Marco Casini | Università degli Studi "La Sapienza" di Roma (original) (raw)

Books by Marco Casini

Construction 4.0 Advanced Technology, Tools and Materials for the Digital Transformation of the Construction Industry, 2021

At the beginning of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the advent of digitalization, innovative te... more At the beginning of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the advent of digitalization, innovative technologies and materials, and new construction techniques have begun transforming the way that infrastructure, real estate, and other built assets can be designed, constructed, and operated in order to create a more attractive, energy-efficient, comfortable, affordable, safe, and sustainable built environment. Developments in materials and cutting-edge technologies (such as artificial intelligence, robotics, nanotechnology, 3D printing, and biotechnology) have finally started to move the construction towards a new era. Massive changes are occurring as a result of the possibilities created by big data and the Internet of Things, along with the technological advances that are driving down the cost of sensors, data storage, and computer services. Construction 4.0: Advanced Technology, Tools and Materials for the Digital Transformation of the Construction Industry presents a thorough review of developments in materials, emerging trends, cutting-edge technologies, and strategies in the fields of smart building design, construction, and operation, providing the reader with a comprehensive guideline on how to exploit the new possibilities offered by the digital revolution. It will be an essential reference resource for academic researchers, material scientists, and civil engineers, undergraduate and graduate students, and other professionals working in the fields of smart eco-efficient construction and cutting-edge technologies applied to construction.

o parziale con qualsiasi mezzo (compreso i microfilm e le copie fotostatiche) sono riservati per ... more o parziale con qualsiasi mezzo (compreso i microfilm e le copie fotostatiche) sono riservati per tutti i Paesi.

Il volume intende fornire un strumento progettuale aggiornato e dinamico per l'individuazione dei... more Il volume intende fornire un strumento progettuale aggiornato e dinamico per l'individuazione dei modelli funzionali e delle soluzioni
tecniche più innovative ed efficaci nel rispondere a pieno alle nuove
esigenze di qualità edilizia poste dall'Architettura del XXI secolo.
Il testo si divide in due parti. Nella prima parte viene inizialmente affrontato il tema dei requisiti prestazionali richiesti, sia a livello progettuale che a livello costruttivo, all’organismo edilizio. Quindi
sono descritti i modelli funzionali più ricorrenti relativi agli elementi
tecnici del sistema tecnologico degli edifici, illustrandone i criteri di
scelta e le ricadute dal punto di vista tecnico, economico e ambientale.
Da ultimo sono affrontati i contenuti e le modalità di rappre
sentazione dei tre livelli della progettazione, come previsti dal
nuovo codice degli appalti, inquadrando correttamente il percorso
progettuale all’interno del processo edilizio ed evidenziando i possibili
vantaggi derivanti dall'introduzione di strumenti di Building
Information Modelling.
Nella seconda parte, con riferimento ai diversi modelli funzionali illustrati, vengono dapprima descritti in dettaglio i principali strati
funzionali di cui si compongono i diversi elementi costruttivi - elementi
resistenti, materiali isolanti, strati di tenuta, rivestimenti -
fornendo, per ciascuno di essi, le principali caratteristiche tecniche,
i fattori di scelta e gli accorgimenti da seguire per una posa
in opera a regola d’arte. Nel paragrafo successivo vengono quindi
riportate numerose soluzioni tecniche alternative relative alle pareti
perimetrali verticali, alle coperture, ai solai a terra e interpiano e alle
partizioni interne verticali. Il terzo e ultimo paragrafo, dedicato alla
progettazione dei particolari costruttivi, offre un vero e proprio
abaco delle soluzioni tecniche adottabili per la realizzazione dei
modelli funzionali e dei nodi d’intersezione degli elementi tecnici
(angoli, innesti solaio-parete, attacco a terra, soglie e balconi o serramenti) dalla cui corretta realizzazione dipende la qualità finale
dell’opera e le relative prestazioni anche in termini di durabilità e
manutenibilità.

