Ronca) 2. BIM for the management of construction sites: MARCO FERRARI (tutor effettivo: Ronca) 3. BIM for the management of building facilities: FRANCESCO GALLI (tutor effettivo: Ronca) 4. BIM for the management of building energy performance: FRANCESCO MUSSO (tutor effettivo: Ronca) 5. BIM for the management of building safety: GIULIA PEDRINI (tutor effettivo: Ronca) 6. BIM for the management of building maintenance: MATTEO RIZZI (tutor

1. ABC PhD Program
Architecture, Built Environment and
Construction Engineering Doctorate
Program of Politecnico di Milano

2. Politecnico di Milano
QS University Ranking (2013):
– 230th university
– 28th technical university
– 11th technical university in Europe
(after: University of Cambridge, ETH Zurich,
Imperial College, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de
Lausanne, University of Oxford, Delft University
of Technology, Technische Universität München,
KTH, Sweden, The University of Manchester,
Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule
Aachen)

3. PhD Programmes in Europe
I cycle
3-4 years
180-240
ECTS
II cycle
1.5-2 years
90-120 ECTS
Long cycle
5-6 years
300-360
ECTS
I + II =
300 ECTS
III cycle
3-4 years
ECTS ??
• Inclusion of the doctoral level as the third Education cycle
• Importance of research and research training
• increase in mobility on the doctoral and the postdoctoral levels
Berlin Communiqué (2003)
“Realising the European Higher Education Area”
@Polimi
1985 PhD Programs started
2001 PhD School started
2014 XXX cycle

4. PhD studies
PhD candidate in Italy: student + early stage researcher
the main component of a PhD program are:
– Candidate’s training through research
– Research training is embedded in institutional
strategies and policies
– Candidate Supervision together with systematic
independent assessment/review of his/her work
– Candidate produces original research and the
advancement of knowledge through it

5. PhD School – Polimi
 18 Programmes
 More than 1100 PhD candidates
 370 new PhD candidates per year (~ 75% of them earn
grants or research contracts) (~ 1300 applications)
 ~ 28% International students (33% in 2013-14)
 ~ 200 third-level courses, held by Italian and
International Experts
 3692 PhDs in about 30 years
 Less than 1/3 works in university
 Teaching mostly in English – at least an English track
 Research in international environment (international
projects, professors, PhD candidates)

6. PhD School – Polimi
 18 Programmes
 More than 1100 PhD candidates
 370 new PhD candidates per year (~ 75% of them earn
grants or research contracts) (~ 1300 applications)
 ~ 28% International students (33% in 2013-14)
 ~ 200 third-level courses, held by Italian and
International Experts
 3692 PhDs in about 30 years
 Less than 1/3 works in university
 Teaching mostly in English – at least an English track
 Research in international environment (international
projects, professors, PhD candidates)
Map courtesy of Presentation Magazine website
www.presentationmagazine.com

7. PhD opportunities: Research
 The PhD title is nowadays a necessary
requirement to enter Academic Research
 However, the PhD title is also appreciated by
companies and it is a requirement abroad for
some positions, not only in research labs
 PhD Candidates are directly involved in active
research. Their average number of peer-reviewed
publications during the PhD is ~2

8. PhD opportunities: Research
 Active participation in International Congresses
and Schools is financially supported by the
individual PhD Courses
 ~ 40% of the PhD Grants are funded by research
contracts and/or Industrial Partners
 Industrial employees may follow a specifically
designed PhD path, agreed upon by their firm and
the University (Executive PhD) – in this case the
minimum duration is 4 years

9. Fees & Scholarships
• Tuition fees: € 1500 per year (waived with
scholarship)
• Scholarships: around 220/year (supported by:
Minister of Education, Politecnico di Milano,
Company Funds, Research Grants, EU
Programmes)
• Allowance: 1000-1500 €/month (further
economic support possible for teaching
activities

10. ABC PhD Program
The foundation

11. General Presentation
ABC-PhD Program has been established in 2012, following the complete
reorganization of the area of Architecture, Built Environment and
Construction Engineering in one only Department.
It results as merge of the following four PhD Programs:
– Architectural Composition
– Building Systems Engineering
– Design and Technologies Exploitation for the Cultural Heritage
– Technology and Design for Environment and Building
These four programs have been joined by a group of researchers from a fifth
one: the PhD Program in Structural Seismic and Geotechnical Engineering.
All these Programs have been separately active since 1990, mainly focussing
on one only discipline. Their merge was aimed at optimizing the capability of
the Department in facing and solving complex training needs, with a single
organizational unit.
ABC
PhD
ARCHITECTURAL
COMPOSITION
Building System
ENGINEERING
Cultural
Heritage
Built Environment
Technologies
Structural
Engineering

