Preliminary Conference Programme
IEEE IHTC 2024
The Scientific and Program Committees and all panel organisers are delighted to announce the preliminary programme for IHTC 2024.
Please be aware that changes to the programme might occur.
Wednesday November 27, 2024
8:30 – Registration opening
9:00 – 10:30 – Aula Magna Attilio Alto
Welcome statements
- Francesco Cupertino, Magnifico Rettore Politecnico di Bari;
- Vincenzo Piuri, IEEE Region 8 Director (remote);
- Tiziana Tambosso, IEEE Region 8 Conference Coordination Committee Chair;
- Gianfranco Chicco, IEEE Italy Section Chair;
- Gianna Elisa Berlingerio, Director of the Economic Development Department, Apulia Region
- Massimo La Scala, IHTC 2024 General Chair.
10:30 – 11:00 Coffee Break
11:00 – 12:00 – Aula Magna Attilio Alto
Plenary speeches
- Stefano Besseghini, President of ARERA Italian Energy Regulator (remote): “Energy poverty: subtle to define, difficult to contrast”.
- Lwanga Herbert, Chair-IEEE Humanitarian Technologies Board (confirmed): “Engineering a better world for all”.
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch break
13:00 – 15:30 – Aula Magna Attilio Alto
Future Environmental & Humanitarian Challenges
Chair: Massimo La Scala, Politecnico di Bari, IEEE IHTC 2024 General Chair
- Diego Gonzalez Ferreiro, Chief, Solutions and Support Unit and UN Maps Product Manager at the United Nations Global Service Centre – Kais Zouabi, Service for Geospatial, Information and Telecommunications Technologies at the United Nations Global Service Centre (confirmed): “Innovative technologies in support of UN operation”.
- Soichiro Yasukawa, Chief of the Disaster Risk Reduction Unit – UNESCO Natural Science Sector (confirmed): “UNESCO’s Scientific Actions to the Global Challenges”.
- Valeria Termini, CNEL (National Council of Economy and Occupation – CNEL) (confirmed): “Innovation and policies for Climate justice“.
- Paul Cunningham, IEEE R8 Climate Change Committee Chair (confirmed): “Enabling Technological Innovation Addressing Environmental and Humanitarian Challenges”.
- René Garello, Chair of the Ocean Best Practices Systems (OBPS) – UNESCO/IOC/IODE, IEEE President of Oceanographic Society, President of the IEEE France Section (confirmed): “Ocean Sustainability and the Impact on Humanity”.
- Semida Silveira, Professor Cornell University, CEET UN Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition (confirmed, remote): “Humanitarian technologies to build climate resilience”.
- Brendan Reidenbach, International Energy Agency (confirmed); “From ambition to action – The need for accelerating global people centred energy efficiency policy implementation“
- Round of Q&A
15:30 – 16:00 Coffee break
16:00 – 16:30 – Aula Magna Attilio Alto
Keynote Speech
Magdalena Salazar Palma – Honorary Emeritus Professor at Carlos III University of Madrid, Spain
IEEE Humanitarian Technologies Board: Partnering for Impact
16:30 – 18:00 – Aula Magna Attilio Alto
Workshop on Expressing your Humanitarian Passion through IEEE Smart Village
Facilitator: Abdullateef Aliyu
16:00 – 18:00
Technical Sessions
Thursday November 28, 2024
8:30 – 9:30 – Room #7
HTB Panel: Engineering with purpose: The New Humanitarian Technologies Approach
Moderator: Theodoros Chatzinikolaou, Chair of the IEEE Region 8 Humanitarian Technology Activities Committee
- Lwanga Herbert, 2024 HTB Chair
- Grace Burleson, University of Colorado Boulder
- Stephanie Gillespie, Chair of EPICS in IEEE
- Mariela Machado Fantacchiotti, IEEE Humanitarian Technologies Senior Director
9:30 – 10:30 – PART I – 11:30 – 13:00 – PART II – Room #7
IEEE R8 Climate Challenge: AI in Enhanced Weather Forecasting
MODERATOR: Neemat Abdelrahim, IEEE Region 8 Humanitarian Technology Activities, Saudi Arabia