Smart Buildings: Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology to Improve Energy Efficiency and Environme... more Smart Buildings: Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology to Improve Energy Efficiency and Environmental Performance presents a thorough analysis of the latest advancements in construction materials and building design that are applied to maximize building efficiency in both new and existing buildings.

After a brief introduction on the issues concerning the design process in the third millennium, Part One examines the differences between Zero Energy, Green, and Smart Buildings, with particular emphasis placed on the issue of smart buildings and smart housing, mainly the ‘envelope’ and how to make it more adaptive with the new possibilities offered by nanotechnology and smart materials.

Part Two focuses on the last generation of solutions for smart thermal insulation. Based on the results of extensive research into more innovative insulation materials, chapters discuss achievements in nanotechnology, bio-ecological, and phase-change materials. The technical characteristics, performance level, and methods of use for each are described in detail, as are the achievements in the field of green walls and their use as a solution for upgrading the energy efficiency and environmental performance of existing buildings.

Finally, Part Three reviews current research on smart windows, with the assumption that transparent surfaces represent the most critical element in the energy balance of the building. Chapters provide an extensive review on the technical features of transparent closures that are currently on the market or under development, from so-called dynamic glazing to bio-adaptive and photovoltaic glazing. The aesthetic potential and performance limits are also be discussed.

Among the instruments of environmental certification available to the public administrations and ... more Among the instruments of environmental certification available to the public administrations and enterprises, great interest is the Community eco-management and audit scheme - EMAS, governed by EC Regulation of 19 March 2001, n. 761. The voluntary organizations to EMAS, promotes, in fact, a good behavior of all parties involved, both public and private, and is the basis for continuous improvement in environmental performance. By participating in EMAS, the organizations are committed to implementing policies and management systems aimed at continuous improvement of environmental performance through the application, economically acceptable, the best technologies available.
The volume deals with the theme of environmental certification, explaining the origins, evolution, legislative basis, the parties involved. So, it focuses on treating EMAS: the initial environmental review, the approach of the management and conduct of internal audits, the manner of presenting the information through the environmental statement, the activities of system verification and validation of environmental statement, the application for registration to the competent body and the use of the logo. Finally, the text examines the effectiveness of EMAS focusing on the motivations and expectations that drive organizations to join, cost and time required to achieve registration and possible benefits for business and the community.

The book's objective is to reconstruct the origins, content and purpose of sustainable architectu... more The book's objective is to reconstruct the origins, content and purpose of sustainable architecture outlining a "olistic approach" to issues at stake, through which the building process is analyzed in all its aspects: programmatic, regulatory, environmental , architectural, economic and social.
The building design process is, thus, deeply analyzed from the choice of form and orientation, closely linked to the characteristics of the environment, until the settlement of the envelope, demonstrating how it can interact seamlessly with the environmental parameters of site and how different technological solutions available on the market may become effective tools for designing sustainable buildings.
For the different elements that constitute the technological system of the building (opaque closures, transparent enclosures, plants), the text also provides directories of alternative technical solutions, with criteria of qualitative assessment, functional and economic activity in order to allow an optimal choice in relation to the context in which the intervention will be made.
The text also provides a comprehensive description of materials and system solutions, always with a view to highlight how the adoption of unsuitable materials or plant solutions unwary might disturb the delicate balance between building organism and environment.