12. ABC = Architecture, Built Environment
and Construction Engineering
The Department

13. The people of ABC Department
• 155 Researchers, Associate and Full professors
• About 110 PhD Students
• About 100 young Researchers, Assistant
Professors and contract persons
• About 40 Administrative and Technical Staff

14. ICAR05 TRASPORTI
ICAR06 TOPOGRAFIA E CARTOGRAF
ICAR07 GEOTECNICA
ICAR08 SCIENZA DELLE COSTRUZION
ICAR09 TECNICA DELLE COSTRUZION
ICAR10 ARCHITETTURA TECNICA
ICAR11 PRODUZIONE EDILIZIA
ICAR12 TECNOLOGIA DELL'ARCHITE
ICAR14 COMPOSIZIONE ARCHITET. E
ICAR15 ARCHITETTURA DEL PAESAG
ICAR17 DISEGNO
ICAR18 STORIA DELL'ARCHITETTURA
ICAR19 RESTAURO
ICAR21 URBANISTICA
ICAR22 ESTIMO
INGIND11 FISICA TECNICA AMBIENT
MED42 IGIENE GENERALE E APPLICA
SECSP06 ECONOMIA APPLICATA
SECSP07 ECONOMIA AZIENDALE
Architectural
Design
Building Technologies
Structural
Mechanics
Modelling
The Disciplines of the Department

15. The ABC PhD Program
Mission and Topics

16. Dottorato di Ricerca in Architettura, ingegneria delle costruzioni e ambiente costruito
PhD Programme in Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering
The mission of ABC Doctoral Program is to train future researchers for the extensive
field of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering.
PhD-Candidates are trained to face complex questions, to develop in-depth analysis and
reliable models (theories) of complex contexts (seen as
physical, economic, environmental or social systems) and to innovate:
concepts, products and their use, rules and organisations. These skills are proven
realizing an original study (the PhD thesis) a specific Research theme in one of the
following research field (each with a certain degree of overlap on the others):
1. Advanced Materials and Innovative Systems for Buildings
2. Design and Technologies for the Energy-Efficient and Sustainable Built Environment
3. Risk prevention and emergency management
4. Architectural Design and Urban Design
5. Complex Buildings Design, Construction and Management
6. Preservation, Valorisation and Promotion of Built Heritage
7. ICT and Smart Systems in Construction and Planning
8. Built Environment Economics and Management
Coordinatore/Head
prof. Enrico De Angelis
Segreteria/contacts
sig.ra Marchegiani Cristina
Documenti/documents
Any reference document about ABC-PhD Program can be dowloaded here.
ABC-PhD
Trained to face
complex questions
Trained to face
complex questions
in complex contexts
Trained to innovate

17. What is a PhD Thesis
Something ORIGINAL
Should be!!

18. http://tapastic.com/episode/22823

19. http://tapastic.com/episode/22823

20. http://tapastic.com/episode/22823

21. BE PREPARED!
It will happen! For sure!!

22. http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.SCIE.RD.P6/countries?display=map
Distribution of R&D professionals

23. • There are thousands of researchers in
Europe, hundried thousands in the world: the
most of them works on actual (the same?)
topics

24. The situation:
• MANY PEOPLE working in the same field
• MANY PEOPLE from many disciplines, but …
not very keen to share and collaborate
• VERY FEW RESOURCES
• VERY HIGH EXPECTATIONS
A complex situation

25. Ken Robinson, http://www.thersa.org/
A fundamental consideration by Ken Robinson
and a question arising: is it really worth to stay alone?

26. At least …
OPEN INNOVATION
Inside-out
Outside-in
knowledge
resources
skills
ideas
… avoid to stay closed in a glass bowl

27. The ABC PhD Program
Roles and Rules (some)

28. The Tutor
The PhD Program Board … appoint a member of the
PhD Program Board, as Tutor, for each PhD Candidate.
The Tutor has the following task: to monitor, supervise
and support a PhD Students in planning and the
developing his/her activity..
He periodically refers, with a written report, to the PhD
Program Board, about the attainment of Student’s
objectives and the quality of his/her work.

29. The Supervisor
Once the Student has reasonably detailed the subject
of his/her PhD Thesis and completed his/her compe-
tencies and skills, the PhD Program Board will appoint a
Supervisor who will guide and support the Student in
the development of his/her PhD thesis.

30. The Reviewer
At the end of the third year – or before, if
needed – the PhD Program Board will appoint
one or more external Reviewers to evaluate the
scientific relevance of PhD Student’s work and
Thesis.

