Keynote Speakers

 

Prof. Pedro Filipe Cunha

Bio:

Pedro Filipe Cunha is currently Professor of Advanced Manufacturing Technologies and Operations Management, in the Mechanical Engineering Department at Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal, Portugal (Polytechnics Institute of Setúbal/School of Technology (ESTS). He is currently the Director of CENI – Centro de Integração e Inovação de Processos (Centre for Integration and Innovation Processes) and his fields of research and development are concerning Production Planning and Logistics, Collaborative Networks, Development of New Business Models for Products and Services, Modelling and simulation of manufacturing system, Systems integration and Process improvement. He has been involved as member, in several international and national scientific and professional communities or associations. The CIRP – International Academy of Production Engineering Research and AIM – European Academy on Industrial Engineering are two important international originations in which he has been contributing with his activities, including being Chair of international conferences, like the 3rd CIRP International Conference in “Digital Enterprise Technology” in 2006, the 46th CIRP International Conference in “Manufacturing Systems” and the 39ª Conference AIM – European Academy for Industrial Management” in 2017, and also as member of various international conferences Scientific Committees. He has been involved and coordinating different R&D projects and he is author and co-author of more than 40 scientific publications, including scientific papers, books chapters and books. He has been contributing as a reviewer and as editor at well recognized international journals, being examples the International Journal of Computer Integrated Manufacturing, Procedia CIRP and the CIRP Journal of Manufacturing Science and Technology. The link with the community has been promoted through different type of education activities and projects. Relevant projects has been developed for industrial companies and organizations, being only a few examples SECIL Group, Volkswagen-Autoeuropa, Cluster of Competitiveness Engineering an Tooling (http://www.toolingportugal.com) and PRODUTECH – Production Technologies Cluster (http://www.produtech.org/).

Abstract:

Title: Design, Developing and Implementing Cyber-Physical Systems – A perspective based on some Portuguese’s initiatives

The actual environment in which industrial companies are operating today is increasingly demanding due to the high level of uncertainty and the need to keep high level of operational performance. Therefore, the capabilities to visualize the processes and the different flows is essential for the analysis and evaluation of opportunities for improvement. Improvements must be designed and implemented based on paradigms such as process digitalization, interoperability, efficiency, changeability, sustainability and considering the human factors. Many of those paradigms are closely related with the theme of Industry 4.0 and their implementation requires a correct understanding of production systems dynamics and the opportunities for improvement or innovation. In fact, the concept of Industry 4.0, driven from the use of new technologies to support processes, will strongly contribute to revolutionize the way companies, supply chains or production networks are managed. Mainly it will introduce new engineering practices and organization or methods for operations execution and control, as well as it will promote new opportunities for cooperation between human beings and human beings, human beings and systems, systems and systems.

With the aim to support companies to proceed with fundamental changes in terms of technology and organization, we propose a methodology in which the status of a company should be evaluated and the work of designing, developing and implementing cyber-physical systems should be done involving the whole organization and its different management levels. The methodology we propose intends to answer different questions such as: Is a company prepared to move forward with the new paradigms introduced with industry 4.0? How can the company exploit the enormous potential that technology can bring? Which characteristics or functionalities should technological solutions  have to satisfy company needs?

The reflection that we propose to present about these themes will be made presenting projects and initiatives in which we are participating in Portugal, typically involving SMEs.

 

Prof. MSc. Jozef Jandačka, PhD.

Bio:

Rector of the University of Žilina, Slovakia. Previously he was at positions of Vice-Rector for Development (2014-2018), Head of the Department of Power Engineering of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Žilina (2006-2014) and Deputy Head and Secretary of the Department of Thermal and Hydraulic Machines of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Žilina (1997-2006). He is author of several papers in Europe and abroad. He is a member of several scientific project teams and as well as since the year 2005 he also member of the Union Commission in the field of study 5.2.6. Energy Machines and Equipment at the University of Žilina. In the year of 1989 he stayed at the Technische Universitat in Karl Marx Stadt (today Chemnitz) in Germany for 6 months.
In his work he is focusing on energy machines and equipment and on transport machines and equipment design, as well as on experimental determination of bed temperatures during wood pellet combustion, analysis of paper sludge pellets for energy utilization and fuel change possibilities in small heat source. Previously he was focusing on hydraulic machines and equipment, hydromechanics, power machines, gas industry and experimental methods.