The volume deals with the theme of building sustainability and energy efficiency of buildings, de... more The volume deals with the theme of building sustainability and energy efficiency of buildings, developing regulatory aspects and applications , as well as their correlations , with the aim of providing guidelines for the design in the current legislative framework.
For each of the environmental areas (sustainability of the site, consumption of resources, indoor environmental quality , environmental loads, energy performance ) are shown issues specific to each of sustainability requirements in the various aspects of the reference standards to be met, the values standard to be taken , the precautions to be taken during design and production to achieve the highest quality building for the purposes of LEED certification and ITACA Protocol.
They are also in-depth all aspects of the performance requirements for the reduction of energy consumption of buildings, interventions for both new construction and in renovation, from winter heating and summer cooling, to renewable energy sources, up to the requirements for the design, installation, maintenance and inspection of heating systems in buildings in the light of the new Decree 74/2013 .
Finally, the text addresses the energy certification of buildings under the new Law 90/2013 transposing Directive 2010/31/EU as regards the various aspects of the field of application, administrative procedures to follow, the determination of performance, and the certificate of energy performance.

Proceedings by Marco Casini

IOP Publishing IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 83 (2017) 012014 , 2017

In view of the enormous social and environmental changes at the global level, more and more citie... more In view of the enormous social and environmental changes at the global level, more and more cities worldwide have directed their development strategies towards smart policies aimed at sustainable mobility, energy upgrading of the building stock, increase of energy production from renewable sources, improvement of waste management and implementation of ICT infrastructures. The goal is to turn into Smart Cities, able to improve the quality of life of their inhabitants by offering a lasting opportunity for cultural, economic and social growth within a healthy, safe, stimulating and dynamic environment. After an overview of the role of cities in climate changes and environmental pollution worldwide, the article provides an up to date definition of Smart City and of its main expected features, focussing on technology innovation, smart governance and main financing and support programs. An analysis of the most interesting initiatives at the international level pursued by cities investigating the three main areas of Green Buildings, Smart grid-Smart lighting, and Smart mobility is given, with the objective to offer a broad reference for the identification of development sustainable plans and programs at the urban level within the current legislative framework.

The article offers an analysis of the use of nanotechnological insulation materials (NIMs) for en... more The article offers an analysis of the use of nanotechnological insulation materials (NIMs) for energy upgrading of buildings, illustrating the possibility of their integration into the building envelope and the benefits achievable in terms of architectural quality, comfort and energy saving, within the new framework of European legislation aimed at achieving
Zero energy buildings. Particular reference is given to Fibre Reinforced Aerogel Blankets for the building envelope, especially interesting for their wide possible applications even combined with phase change materials.

In addition to photovoltaic and wind systems, nowadays in-pipe water to wire power systems are be... more In addition to photovoltaic and wind systems, nowadays in-pipe water to wire power systems are becoming particularly interesting for the integration of renewable resources at urban and building scale because of the potential to harness clean energy from excess head pressure in urban and domestic water pipelines. Able to operate across a wide range of head and flow conditions, these particular micro hydro power systems can be deployed in municipalities, energy-intensive industries and agricultural irrigation districts providing a consistent amount of clean and continuous energy without the typical intermittency of wind and solar and at the same time helping in pipelines management and maintenance. The article presents an overview of the different types of in-pipe hydro systems available on the market and illustrates their possible applications at the urban and building scale and the benefits
achievable in terms of energy production compared to other renewable such as photovoltaic and wind systems.

Proceedings of 7th International Conference on Sustainable Development in Building and Environment SuDBE 2015 (ISBN 978-0-9931207-0-1), Jul 2015

Proceedings of 7th International Conference of SuDBE2015, Reading, UK; 27-29 July, 2015

Journal of Clean Energy Technologies vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 56-65, 2016.

The integration of renewable resources in buildings is a fundamental aspect of the 21st-century a... more The integration of renewable resources in buildings is a fundamental aspect of the 21st-century architecture in order to achieve zero energy buildings (ZEB), reduce the consumption of fossil energy and cut carbon emissions in urban areas. Besides photovoltaic systems, nowadays Vertical Axis Wind Turbines, whose business is growing globally, are becoming particularly interesting because of the potential to produce energy and to be building integrated. These small wind generators (200 W - 10kW) can be used as stand-alone systems or as grid connected systems, and both can be paired with other energy conversion systems, such as photovoltaics. With a height from 2 to 10 meters, small wind turbines can be placed on rooftops, on streets or in gardens, they have relatively little visual impact and are able to produce energy even from modest wind flows. In addition to that, small wind turbines may also be coupled to street lighting systems (smart lighting). The article presents an analysis of the different types of vertical wind turbines available on the market, including investigational products, and illustrates how it is possible to install them on buildings (Building Augmented Wind Turbines) and the benefits achieved in terms of energy production compared to photovoltaic systems.