31. The PhD-Program Board
The Board of professors organize the PhD
program and evaluates candidates periodically

32. Tutor&supervisor PhD Student
AUDIENCE (Some interested participants)
Reviewer
1° fase: presentazione
Opzione 2

33. ASSESSMENT PROPOSAL
Tutor&supervisor
2° fase: proposta giudizio
Opzione 2
Reviewer

34. The PhD Board
The PhD BOARD GIVE
the FINAL ASSESSMENT
Tutor, Supervisor and Reviewer
give an ASSESSMENT PROPOSAL
3° fase: giudizio finale
Opzione 2

35. the Advisory Board
• It assesses the final results of the Candidates
and, through them, the Performance of the
Program, giving suggestions for its
improvements for an effective relation
between ABC-PhD Program and the society.

36. Tailor made training
Each Candidate defines, with the
Tutor his/her Research and Training
Plan (R&Tplan):
– A lot of research activity about a
chosen topic (66-85%).
– Some formal training (few):
• For a common starting level
and to fill possible gaps
• To get some basic skills
(e.g. research management and
communication)
• To be updated about specific
topics

37. Milestones
• Milestone 0 (kick off meeting)
The PhD Candidate presents him/herself to the Board
and propose a tentative topic.
The board assign the tentative topic and appoint the
tutor for the PhD Candidate

38. Milestones
• Milestone 1 (6 months)
The candidate presents to the Academic Board the
main research issues arising from his/her first
overview of the State of the Art and Reference
Bibliography for the Research Area/Topic under
investigation.

39. Milestones
• Milestone 2 – 12 months (1st year annual exam)
Presentation of the research project (problems, final
State of the Art and Reference Bibliography, first
Thesis hypotheses, methodologies, expected
outcomes), of the future work plan (foreign stay must
be defined and proposed ASAP), of the main Training
Program changes and of the first scientific products.
A Supervisor may be identified and appointed to
support the elaboration of the Student’s research.

40. Milestones
• Milestone 3 – 18 months
Presentation of research progress, the main Training
Program changes and scientific products. The PhD-
Program Board review the feasibility, the originality
and the scientific relevance of Student’s Research, on
the basis of the evaluation of the Tutor evaluation.
Student’s Supervisor is definitely appointed.

41. Milestones
• Milestone 4 – 24 months (2nd year annual exam)
First draft of the thesis work; research
progress, main Training Program changes and
scientific products. The Board examines and assesses
the value and the originality of the research, on the
basis of Tutor’s and Supervisor’s documented
evaluation.

42. Milestones
• Milestone 5 – 30 months
Draft of the PhD thesis (with a complete list of
contents), of the main Training Program changes and
scientific products. The PhD-Program Board assesses
the advancements, the feasibility and the valuing
opportunities of the PhD thesis, on the basis of
Tutor’s and Supervisor’s documented evaluation. The
opportunity of a Reviewer is evaluated as proposal of
the Tutor and the Supervisors.

43. Milestones
• Milestone 6 – 36 months (3rd year annual exam)
Presentation of the thesis in its final version
(except amendments and reviews after this last
meeting). The Academic Board decides on admission
to the final exam.

44. ABC PhD Program
Offered courses

45. Credit: Emanuele Naboni
Energy Efficiency in Building Design, Urban
and Regional Planning (G. Dall’O)

46. Sheltering for emergency
(A. Zanelli)

47. Innovative management
Innovative
Management in
Construction and
Real Estate
Processes
(O. Tronconi)

48. Energy Retrofit
Transformation of the Built Environment –
Energy Retrofit and Structural Reinforcement
(G. Masera, C. Poggi)
+
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/6701683-0-large.jpg
http://ww1.prweb.com/prfiles/2012/02/29/9238002/energy-retrofit-love.jpg

49. Technological culture of design
(F. Schiaffonati)

50. Environmental and landscape design:
Methods and tools for heritage enhancement
(E.Mussinelli)

51. Urban MicroClimate Mitigation
and Building Envelopes Design
(T. Poli)
Credits: E.R. Pardyjak, P. Willemsen

52. Solid mechanics
for discrete modelling of
structures (two parts)
(L.Biolzi, S. Casolo)

53. Structural Dynamics
For condition assessment
and seismic monitoring
(C. Gentile)

54. Seismic vulnerability of buildings
and risk mitigation
(M.A. Parisi)

55. Non-linear analysis of RC frames
(M. Pisani)

56. Mechanics of Heterogeneous Media
(V. Carvelli)

57. Economic Assessment of Urban
Transformations and Policies (R. Capello)

58. Planning Mobility and Accessibility
in Emergency Situations (L. Mussone)

59. Regenerative technologies design
and innovation in heritage enhancement
(E. Mussinelli)

60. Proposed basic courses for 2014-15

61. Proposed “specialistic” courses for 2014-15
Alcuni di questi insegnamenti hanno o potrebbero avere un carattere multidisciplinare

