Mr. Vincent Gbouna Zakka – Human Behaviour Analysis in Smart Environment – Best Researcher Award

Mr. Vincent Gbouna Zakka - Human Behaviour Analysis in Smart Environment - Best Researcher Award

Aston University - United Kingdom

Author Profile

GOOGLE SCHOLAR

Early academic pursuits 🎓

Vincent Gbouna Zakka embarked on his academic journey with a bachelor's degree in electronics information engineering from liaoning university of technology, where he excelled as one of the top students in his department. his passion for technology led him to pursue a master's in mechatronic engineering at zhejiang university, focusing on robotics and smart systems. currently, he is deepening his expertise as a ph.d. candidate in computer science at aston university, where he is exploring human behavior analysis in smart environments.

Professional endeavors 💻

Vincent's professional experience is enriched with roles across prestigious institutions. from his position as a research assistant at westlake university and the hong kong polytechnic university, to his current role as a postgraduate teaching assistant at aston university, vincent has consistently contributed to cutting-edge research in human-robot collaboration and smart building technologies. his work bridges academia and real-world applications, making significant strides in ambient assisted living and user-centered systems.

Contributions and research focus 🔬

Vincent's research is centered on human behavior analysis within smart environments, particularly in areas like activity recognition and user trust in monitoring Human Behaviour Analysis in Smart Environment systems. his work aims to enhance ambient assisted living and ageing in place by integrating advanced monitoring technologies. in addition, his focus extends to human-robot collaboration, smart building control systems, and vision-based technologies that optimize user experience and comfort in home environments.

Accolades and recognition 🏅

Vincent’s exceptional contributions to his field have earned him multiple accolades. most notably, he won the best paper award at the 22nd international conference on construction applications of virtual reality in 2022, and recently secured the runner-up spot for best paper at the international conference on ai in healthcare in Human Behaviour Analysis in Smart Environment 2024. his academic excellence was also recognized early in his career, with awards like the ministerial special scholarship for excellence from the f.c.t. scholarship board.

Impact and influence 🌟

Vincent’s work is shaping the future of smart technologies and human-robot interactions. by focusing on user acceptance and trust in monitoring systems, his research has the potential to improve how individuals interact with technology in everyday life, particularly in ageing populations. his innovative solutions are Human Behaviour Analysis in Smart Environment contributing to smarter, safer, and more adaptive living environments, influencing both academic research and real-world applications.

Legacy and future contributions 🔮

Vincent Gbouna Zakka is building a legacy of interdisciplinary research that blends computer science, robotics, and smart technology with human-centered design. his forward-thinking approach ensures that his work will continue to influence the development of intelligent systems that improve quality of life. with ongoing research and upcoming contributions to the fields of ambient assisted living and smart environments, vincent's future impact is bound to be profound.

Notable Publications

  • Title: User-interactive robot skin with large-area scalability for safer and natural human-robot collaboration in future telehealthcare
    Authors: ZV Gbouna, G Pang, G Yang, Z Hou, H Lv, Z Yu, Z Pang
    Journal: IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics 25 (12), 4276-4288 (2021)
  • Title: The impact of personal environmental control on the performance of thermal systems: Building energy consumption, occupant thermal comfort, and productivity
    Authors: K Xie, M Lee, R Khalid, VG Zakka
    Journal: Energy and Buildings 298, 113552 (2023)
  • Title: Eyes on nature: Embedded vision cameras for multidisciplinary biodiversity monitoring
    Authors: KFA Darras, M Balle, W Xu, Y Yan, VG Zakka, M Toledo-Hernández, ...
    Journal: BioRxiv, 2023.07.26.550656 (2023)
  • Title: Facile fabrication of highly soft tactile sensor based on porous sponge with geometry effect on sensing characteristics
    Authors: W Heng, G Pang, ZV Gbouna, Z Pang, K Yi, H Yang, G Yang
    Journal: 2019 IEEE International Flexible Electronics Technology Conference (IFETC), 1-3 (2019)
  • Title: A Generalized Thermal Comfort Model using Thermographic Images and Compact Convolutional Transformers: Towards Scalable and Adaptive Occupant Comfort Optimization
    Authors: VG Zakka, M Lee
    Journal: Building and Environment, 112118 (2024)

Assoc Prof Dr.  Chiara Garau – Urban and regional planning – Women Researcher Award