Among the strategies for improving the energy performance of buildings, in addition to the buildi... more Among the strategies for improving the energy performance of buildings, in addition to the building envelope characteristics and the integration of renewable energy sources, particularly important are those which focus on the efficient management of electrical systems and air conditioning systems, especially for existing buildings. In this scenario, the ongoing revolution of everyday objects wirelessly connected to the network, called the "Internet of Things" (IoT), is creating interesting and unexpected opportunities in reducing energy consumption and improving environmental comfort in buildings.
The article offers an analysis of the state of the art of the Internet of Things applied to the management of buildings, highlighting the functions that can be monitored and controlled and the benefits that can be achieved in terms of comfort and energy savings in the various categories of equipment (mechanical, electrical, plumbing, lighting, etc.).

International Journal Of Civil and Structural Engineering - IJCSE, Volume 2: Issue 1, pp. 230-238, 30 April 2015

The increasing attention to issues of visual comfort and energy efficiency that characterize the ... more The increasing attention to issues of visual comfort and energy efficiency that characterize the architecture of the XXI century led to the development of innovative, high performance dynamic glazing systems, aimed not only at reducing heat loss, but also at controlling incoming solar radiation, in order to maximize solar gain in winter and minimize it in summer, as well as ensuring the best natural lighting conditions with no glare.
Such systems, called smart windows, enable varying the amount of heat (SHGC) and light (VLT) that penetrate through the glass surfaces as needed, while maintaining outwards vision. These new dynamic windows, the electrochromic ones in particular, are proving to be more effective than traditional static systems - lowe selective glazing and automatic shading devices - at reducing energy consumption for lighting and air conditioning and providing greater comfort to users.
The article offers an analysis of the different types of dynamic glazing on the market, with both passive and active control, illustrating their potential uses and the benefits achieved in terms of energy efficiency, environmental comfort, and architectural quality in both new constructions and in existing buildings requalification.

International Journal of Civil and Structural Engineering - IJCSE, Volume 1: Issue 3, pp. 88-97, 30 September, 2014

As energy-efficiency standards for buildings become increasingly stringent, using a traditional i... more As energy-efficiency standards for buildings become increasingly stringent, using a traditional insulation material often means having to accept increasingly thick layers of insulation in walls, floors, and roofs. In renovation projects, even if it is possible to increase insulation thickness at all, significant aesthetic and functional compromises are often required to fit more insulation on the inside or outside of the building envelope. The article offers an analysis of the use of nanotechnological insulation materials and innovative phase change materials (PCM) in renovation of buildings, illustrating the possibility of integration into the envelope and the benefits achievable in terms of architectural quality, comfort and energy saving, with particular reference to the historic buildings subjected to architectural constraints.

Papers by Marco Casini

Energies

The operation and maintenance (O&M) of buildings and infrastructure represent a strategic activit... more The operation and maintenance (O&M) of buildings and infrastructure represent a strategic activity to ensure they perform as expected over time and to reduce energy consumption and maintenance costs at the urban and building scale. With the increasing diffusion of BIM, IoT devices, and AI, the future of O&M is represented by digital twin technology. To effectively take advantage of this digital revolution, thus enabling data-driven energy control, proactive maintenance, and predictive daily operations, it is vital that smart building management exploits the opportunities offered by the extended reality (XR) technologies. Nevertheless, in consideration of the novelty of XR in the AECO sector and its rapid and ongoing evolution, knowledge of the specific possibilities and the methods of integration into the building process workflow is still piecemeal and sparse. With the goal to bridge this gap, the article presents a thorough review of virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), a...