62. Some of the ABC-PhD School courses for 2014-15

63. Proposed Workshops for 2014-15

64. The ABC PhD Program
Actual (29° Cycle) topics
and specific arguments

65. ABCPhD’s Eight research fields
1. Advanced Materials and Innovative Systems for Buildings
2. Design and Technologies for the Energy-Efficient and
Sustainable Built Environment
3. Risk prevention and emergency management
4. Architectural Design and Urban Design
5. Complex Buildings Design, Construction and Management
6. Preservation, Valorisation and Promotion of Built Heritage
7. ICT and Smart Systems in Construction and Planning
8. Built Environment Economics and Management

66. ECO2SUSTAINABILITY of BUILDINGS
AND CITY TRASFORMATIONS
1. New Technologies for Residential SMART Buildings: LINDITA BANDE
(tutor effettivo: Ronca)
2. Techniques of architectural and urban Design with attention to
sustainability and energy aspects in the cities of the Asian Subcontinent:
DANIELE BEACCO (tutor effettivo: Del Bo)
3. Real Estate Investments and Strategy, Authorization process in Real
Estate, ICT in Real Estate, Operation Management: ALBERTO CELANI
(tutor effettivo: Ciaramella)
4. Historic Urban Landscape and Islamic City: intersections between Heritage
Conservation and Sustainable Development: CECILIA FUMAGALLI (tutor
effettivo: Del Bo)
5. Emerging countries development, with particular focus on Indian
context, and role and opportunities for Italian Real Estate/construction’s
technology and management: SILVIA GOBBI (tutor effettivo: Utica)
6. Environmental quality, well-being and health promotion in urban areas:
ANDREA REBECCHI (tutor effettivo: Capolongo)

67. BUILDING MODELLING
1. BIM for the design and management of restoration and conservation
construction phases: MANUELE CASSANO (tutor effettivo: Trani)
2. Building Heritage Information Modeling (BHIM): JUNIA BEATRICE
MARIA COMPOSTELLA DI SANGUINETTO (tutor effettivo: Arlati)
3. Integrated computational techniques for the design of emergent
technologies: ROBERTO STEFANO NABONI (tutor effettivo:
Paoletti)
4. From Archaeology to Architecture, from stones to augmented
reality: development of a HBIM - BHIMM cognitive model:
RICCARDO VALENTE (tutor effettivo: Brumana)

68. PROTECTION&VALORIZATION
of CULTURAL HERITAGE
1. Protection and Enhancement of Cultural Heritage vs. "presente
permanente" and new ur-ban administrative issues: research for a
new and proper approach for the Italian urban context: GIOVANNI
CASTALDO (tutor effettivo: Schiaffonati)
2. The museum of the City: MARTA FERRETTI (tutor effettivo:
Gambaro)
3. Technological mimesis between Holographic Tactile Architecture
and pre-existing buildings: GIANLUIGI GUARNERI (tutor effettivo:
Mussinelli)

69. SEISMIC VULNERABILITY
and STRENGTHENING
1. Methods and instruments for the preservation of the Mantuan
historical buildings to seismic risk: GAIA BARBIERI (tutor effettivo:
Biolzi)
2. Reinforcement and seismic retrofitting of masonry buildings with
(FRCM) Fabric Reinforced Cementitious Matrix materials: ELISA
BERTOLESI (tutor effettivo: Poggi)
3. Multidisciplinary approach to the rehabilitation of the architectural
Heritage: MARCO MAGNANI (tutor effettivo: Parisi)

70. INNOVATIVE CONSTRUCTION SYSTEMS
AND PRODUCT
1. Technologically advanced isolators for seismic protection of
strategic buildings: EMANUELE GANDELLI (tutor effettivo:
Quagliarini, Limongelli)
2. Design of steel and composite structures with limited ductility
requirements for optimized performances in moderate earthquake
areas: ALPER KANYILMAZ (tutor effettivo: Castiglioni)
3. Prefabricated Multifunctional Facades as Retrofit Solution for
Residential Buildings: ALESSIO PASSERA (tutor effettivo: Masera)
4. Adaptive shading devices for high performance envelope:
ALBERTO SPERONI (tutor effettivo: Poli)

71. BUILDING ENERGY MANAGEMENT
1. The role of control systems in energy saving: GIORGIA MARENZI
(tutor effettivo: Aste)
2. Smart Thermostats: a Stochastic Simulation of the Energy Savings
that Are Achievable through Advanced Management of HVAC
Systems in Residential Buildings in Italy: ANGELO MARTUCCI
(tutor effettivo: Dall'O)