Abstract:

Title: Aspects Affecting Emissions Production from Small Heat Sources

Authors: Jozef Jandačka and Michal Holubčík
Department of Power Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Zilina, Slovakia

Solid fuels combustion, especially biomass itself as a renewable ener-gy source does not automatically ensure the best use of its energy content with low emission production. Biomass combustion with bad settings of combustion conditions can be ineffective and with a high production of emissions. The article discusses the impact of various aspects on the power and emission parameters of the heat source. The influence of the amount of combustion air, the temperature of combustion air, the relative humidity of combustion air, the fuel feeding and fuel moisture on thermal power and emission production in automatic boiler for com-bustion of wood pellets were specifically verified. The results show that appro-priate setting of these aspects has an effect on concentration of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter emissions from the combustion of biomass.

 

Assoc. prof. Dr. Predrag K. Nikolic, Ph.D.

Bio:

Predrag K. Nikolic is an Associate Professor at the Cheung Kong School of Art and Design, Shantou University, in China. He is an interaction designer and an interactive media artist who holds a Ph.D. in Digital Media. His research focuses on intelligent interfaces, robot creativity, machine-made content and design for behavioral changes. He mixes experiential reality, artificial intelligence, and responsive environments to engage an audience in new types of interactive experiences and media perceptions. His design and artworks, such as MIndCatcher, InnerBody, Ciklosol, Before & Beyond, Vroom, Robosophy Philosophy, Digital Lolipop were exhibited worldwide and presented at the Ars Electronica, SIGGRAPH, Technarte, Singapore Science Center, Hong Kong – Shenzhen Design Biennial, Maison Shanghai, National Museum of Applied Art and National Museum of Education in Belgrade, etc.
Before joining Shantou University, professor Nikolic was Dean of the Faculty of Digital Production in Novi Sad, Global Digital Director at Grey Worldwide Dusseldorf, Global Digital Director at J. Walter Thomson Worldwide Dusseldorf, Global Head of Digital at Ogilvy Greece, Head of Digital Marketing at Groundlink New York and Managing Director at JadePremier London. Predrag K Nikolic has published numerous research papers on the art of AI sense, machine-made context art, design for behavior change, collective creativity, mix-experiential reality, multi-sensory interfaces and usage of interactive everyday objects in smart living environments, interactivity and interface design.
He lectures at universities, international conferences, symposium and serves on many conferences committees.

Abstract:

Title: Designing Playful Cities: Audio-Visual Metaphors for Playful Urban Environment Experience

Smart City concept tends to improve quality of life by using digital technology and efficient consumption of resources. However, many other aspects related to the quality of citizen’s needs, such as social, entertaining and fun, which are beyond the efficiency are neglected as for the healthy and happy life of smart cities inhabitants. This paper discusses two playful outdoor artworks featuring audio-visual metaphors capable of involving the audience in playful and social experience in an urban space. We used sensor technologies, public surfaces, and spaces to enrich aesthetic and fictional dimensions of the urban environments. Our design issues were to create playful and responsive public space which will immerse the audience in interactive audio-visual experience. The artworks “Vroom” and “The Light and Shade of Realm” focus in on smart city concept viewpoint related to social rather than efficiency dimensions to consider in future living environments development.

