SPECIAL SESSION #12

Giuseppe Alì

Department of Physics, University of Calabria, Italy

• giuseppe.ali@unical.it

Angela Ricciardello

Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Enna Kore (UKE)

• angela.ricciardello@unikore.it

Marianna Ruggieri

Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Enna Kore (UKE)

• marianna.ruggieri@unikore.it

Carmelo Scuro

Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Enna Kore (UKE)

• carmelo.scuro@unikore.it

This Special Session aims to establish a robust platform for the academic community to present and critically discuss the forefront of Mathematical Physics applied to Urban Dynamics, Environmental Risk, and Ecosystem Resilience, intentionally moving beyond conventional statistical analysis toward the rigorous development and practical implementation of advanced mathematical models and sophisticated computational methods necessary for the dynamic characterization of anthropogenic and natural pressures, early risk detection, and predictive scenario generation. Placing a strong emphasis on the formal mathematical structure underpinning complex territorial phenomena, contributions are highly encouraged that address the definition and development of mathematical models, specifically exploring the use of Partial Differential Equations (PDEs) to govern wildfire propagation ensuring a realistic representation of combustion thermodynamics, differential equations applied to biodiversity degradation analysis modeling complex ecological dynamics, and fluid-dynamic or kinetic models for traffic flow and urban mobility. Simultaneously, the session targets the implementation of models for impact analysis, welcoming mathematical frameworks dedicated to quantifying tourist pressure and its carrying capacity on ecosystems by integrating environmental variables with socio-economic indicators to assess holistic stress. Furthermore, addressing the critical need for model validation and refinement, we solicit submissions detailing multi-scale simulations and rigorous validation against real-world datasets to increase the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of the proposed models, alongside methodologies for Uncertainty Quantification (UQ) and parameter identification using Bayesian methods or stochastic processes. Ultimately, the session seeks to bridge the gap between theoretical rigor and engineering solutions through the integration of validated mathematical models into Decision Support Systems (DSS), with the goal of generating predictive scenarios that support policymakers in real-time by leveraging the synergy between theoretical physics, Data Science, and AI.

Giuseppe Alì assistant Professor in mathematical physics at the Department of Physics of UNICAL. PhD in Applied mathematics. His research interests cover coupled problems in applied mathematics (theoretical and numerical study of partial-differential-algebraic equations), hyperbolic problems in applied mathematics (modeling of semiconductor devices, fluid dynamics and magnetohydrodynamics, general relativity, hydrodynamic models for plasmas), Turing instability and pattern formation in reaction-diffusion systems, and Model Order Reduction (MOR), with an increasing interest in the numerical aspects related to the mathematical models under study. From 1997 to 2007, he was Researcher at IAC-CNR in Naples (Senior Researcher from 2003). From 2007 to 2011, he was Researcher at UNICAL.

Angela Ricciardello is Associate Professor of Mathematical Physics at the Department of Engineering and Architecture of the University of Enna Kore. She got the Ph-Doctor’s Degree with a dissertation entitled “Finite Element Method for Seismological Applications”, selected for PhD Thesis Award at Development of Applied Mathematics in Italy 2011 organized by INdAM-SIMAI and for PhD Thesis Award at The 5th EuroSys Doctoral Workshop (EuroDW 2011) organized by Cambridge University. In her academic training she took part in several research projects and, in particular, she is Associated Investigator and Substitute Principal Investigator of the funded PRIN Project ‘MOVING StEPS - MOVING from Street Experiments to adaptive Planned Solutions’ (2022). Her research activity focuses on mathematical modeling, analysis and implementation of optimization algorithms applied to several fields, such as: study of seismic wave propagation in heterogeneous media and seismic hazard mitigation; Dynamical model of unmanned aerial vehicle and optimization techniques; Hyperbolic differential equations. She presented her researches at several national and international congresses. She is author of 47 indexed peerreviewed publications.

Marianna Ruggieri is a Full Professor of Mathematical Physics at the University of Enna KORE. Her scientific interests include Group Classification Problems, Extended Thermodynamics Problems, Wave Propagation Problems, Study of Partial and Fractional Differential Equations with particular reference to their applications in engineering and biomathematics.
Throughout her career, she has been actively involved in organizing and participating in various international conferences and scientific meetings. As a visiting professor, she has visited important international institutions. She is currently a member of several prestigious scientific societies, including the Italian Mathematical Union (UMI), the Italian Society of Applied and Industrial Mathematics (SIMAI) and the GNFM (National Group of Mathematical Physics) of the National Institute of Higher Mathematics "Francesco Severi". She has also been the Principal Investigator of several scientific projects.
Additionally, she has held various academic roles at the University of Enna KORE. She is also part of the register of the disciplinary experts of the ITALIAN NATIONAL AGENCY FOR THE EVALUATION OF UNIVERSITIES AND RESEARCH INSTITUTES (ANVUR).

Carmelo Scuro is a tenure-track researcher (RTT) in Mathematical Physics at the University of Enna "Kore," affiliated with the Department of Engineering and Architecture. He has long-standing collaborations with the Departments of Physics, Civil Engineering, and Computer Engineering, Modeling, Electronics, and Systems at the University of Calabria and is also affiliated with the CNR-NANOTEC in Rende.
He obtained his master’s degree in Engineering and Architecture and his Ph.D. in "Science and Engineering of the Environment, Construction, and Energy" at the University of Calabria, Rende, Italy, in 2012 and 2017, respectively.
He has authored and co-authored over 80 papers published in international journals and conference proceedings, as well as several book chapters indexed in Scopus and beyond. He serves as a reviewer for international scientific journals. His current research interests include fracture analysis in brittle materials using acoustic emissions, monitoring systems based on the IoT paradigm, numerical analysis, Genetic Algorithms, FEM analysis, Mathematical Modeling, PDEs, and Mathematical Physics.
In 2024, he received the “Best Reviewer Award” from the President of IMEKO (International Measurement Confederation), Dr.-Ing. Prof. h. c. Frank Härtig, for his contributions to the international journal Acta IMEKO in the field of Mathematical Physics.