Ponte, 2012

La Città dello sport nasce con il duplice obiettivo di dotare il campus universitario di Tor Verg... more La Città dello sport nasce con il duplice obiettivo di dotare il campus universitario di Tor Vergata di strutture sportive multidisciplinari, rendendolo competitivo a livello internazionale, e di assicurare alla città di Roma impianti per prestazioni di livello mondiale in discipline sportive fondamentali come il nuoto, il basket e la pallavolo. Il progettista Santiago Calatrava ha affrontato magistralmente la complessità del tema disegnando un masterplan in grado di integrare il nuovo complesso sportivo con le strutture universitarie e progettando una straordinaria cupola contemporanea capace di dialogare con le cupole storiche che caratterizzano lo skyline della capitale. L’articolo contiene un’intervista all’architetto Santiago Calatrava

Construction 4.0 Advanced Technology, Tools and Materials for the Digital Transformation of the Construction Industry, 2021

IOP Publishing IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 83 (2017) 012014 , 2017

Proceedings of 7th International Conference on Sustainable Development in Building and Environment SuDBE 2015 (ISBN 978-0-9931207-0-1), Jul 2015

Proceedings of 7th International Conference of SuDBE2015, Reading, UK; 27-29 July, 2015

Journal of Clean Energy Technologies vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 56-65, 2016.

International Journal Of Civil and Structural Engineering - IJCSE, Volume 2: Issue 1, pp. 230-238, 30 April 2015

International Journal of Civil and Structural Engineering - IJCSE, Volume 1: Issue 3, pp. 88-97, 30 September, 2014

Energies

Ponte, 2012

Smart Buildings, 2016

This chapter focuses on the role of glazing in light and solar radiation control to achieve the m... more This chapter focuses on the role of glazing in light and solar radiation control to achieve the maximum daylight and energy efficiency levels by avoiding summer overheating and exploiting winter solar gain. Innovative solutions for enhancing and controlling visible light are shown, including self-cleaning glass, antireflective glazing, and light redirection and optical systems. The main solutions for solar control are summarized, including advanced shading systems and static solar protection glazing, describing the main types of selective glazing available on the market and their performance and specifications.

International Journal of Smart Grid and Clean Energy, 2015

AIP Conference Proceedings, 2016

The article offers an analysis of the use of nanotechnological insulation materials (NIMs) for en... more The article offers an analysis of the use of nanotechnological insulation materials (NIMs) for energy upgrading of buildings, illustrating the possibility of their integration into the building envelope and the benefits achievable in terms of architectural quality, comfort and energy saving, within the new framework of European legislation aimed at achieving Zero energy buildings. Particular reference is given to Fibre Reinforced Aerogel Blankets for the building envelope, especially interesting for their wide possible applications even combined with phase change materials.

Renewable Energy

Abstract The city of Dubai (UAE), in accordance with its program of transformation into one of th... more Abstract The city of Dubai (UAE), in accordance with its program of transformation into one of the most smart and sustainable cities, hosted the 2018 edition of Solar Decathlon, the first in the Middle East (SDME 2018). The harsh climate of UAE, along with the booming construction industry and energy consumptions and CO2 emissions among the world’s highest, tasked participating university teams to find innovative solutions able to drive the region building sector towards a more sustainable future. Sapienza University of Rome participated, representing Italy, to SDME 2018 with the project ReStart4Smart, a full scale prototype of a single family energy positive smart home specifically designed for the Middle East climate and fully consistent with the Arab culture. This article examines the ReStart4Smart project in terms of energy strategies, architectural concept and technological solutions adopted, in order to verify, through a detailed analysis of energy simulations and monitoring carried out on the prototype built in Dubai, the expected performance levels. Results achieved demonstrate how the Restart4 Smart project represents, consistently with the Arab tradition, a valid proposal for zero-energy intelligent housing, perfectly responsive to the social demand emerging from the populations of the Middle East.

IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science

Smart Buildings, 2016

This chapter focuses on the most innovative solutions to improve thermal transmittance of glazing... more This chapter focuses on the most innovative solutions to improve thermal transmittance of glazing, such as double and triple glazing, noble gas fillings, low-emission coatings, suspended film glazing, vacuum insulating glass, monolithic aerogel, heating glazing, and glazed double-skin facades. It gives an outline of different advanced insulating glazing options available on the market, and their main characteristics and performance. Lastly, an in-depth outline of ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) use for transparent closures is provided.

Smart Buildings, 2016

This chapter focuses on the role of glass surfaces as an energy-generating component. Most advanc... more This chapter focuses on the role of glass surfaces as an energy-generating component. Most advanced solutions to integrate photovoltaics (PVs) into transparent surfaces are illustrated. Particular attention is paid to inorganic and organic semitransparent PV thin films (organic PV and dye-sensitized solar cells), illustrating operation, performance, and feasibility for building applications. Emerging technologies such as spherical cell PV glazing, prismatic optical cells PV glazing, and transparent luminous solar collectors are also described. Lastly, innovative bioadaptive facades implemented with algae bioreactors are introduced, with their operation, performance, and energy yield.

Journal of Clean Energy Technologies, 2015

The integration of renewable resources in buildings is a fundamental aspect of the 21st-century a... more The integration of renewable resources in buildings is a fundamental aspect of the 21st-century architecture in order to achieve zero energy buildings (ZEB), reduce the consumption of fossil energy and cut carbon emissions in urban areas. Besides photovoltaic systems, nowadays Vertical Axis Wind Turbines, whose business is growing globally, are becoming particularly interesting because of the potential to produce energy and to be building integrated. These small wind generators (200 W-10kW) can be used as stand-alone systems or as grid connected systems, and both can be paired with other energy conversion systems, such as photovoltaics. With a height from 2 to 10 meters, small wind turbines can be placed on rooftops, on streets or in gardens, they have relatively little visual impact and are able to produce energy even from modest wind flows. In addition to that, small wind turbines may also be coupled to street lighting systems (smart lighting). The article presents an analysis of the different types of vertical wind turbines available on the market, including investigational products, and illustrates how it is possible to install them on buildings (Building Augmented Wind Turbines) and the benefits achieved in terms of energy production compared to photovoltaic systems. Index Terms-Energy efficiency of buildings, renewable energy, small wind turbines, building integrated wind turbines, building augmented wind turbines, vertical axis wind turbines.

Renewable Energy, Apr 1, 2018

The objective of answering the growing demand of environmental comfort and the urgent need to imp... more The objective of answering the growing demand of environmental comfort and the urgent need to improve energy efficiency of new and existing buildings, are determining an in-depth review of the features and requirements of the building transparent closures towards technological solutions that can guarantee along with a maximum thermal insulation, the possibility to regulate the incoming solar radiation or generate electrical energy.

Thanks to the huge progress in the field of materials science, a new class of highly innovative glazing systems is entering the market mostly by taking advantage of key enabling technologies such as nanomaterials or smart materials.

Among these new technologies, active dynamic glazing, by modulating the amount of entering near infrared radiation and visible light, allows significant energy savings, as well as ensuring greater thermal and visual comfort for occupants.

The article offers a thorough review of active dynamic glazing technologies on the market or in development, such as electrochromics, gasochromics, and further emerging technologies, including nanocrystal in-glass composites, electrokinetic pixels, elastomer-deformation tunable window, and liquid infill tunable window, comparing them in terms of operation, performances and building application potential, and providing relevant data to aid in understanding impacts on energy-efficiency and comfort.