 

Assoc. Prof. Msc. Jozef Ristvej, PhD., MBA

Bio:

He gained his Ph.D. in 2007 at the University of Žilina, Slovakia in Crisis Management. Since that time he received postdoctoral position as the Assistant Professor and in 2014 after successful habilitation he has received position as Associate Professor at the Department of Crisis Management, Faculty of Security Engineering, University of Žilina. Since October 2014 he is at the position of Vice-Rector for International Relations and Marketing at the university. In 2007 he participated in ISCRAM Crisis Management Summer School for Ph.D. students. In 2010 received the visiting scholar grant of Ruth Crawford Mitchell to the Center for Disaster Management at the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Pittsburgh. In his work he is focusing on supporting the information systems in the area of the decision making process in crisis management with use of smart solutions. For the year of 2012 was selected by the European Commission as Erasmus Staff Ambassador – 25th anniversary of the Erasmus Programme. He is a member of the editorial review board of the International Journal of Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (IJISCRAM) of ISCRAM Association and the editorial board of the Infotechnology journal in Lithuania, in 2012 was member of ISCRAM 2012 Conference organizing committee. He is author of several papers in Europe and abroad. He is a member of several scientific project teams and as well as of the ISCRAM Association in Brussels (Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management) and the Society for Science and the Public, in Washington D.C.

Abstract:

Title: Enhancing Resilience by Understanding Smart City and Safe City Concepts and their Common Systems

Authors: Jozef Ristvej and Maroš Lacinák
Department of Crisis Management, Faculty of Security Engineering, University of Zilina, Slovakia

Nowadays cities around the globe are becoming more intelligent and using approach of Smart Cities. Within these municipalities, Safe City concepts are implemented as well. Within this paper we are dealing with Smart City and Safe City concepts and their common systems. We propose several ideas on how to summarize all the systems of the Smart City concept. Along with the Smart City concept, we also present the concept of the Safe City. Those two concepts are interconnected and systems are presented. Within the paper, we present systems, their smart and safe layers and further summarizes features, needed in every system. However, our main focus will be still on the question of the safety and security in such cities in the future. Our study of the Smart City programs shows the lack of importance which is being given to this topic. Because of that, we are inspired to introduce our description of the Safe City systems and we define concepts and systems, as well as structure of the concepts.

 

Prof. dr. sc. Neven VRČEK

Bio:

Neven Vrček is researcher, lecturer and present-dean at University of Zagreb, Faculty of Organization and Informatics, Croatia (UNIZG-FOI). His areas of academic and professional interest are e-business, e-government, information society development, organizational performance measurement and software engineering. He is author of more than eighty scientific papers ( http://scholar.google.hr/citations?user=z60oM00AAAAJ ) and several books. As a mentor, he successfully advised thirteen PhD candidates and leaded several scientific projects. Beside academic record, he participated and leaded numerous professional projects in domains of his interest such as development of national interoperability framework, development of e-business strategy, implementation of balanced scorecard, development of national e-invoicing infrastructure, etc. He is member of several professional and academic associations. In period from 2005 to 2014, he was editor of Journal of Organizational and Information Sciences. He is head of doctoral program Information Sciences at UNIZG-FOI, head of postgraduate program Public administration, member of auditing board of Croatian national bank, certified auditor of higher education institutions and member of scientific boards of several journals and conferences. He is also Advisory Committee representative of University of Zagreb, Faculty of Organization and Informatics at W3C.

Abstract:

Title: Smart products and new cost benefit paradigms

Smart products are getting wide utilization in the society and their usage is changing commercial landscape. New level of customer experience has been generated and customers expect on-demand personalized services at any time. Innovative technologies combined with artificial intelligence and new generation of services diminish the boundaries between products and services. Customers are totally focused on their needs and not on the the products that might be necessary to fulfill customers’ requirements. That is why service providers generate new commercial models in which on demand usage is a paramount paradigm. However, this approach also has a downside since information technologies constantly reduce number of workforce per service/product, which will have tremendous effects on labour market. That is why constant adaptation of workforce skills is required combined with seek for new business models. Cost benefit models have also been adapted since owning resource of any kind is less profitable. Although low asset-owning dependence seems attractive on first sight there are new challenges imposed to service providers in a form of highest possible utilization rate during limited lifecycle of a resource bounded by technological obsolescence. The impact of this pressure is increase of price of leased resources. That is why cost benefit analysis must be carefully planned and calculated with crucial emphasis on time and utilization rate in limited lifespan of resource usage. This lecture deals with innovative cost-benefit models related to lease of technological resources and smart products.