SpringerBriefs in Applied Sciences and Technology

This book describes the impact of Era 4.0 on the agricultural sector worldwide. It highlights the relationships between agriculture, food and industry (4.0). The main topics discussed are those associated with IoT in various sectors of the economy and its impact on farming sustainability. this book provides insights for policy makers, students, researchers and economic stakeholders.

This book explores the topic of proximity and its relations in the design of contemporary urban fabrics and public spaces. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and reflections on the future of cities have lately shed light on the concept of proximity, which is intended as the relationship between communities and urban functions and as relations among people, built spaces, and open spaces. The proximity is a historic and fertile field of interest for American and Northern European urban studies; it is a spatial and social program seemingly surpassed by the styles and rhythms of contemporary city life, but today it is back in vogue with different purposes. Meanwhile, the action research developed by the Department of Architecture and Urban Studies at the Politecnico di Milano for the Municipality of Milan reached its conclusion (2018–2020). The research work focused on contextualizing the new M4 Metro line stations under construction, and jointed mobility flows and places, long-rangenetworks and local ones, boosting the idea of metro stations as regenerative urban thresholds and urban platforms for enabling environmental, sustainable settlement, and active mobility systems. In other words, the action research for Milan shows how to achieve the concept of proximity in the urban design practice in a dense, stratified, and complex urban context.

This book presents a design research on the basalt fiber, a natural mineral material with important characteristics, and investigates the material's properties, production techniques, and most common uses, while also delving into aspects yet to be improved. The work presents a part of original research in between art and design, in which concepts, prototypes, and ideas are proposed, aimed at the enhancement of basalt fiber also from an esthetic point of view and not only from a performance one. By working on its perceived qualities and creative and formal potential, it is possible to support and extend the use of this material in many areas of design, including product, exhibit, cultural industries, and fashion. Considering that environmental regulations are increasingly stringent, the use of basalt fiber may in some cases be more advantageous than other popular technical fibers, both because of its own performance characteristics and specifically because of its inherent sustainability.

This book evaluates a new potential game-change technology where burning a compound known as “thermite” is used to melt the casing, cement and rock forming an impermeable plug within the wellbore. A review on current and emerging technologies is presented.

The development of analytical, numerical and experimental tools is documented in separate sections of the book, showing results and discussing the potential for this new technology and its role on the ongoing energy transition process worldwide.

This open access book examines how the adoption of Design Thinking (DT) can support public organisations in overcoming some of the current barriers in e-participation. Scholars have discussed the adoption of technology to strengthen public engagement through e-participation, streamline and enhance the relationship between government and society, and improve accessibility and effectiveness. However, barriers persist, necessitating further research in this area. By analysing e-participation barriers emerging from the literature and aligning them with notions in the DT literature, this book identifies five core DT practices to enhance e-participation: (i) Meaning creation and sense-making, (ii) Publics formation, (iii) Co-production, (iv) Experimentation and prototyping, and (v) Changing organisational culture. As a result, this book provides insights into enhancing tech-aided public engagement and promoting inclusivity for translating citizen input into tangible service implementations. The book triangulates qualitative analysis of relevant literature in the fields of e-participation and DT with knowledge from European projects experimenting with public participation activities implying experimentation with digital tools. This research aims to bridge the gap between theoretical frameworks and practical application, ultimately contributing to more effective e-participation and digital public services.

The book is a comprehensive exploration of hydrothermal carbonization (HTC), addressing key aspects from its definition and historical relevance to its practical applications and environmental considerations. 

Throughout its sections, the reader will gain an understanding of the fundamental principles of HTC, including the chemical reactions involved and the catalysts used. In addition, the book provides a comprehensive overview of the various types of waste that can be utilized in the process, from organic sources to industrial and municipal solid wastes. Highlighting the importance in various industries and research areas, case studies illustrating successful applications are presented. A practical perspective is also provided, including exercises for students, exploring laboratory techniques and experiments related to hydrocarbonization. 