9:30 – 9:50 – Vinko Lesic, IEEE Region 8 Vice Chair of Member Activities and Mariela Machado Fantacchiotti (virtual), Senior Director at IEEE Humanitarian Technologies Board
IEEE Region 8 Climate Challenges
09:50 – 10:20 – Sneha Satish Hegde, École Centrale Lyon, France
Post-COP29 Reflections: Leveraging Technology in the Climate and Energy Transition
10:20 – 10:30 – Sifa Kinoti (virtual), Octavia Carbon, Nairobi, Kenya
Data Challenges and Solutions in Enhanced Weather Forecasting
Coffee break
11:00 – 11:20 – Hrvoje Novak, University of Zagreb Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, Croatia
AI-enhanced Short-term Weather Forecasts for Decision-making
11:20 – 11:30 – Hoda El-Safty (virtual), Cairo University, Egypt
A Novel Machine Learning Framework for Wave Height Forecast: Jamaica Bay, New York
11:30 – 12:00 – Ali Hessami (virtual), Chair & Technical Editor of IEEE 7000 Standard, Vice Chair and Process Architect at IEEE Ethics Certification Program for Autonomous and Intelligent Systems, Director of R&D and Innovation at Vega Systems
Ethical & Societal Implications of AI in Climate
12:00 – 12:20 – Samer Murrar (virtual), Faculty of Information Technology, Applied Science Private University in Amman, Jordan
Challenge 1st place – Visionaries Team: “Support Vector Regression in Weather Forecasting: Insights from Three Environmental Case Studies”
12:20 – 12:40 – Michael Nawar (virtual), Cairo University, Egypt
Challenge 2nd place – Team CUFE: “Forecasting Location-Specific Weather Parameters: Leveraging Insights from Large-Scale Models using Simple Approaches”
10:30 – 11:00 Coffee break
11:00 – 13:00 – Aula Magna Attilio Alto
Energy Regulation in Europe, Africa and Middle East
Chaired by Alberto Biancardi
- Alberto Biancardi, International Relations at Gestore dei Servizi Energetici – GSE Spa (The Italian Energy Services Agency) (confirmed).
- Houda Ben Jannet Allal, Organisation Méditerraéenne de l’Energie e du Climat (confirmed)
- Matteo Urbani, Organisation Méditerraéenne de l’Energie e du Climat (confirmed)
- Hasan Ozkoc, MEDREG (confirmed)
- Gianluca Sambucini, UNECE (remote – confirmed)
- Branislav Prelevic, Energy Regulatory Agency of Montenegro (confirmed)
- Petrit Ahmeti, Albanian Energy Regulatory Authority (confirmed)
- Elton B. Radheshi, Albanian Energy Regulatory Authority (confirmed)
- Salvio Lanza, Balkan Energy School (BES) (confirmed)
- Roberto Vigotti, Iarina Ciceu, RES4Africa (remote – confirmed)
- Round of Q&A.
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch break
14:00 – 17:00 – Aula Magna Attilio Alto
Research & Industry for the Energy Transition
Chair: Massimo La Scala, Politecnico di Bari, IEEE IHTC 2024 General Chair
- Marcello Capra, SETPLAN – Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (confirmed): “From lab to market: How to accelerate the development and manufacturing of innovative technologies”
- Gianmaria Sannino, Divisione Modelli, Osservazioni e Scenari per il Cambiamento Climatico e la Qualità dell’Aria, ENEA (confirmed): “Future Climate Scenarios for the Euro-Mediterranean Region: Insights from ENEA and Med-CORDEX Projections“
- Vincenzo Ranieri, Giuseppe Santino, e-distribuzione S.p.A. (confirmed): “Enabling the Clean and Industrial Transition: E-Distribuzione’s Approach to Resilient Energy Infrastructure”
- Francesco Del Pizzo, Executive Vice President for Grid Development Strategies and Dispatching at the Terna Group (confirmed): “Challenges of modern Transmission System Operators for the energy transition”
- Francesca Portincasa, Acquedotto Pugliese (AQP) (confirmed): “Empowering the Energy-Water nexus: research partnerships for a greener tomorrow”
- Franco Cotana, CEO Ricerca Sistema Energetico (RSE) (confirmed): “RSE-MIMIT Agreement: technology transfer and intellectual property protection in the energy sector”
- Round of Q&A.
