Description
Address: Via dei Taurini 19, 00185 Roma
Director: Dr. Giovanni Felici
Permanent staff: 28 researchers, 6 technologists, 6 technicians
The Institute for Systems Analysis and Computer Science "A. Ruberti" (IASI) results from merging two CNR structures: the Institute for Systems Analysis and Computer Science, founded by Antonio Ruberti in 1980, and the Center for the Study of the Pathophysiology of Shock of CNR, hosted at the Catholic University School of Medicine "A. Gemelli".
The Institute has two sites in Rome.
The Institute carries out investigations in different fields of Mathematics, Computer Science, Biomedicine and its applications. The main areas of activity are:
1. OPTIMIZATION, MODELING AND ALGORITHMS FOR BIOINFORMATICS AND SYSTEMS BIOLOGY (BIOSYS)
Over the last two decades, biological sciences have undergone radical transformation through the development of new research technologies that have produced a real explosion in the amount of data available. It is therefore essential to use effective informatics solutions capable of managing, analyzing and integrating these biological "Big Data".
In this view, the aim of the BIOSYS research unit is the development of algorithms and methodologies to study and analyze biological data and systems, and their application in bio-medicine. The biological research interests include biological networks, genomics, proteomics, epigenomics and system biology. The activity of the group is based on the integration of specific and different skills, that constitute a plus in this multidisciplinary area.
2. SOFTWARE AND KNOWLEDGE-BASED SYSTEMS (SaKS)
The SaKS research group studies the logical foundations and the engineering methodologies for the construction of software and knowledge-based systems. The research areas where the group is active include Formal Models and Semantics of Software Systems, Knowledge Representation, Automated Reasoning, Software Engineering, Data and Knowledge Engineering, and Information Systems.
The group also develops applications of software and knowledge-based technologies in several fields, such as Business Process Modeling, e-Health, e-Learning, Geomatics, Human-Computer Interaction, Software Verification and Validation, Semantic Web, Research Evaluation and Bibliometrics. Research results are mainly experimented in the framework of European and national projects.
3. MATHEMATICAL MODELING IN PATHOPHYSIOLOGY (FISIOMAT)
Dating back from 1969, the CNR research group in biomathematics (both at the Institute's main location in downtown Rome and at the Gemelli UCSC Medical School location) has studied statistical and mathematical models of the immune response, peristaltic motion, pathophysiologic processes in cardiocirculatory shock, sepsis and metabolism.
Today, the group is most active in mathematical modelling and attendant control techniques in glucose metabolism and diabetes; ventilatory and circulatory mechanics; cardiorespiratory response to sepsis, septic shock and hemorrhagic shock; tumor growth and treatment; population dynamics; epidemic models; biomaterials; immunomodulation.
4. OPTIMIZATION, DISCRETE MATHEMATICS AND APPLICATIONS (OPTIMA)
The OPTIMA research group investigates all phases of the solution process of mathematical problems, including analysis, modelling, structural properties, algorithmic approaches, computer code implementation and testing.
Combinatorial and Polyhedral Optimization, Discrete Mathematics, Mixed-Integer Programming, Graph Theory, Approximation and Online Algorithms, Logic Programming, Machine Learning, Stochastic and Robust Optimization, Continuous Optimization, Global Optimization are the main methodological topics of research. A broad range of applications of optimization and discrete mathematics are dealt with: Data Analysis, Network Analysis, Statistical Physics, Scheduling, Factory of the Future (Industry 4.0), Transportation and Logistics, Telecommunications and Network Traffic, Energy and Smart-Grids, Finance, Medicine and Social care.
5. MODELING, CONTROL AND IDENTIFICATION OF COMPLEX SYSTEMS (MCISCO)
The MCISCO research group deals with open problems in Mathematical Theory of Control in a wide sense, including as well related problems of 'diagnostics' (detection and/or estimation of features of a complex system), with particular emphasis on Automatic Control and Automatic Decision problems.
The group carries out researches in several fields of Mathematics, such as Differential Algebra and Geometry, Mathematical Analysis, Stochastic Processes and Probability Theory, insofar their application in Control is involved.
Besides this theoretical research activity, the group applies (at the computer-simulation level,
up to the production of pseudo-codes) the algorithmic results of the research in order to solve real-world problems arising in many fields of application. These real-world problems are both classical problems taken from the literature, as well as commissioned by Industry, or whose solution is demanded by pro-administration and/or private sponsors through research-funds assignment.
The Institute hosts the following laboratories:
1. OPTIMIZATION LABORATORY FOR DATA MINING (OLDAM)
In this lab, AI and OR methods and techniques are applied to the problem of Data Mining, i.e. the problem of extracting relevant information and relations from large data sets. The laboratory finds its roots in several research directions and research projects related to neural networks, support vector machines, learning on logic domains, medical and industrial applications, web mining. The mission of OLDAM may be summarized by two main objectives: a) Develop successful applications of Optimization Techniques to Data Mining problems coming from different fields; b) Integrate the different techniques available, plus the ones newly developed, into a general theoretical framework.
2. LABORATORY FOR ENTERPRISE KNOWLEDGE AND SYSTEMS (LEKS)
The main goals of the LEKS Laboratory are to experiment scientific results, participate both in national and international projects, and test software and knowledge tools. Currently, its research interests are focused on the themes of Ontology-based platforms, Semantic Web and Knowledge Representation and Management. The principal related fields are: Business process and enterprise modeling; eLearning; Groupware and cooperation technologies; Ontology Representation and Management; Prototyping of experimented applications of Enterprise Ontologies; Semantic Annotation; Semantic Interoperability; Semantic Query and Retrieval; Semantic Reconciliation; Web-Services.
3. LABORATORY FOR BIOMATHEMATICS (BIOMATLAB)
The BioMatLab Laboratory is active in the development, application and diffusion of mathematical modelling techniques for biomedicine. Its goal is to help provide reliable quantitative answers to physiological and pharmacological questions. The translation of biomedical problems into workable mathematical formulations and the estimation of relevant model parameters from available experimental data are its main concern.
4. LABORATORY FOR STUDIES IN RESEARCH EVALUATION (REV LAB)
The purpose of the REV Laboratory is to provide policy makers and management with science-based guidelines and tools to improve research productivity and foster public-to-private technology transfer. This purpose is realized by pursuing the following mission: "To consolidate and develop our Italian leadership in research evaluation, through a growing internationalization of our research and consulting activities; to affirm by 2015, our research evaluation support system 'ORP' as the common standard in Italy".
5. TERRITORIAL INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR THE ITALIAN CULTURAL HERITAGE (HERILAB)
The SIT (Sistema Informativo Territoriale per i Beni Culturali) of the Italian National Territory or GIS for Cultural Heritage has been realized by researchers of CNR and University of Salento. The aim is research, protection, management of cultural heritage of the national territory. As a focus it uses the geographical positioned information for knowledge, preservation and increasing the value of the territorial cultural heritage. It is a very hard and useful tool for gathering, updating, processing and consulting all the Cultural Heritage and Environmental available Data of the national territory. Those last come from survey, aerial monitoring, researches, finalized cartography, bibliographical and archives information which are the necessary basic form for every properly planned action on Environment and Historical Landscape.