In addition, its focus on research and innovation, addressing current trends and emerging technologies, positions this book as a valuable source for students, researchers, and professionals interested in exploring and developing this field with an emphasis on its potential impact on energy, the environment, and sustainability. The conclusion provides a concise summary of key concepts, a discussion of the future of hydrocarbonization, and an encouragement for students to venture into research in this promising field.

This open access book examines the role of social innovation in cities as an important lever towards climate neutrality. Social innovations are people-centred collaborative solutions, activating the urban ecosystem for change and providing platforms for citizens, civic organizations, the private sector, and governmental institutions to collaborate towards the goal of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The book, based on work developed within the EU-funded project NetZeroCities, which aims to support over 100 European cities to be climate-neutral by 2030, outlines methods, cases, and pathways of social innovation in Europe. It presents social innovation design process pathways through methods, categories of actions, and related cases for developing and scaling social innovations at the urban level, contributing to a systemic approach to tackle the grand challenge of reaching net zero. Within these pages, researchers and policymakers can find examples of cities that have deployed innovative public administration practices by systemically embedding social innovation in varied fields of urban action plans, including energy, citizen engagement, and behavioural change for lowering carbon emissions and increasing well-being.

This open access book focuses on two dimensions of the development of the metaverse that are crucial to ‘reality’, namely spatiality and embodiment. Metaversal technologies are thought to fundamentally affect both our spaces and bodies, which are two central aspects of the constitution of social reality. Both spatiality and embodiment are core elements of world-making that are being pulled into the ambit of metaversal projects. On the one hand, metaversal technologies are profoundly spatial in the sense that they render space in virtual form or overlay digital layers onto pre-existing physical spaces. On the other hand, metaversal technologies are directly geared towards the body in that they not only seek to extend or expand our embodied senses and emplace our bodies in virtual spaces, but they also seek to capture their behaviours and actions on a far more granular level. This can create new opportunities in terms of work, social interaction, and leisure, but can also open our bodies up to new, tech-driven interventions and control. Whether in the form of VR or AR, such technologies not only reproduce space but also rely on making spaces more legible and open to automated interventions. Taken together, the ‘metaversification’ of spaces and bodies gives rise to crucial questions about the goals and implications of metaversal developments by large technology companies and about the relationship between the developments of the metaverse and AI systems. Drawing on our combined background and expertise in Science and Technology Studies and the History of Media and Communication, we critically analyse the development of metaversal technologies and platforms by discussing a broad set of developments and examples from a wide range of technology and gaming companies. Written in clear, concise, and accessible language, and combining and applying novel theoretical frameworks and concepts to a currently emergent phenomenon, this book will find a large audience not only within academic and professional circles but also in popular culture. 

This book explores a variety of research topics in marine technology delving into a wide array of crucial research topics within the maritime industry and its technology, encapsulating the latest research findings presented at The 8th International Conference on Marine Technology (SENTA 2023). It provides the exchange of recent knowledge, experiences, and innovations in the field of marine science and technology encompassing naval architecture and technology; marine system and safety; ocean, coastal, and offshore engineering; shipping, port, and maritime logistics; underwater technology; and advanced technology in maritime industry. This book covers studies ranging from ship design and production technique comprising ship design process, ship hydrodynamics, ship structure and advanced ship material, and ship management and production technology. The book also examines the invention in marine operation, marine machinery and maintenance system, and marine safety including digital technology in marine system and safety. It also addresses the topics on coastal, ocean, and offshore technology starting from coastal/offshore hydrodynamics, ocean energy, mooring line analysis to offshore structure analysis. In addition, shipping, port, and marine logistic researches are also conveyed in this book especially on shipping operation optimization, port development, green port, and smart shipping development. Moreover, underwater technology and advanced technology in marine industry i.e. computer vision technology for underwater vehicles, digital technology on ship design and production, and advanced computer technology in port and shipping development are discovered. In overall, this book offers a cradle for the exchange of ground-breaking ideas, fostering collaboration, and potentially setting the stage for significant developments in the marine technology.