14:00 – 16:00 – Room #5
IEEE R8 Industry Workshop on Connecting the Unconnected
- Mohammad Galal Khafagy and Nihel Ben Youssef, Chairs, IEEE Region 8 Action for Industry
Welcome Note - Mohamed Slim Alouini, IEEE Fellow, Professor of Wireless Communications KAUST UNESCO Chair on Connecting the Unconnected: “UNESCO Initiatives”. (remote)
Keynote Speech: Towards Connecting the Remaining Unconnected - Gabriele Elia, Head of Standard and IPR function at TIM – Telecom Italia
Industry Talk: 5G Satellite Integration: Development and Trends
Panel Discussion on Connecting the Next Billion
Moderator: Nihel Ben Youssef
- Gabriele Elia, 5G Satellite Integration: Development and Trends, Head of Technology, Communication, and Standards – TIM
- Mohamed Amin, Digital Transformation Ladder for Developing Economies, Head of Smart Cities, MEA – Nokia
- John Matogo, Role of Industry Corporate Social Responsibility & Voice of Africa, Past Chair, IEEE Region 8 Action for Industry IBM CSR Leader, Middle East and Africa
- Paolo Volpato (IEEE EPPC)
- Mohamed Slim Alouini, UNESCO Initiatives, IEEE Fellow, Distinguished Professor of Wireless Communications KAUST UNESCO Chair on Connecting the Unconnected, (remote)
- Q&A
14:00 – 15:30 – Room #7
Workshop on Innovative Solutions from Scrap: Developing Technology Blueprints for Crisis Response Using Commonly Available Materials
Facilitator: Almedin Kavaz, Chair, IEEE Region 8 TIC Ad-hoc
15:30 – 17:00 – Room #7
IEEE R8 Climate Challenge: Disaster-Resilient Communication
Chaired by Abdullateef Aliyu, Vice Chair of Student Activities, IEEE Region 8
17:00 – 17:30 Coffee break
17:30 – 19:30 – Room #7
IEEE R8 Humanitarian Activities: Workshop on SIGHT Groups Activities, Operations and Management
Facilitators: George Papadimitriou, Omar Salameh.
Speakers: Mariela Machado Fantacchiotti, Lwanga Herbert, Theodoros Chatzinikolaou
17:30 – 19:30
Technical sessions
21:00 – 23:30 Gala dinner
Friday November 29, 2024
9:00 – 11:00 – Aula Magna Domus Sapientiae
Panel on: Water and energy between efficiency and climate change challenges
Sponsored and organized by Acquedotto Pugliese S.p.A.
- Gianfredi Mazzolani, Director of Research, Development and International Activities: “The international activities of Acquedotto Pugliese”
- Luciano Venditti, Head of Water Planning and Balance: “Study of the impacts of climate change on the water availability of reservoirs serving Acquedotto Pugliese”
- Nicola Sicolo, Head of Operation of the Water Transmission: “The management of complex water systems under water scarcity”
- Giuseppe Rizzi, Energy Manager: “Water and energy between efficiency and sustainability”
- Nicola Tselikas, Head of Wastewater Treatment: “The experience of Acquedotto Pugliese in managing municipal wastewater treatment plants and refining plants for irrigation reuse”
- Antonio Iliceto, Senior expert on energy transition and innovation in power systems: “Challenges and opportunities across power system and water sector: a grid operators’ perspective”
9:00 – 11:00 – Aula Magna Attilio Alto
Panel: Energy Poverty, Renewable Energy Communities, and Emerging Models of Energy Access
Panel Coordinator: Energy Systems Development Department, Ricerca sul Sistema Energetico, Milan
Chair: Debora Cilio, Ricerca sul Sistema Energetico, Milan
- Federico Aleotti – Ricerca sul Sistema Energetico, Milan – Common Challenges in Electrification and Energy Transition
- Gabriella De Maio – University of Naples Federico II – Energy Poverty and Renewable Energy Communities: Challenges and Opportunities for a Just Transition
- Ivano Scotti – University of Naples Federico II – Energy Poverty and Energy Prosumerism in Europe and Africa: Some Insights
- Alessandra Motz – Institute for Economic Research (IRE) – Renewable Energy Communities as a tool for social acceptance: what is working and what is not?
- Nicola Sorrentino – University of Calabria – Introducing the next generation of managers to support social issues in sustainable investments through renewable energy communities
- Carlo Tacconelli – EnGreen – Energy communities and mini-grids for developed and emerging markets: benefits and challenges of local energy sharing models
- Fabio Armanasco – Kairoscope – Renewable Energy Community: tools and opportunities for a sustainable transition
- Ugo Bardi – University of Florence – A new prosperity for world peace: the role of models in quantifying the impact of the renewable energy transition. The approach of the Club of Rome from “The Limits to Growth” (1972) to “Earth for All” (2022)
9:00 – 11:00 – Room #7
IEEE R8 Humanitarian Activities Congress: Ignite Session on SIGHT Group Stories to Inspire and Get Inspired
Moderators: George Papadimitriou, Omar Salameh.
