years, is located in the PE8 (Products and Processes Engineering) area and stands out for the result obtained at a national level: 11 projects in the category have been financed throughout Italy, the one led by De Maio is in fourth place in the ranking and is the only one based in Calabria.
The research focuses on improving systems for monitoring the health of infrastructures, a strategic area for risk prevention and management of built heritage. In the current application landscape, many Structural Health Monitoring solutions present critical issues related to data management, computational costs and reliability of diagnoses. SHIELD addresses these challenges through an approach that integrates structural modeling and machine learning techniques to provide robust, transparent and operationally actionable structural diagnoses, including in support of predictive maintenance strategies.
Greco: “A goal that confirms the quality of the research conducted at Unical”
Satisfaction is expressed by the Rector of the University of Calabria, Gianluigi Greco: «The goal achieved by Umberto De Maio is a confirmation of the talent of our young scholars and the quality of the research conducted at Unical, increasingly capable of competing at the highest national levels also in key sectors for the security and development of the country».
«As a University – adds the Rector – we intend to invest with even greater conviction in the valorisation of these skills, working so that talents like Umberto can find the conditions here to grow and give continuity to their academic path».
A result resulting from teamwork
Umberto De Maio is a researcher in Construction Science at the Department of Civil Engineering of the University of Calabria, where he carries out his scientific activity within the research group coordinated by prof. Fabrizio Greco. Graduated with honors in Building and Architectural Engineering, he obtained a PhD from Unical in Environmental, Construction and Energy Sciences and Engineering. His scientific career is characterized by national and international collaborations, including that with the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, and by participation in research projects of national interest (PRIN), accompanied by constant editorial and scientific activity.
«SHIELD was born from the need to overcome some structural limitations of the most widespread monitoring systems today – explains De Maio – and to make the information collected truly usable, even in real time. The integration between physical models and artificial intelligence allows for more reliable and interpretable results, which are fundamental for supporting adaptive and predictive maintenance strategies.”
«The final objective – concludes the researcher – is to contribute to the development of tools capable of identifying structural damage with greater efficiency and sustainability, reducing costs and complexity compared to traditional approaches. This result is the result of teamwork: I thank the Department of Civil Engineering, the Director prof. Fabrizio Greco, also Head of the Materials and Structures Engineering Laboratory, and the entire research group for scientific and human support.”
The Director of the Department of Civil Engineering, Fabrizio Greco, underlines the value of the result: «This funding strengthens a strategic line of research for the Department, which combines the themes of construction science and advanced digital technologies. It is a recognition that rewards the work of the research group, the commitment of the Department and the constant ability of Unical to develop quality research on topics of great relevance for our territory.”