Speakers: 12 SIGHT groups
9:00 – 11:00
Technical sessions
11:00 – 11:30 Coffee break
11:30 – 12:30 – Room #7
HTB Panel: The future of Humanitarian Technologies
Moderator: Grace Burleson, University of Colorado Boulder
- Lwanga Herbert, 2024 HTB Chair
- Mariela Machado Fantacchiotti, IEEE Humanitarian Technologies Senior Director
- Clara Neppel, Senior Director, IEEE European Business Operations
- Vincenzo Piuri, Full Professor in computer engineering at the Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy and the 2023 – 2024 IEEE Region 8 Director
11:30 – 13:00 – Aula Magna Attilio Alto
Panel on the Nexus of Energy and Water in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) with a Focus on Socio-economic Dynamics
Chairs: Alberto Biancardi – Alessandro Rubino
- Paola Casati, Università degli studi Aldo Moro di Bari and Joint Research Centre, European Commission
Strategic Planning for Water and Energy Interventions to Boost Socioeconomic Development: A Spatial Analysis in Uganda - Vito Amendolagine – Università degli Studi di Foggia
Green FDI and Technological Spillovers in Host economies - Gabriel Malima, (University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania)
Enclaved or linked? Examining local linkage development in the Tanzanian off-grid solar market - Daniela Anghileri, Joint Research Centre, European Commission
Analysis of WEFE nexus around small reservoirs in Burkina Faso using remote sensing data - Sandor Szabo, Joint Research Centre
European Commission: Using Water & Energy data of the JRC African Knowledge Platform for social infrastructure projects - Daniele Guzzo – RES4Africa Foundation
Financing the Water, Energy and Food Nexus – A Comprehensive review of Financing Mechanisms for the WEF Nexus
11:30 – 13:00 – Aula Magna Domus Sapientiae
Panel / special session on: Strengthening the Resilience of the Power System Against Natural Disasters
Moderator / Chairs: Nikos Hatziargyriou, National Technical University of Athens, Greece
Speakers
- Emanuele Ciapessoni, Ricerca sul Sistema Energetico – RSE S.p.A. Italy, “Planning for resilience of transmission grid”
- Andrea Mazza, Politecnico di Torino, Italy, “Some hints about the heat wave effects on urban distribution system”
Paper Presentation
- Michele De Nigris, Ricerca sul Sistema Elettrico – RSE S.p.A., Italy
- Andrea Abbate, Leonardo Mancusi, Michele De Nigris – Heavy Rainfall, Debris Flow Hazard and Powerline Vulnerability: The Case Study of Talamona Event
Remote Participation
- Mathaios Panteli, University of Cyprus, “Machine Learning Applications in Power Systems Resilience”
- Goran Strbac, Imperial College London. “Smart Control of Multi-Energy Microgrids for Resilience Enhancement”
- Rodrigo Moreno, University of Chile
- Pierluigi Mancarella, University of Melbourne, “Power system resilience: economic and regulatory challenges”.
11:30 – 13:00
Competitions
Best PhD Student Competition
Best HT Entrepreneurship Idea – demo&poster Competition
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch break
14:00 – 16:00 – Aula Magna Attilio Alto
WiE in Humanitarian Technology Track
- Welcome
- WIE Region 8 presentation
- WIE AG Italy section presentation
- Tune Award presentation
- Panel discussion: Humanitarian Efforts Empowering Women through Technology
- Q&A
14:00 – 16:00 – Room #7
IEEE R8 Humanitarian Activities Congress: Ignite Session on Humanitarian Project Opportunities and Successfully Implemented Projects
Moderators: George Papadimitriou, Miriam Cunningham.
Speakers: Lwanga Herbert, Abdullateef Aliyu, Stephanie Gillespie, and 3 projects
14:00 – 16:00
Technical sessions
16:00 – 16:30 Coffee break
16:30 – 17:30 – Aula Magna Attilio Alto
Panel on Empowering Africa through Industrial certified Electricity Education
Chair: Tom Murad, President IEEE Canada – Region 7 Director
Speaker list
- Tom Murad, President IEEE Canada- Region 7 Director
- Nader Imani, Executive Vice President Global Education Festo Didactic SE
- Antonio Iliceto, Senior expert on energy transition and innovation in power systems
Education: CIGRE Academy: a new initiative for spreading CIGRE knowledge base in Africa and developing countries
16:30 – 18:30 – Room #7
IEEE R8 Humanitarian Activities Congress: Workshop on Humanitarian Projects Planning and Execution
Facilitators: George Papadimitriou, Miriam Cunningham.
16:30 – 18:30
Technical sessions
Saturday November 30, 2024
8:30 – 10:30
Technical sessions
9:00 – 10:00 – Aula Magna Attilio Alto
Panel on the Role of Academia and Industry on Solving Community Challenges
Chair: Lucija Brezočnik, Committee Member IEEE R8 EPICS
- Stephanie Gillespie, Chair of EPICS in IEEE
- Samarth Deo, Chair of IEEE Region 8 Ad-Hoc on Engineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS)
- Kai Goodall, Committee Member, EPICS in IEEE
- Elizabeth Enriqueta Vidal Duarte, EPICS in IEEE Project Lead