Assoc Prof Dr.  Chiara Garau - Urban and regional planning - Women Researcher Award

DICAAR, Univesity of Cagliari - Italy

Author Profile

SCOPUS

ORCID

🌟 Early academic pursuits

Chiara Garau’s academic journey began with a passion for urban planning and architecture. she earned dual degrees, graduating with 110/110 summa cum laude, first in architectural engineering (december 2003) and later in communication science (february 2013), from the university of cagliari, italy. driven by a thirst for knowledge, she furthered her studies by obtaining a phd in land engineering and urban planning in 2008, coupled with a ii-level master’s degree in business intelligence (2005). her early academic foundation laid the groundwork for her distinguished career in urban and regional planning.

💼 Professional endeavors

Garau’s career flourished as she became an associate professor at the university of cagliari’s department of civil and environmental engineering and architecture (dicaar). she gained national recognition in june 2021, obtaining the qualification as a full professor in urban and regional planning (icar/20). over the years, she held various prestigious fellowships and roles, including scientific and technical adviser for observatory smart cities of rome and serving on the scientific committee of the young academics aesop. garau has also delivered lectures internationally, from the netherlands to south africa, ireland, and beyond, emphasizing her global academic influence.

📊 Contributions and research focus

Garau’s research interests revolve around sustainable urban development, smart cities, and spatial planning. she played a key role in coordinating phd courses on “smart and sustainable cities,” which influenced urban planning curriculums in italy. her work spans innovative Urban and regional planning smart mobility strategies and urban sustainability, with a significant focus on european cohesion policies and regional development. she also contributed to projects like benchmarking urban mobility and evaluating proglacial lakes' future in collaboration with international institutions.

🏆 Accolades and recognition

Garau has received numerous accolades for her outstanding work in urban planning. she won the best paper award at the iccsa 2015 for her study on smart urban mobility in italian cities. her expertise was further recognized by the european commission in 2019 when she was selected as the only italian jury member for the prestigious regostars awards. her participation in the “science tour 2016: city of the future” program in Urban and regional planning germany, selected by the german federal ministry of education and research, is another testament to her international recognition.

🌍 Impact and influence

Garau’s impact extends beyond academia into the realm of policy and urban development. she was recognized by the european commission for her contributions to regional and urban policy and regularly collaborates with international bodies to shape smart city initiatives. her work has Urban and regional planning influenced urban mobility, sustainability, and spatial development strategies across europe and beyond. her role in global conferences such as the nobel x conference in urbanism, alongside notable scholars, underscores her influence in the global academic community.

📚 Legacy and future contributions

as a forward-thinking academic, garau continues to shape the future of urban planning. her work on smart cities, regional development, and sustainable urban design paves the way for future generations of scholars and practitioners. she remains a prominent figure in the academic and urban planning worlds, with numerous publications and collaborative projects to her name. garau’s involvement with global institutions, such as trinity college dublin and the university of malta, ensures her research and teachings will continue to inspire and impact urban policy worldwide.

Notable Publications 

Mr. Reza Askarizad – Urban Planning – Best Researcher Award

Mr. Reza Askarizad - Urban Planning - Best Researcher Award

Polytechnic University of Madrid - Spain

Author Profile

SCOPUS

ORCID

🌱 Early academic pursuits

Reza Askarizad's academic journey began with a focus on architectural drawing, completing his diploma and associate degrees at valiasr school of art and technical and vocational university, respectively, in rasht, iran. he then pursued a bachelor's degree in architectural technology engineering from jaber ebn-e hayan institute of higher education, graduating in 2014. with a passion for architecture and design, he completed his master’s degree in architectural engineering at acecr in 2018, where he was the second-highest ranked student. his thesis, which focused on designing public libraries with a social interaction approach, was highly regarded for its innovative approach.

🏛️ Professional endeavors

Reza’s career is rich with international experience, particularly through his research fellowship at università degli studi di cagliari, italy, where he worked on urban governance projects aimed at converting residual street spaces into social spaces. in addition to his time as a research assistant at the center for modern chinese city studies (cmccs) in shanghai, china, reza has made significant contributions as a registered architectural designer under the iran construction engineering organization. he also served as a university instructor at acecr in rasht for over three years, where he imparted his knowledge to aspiring architects.

🔍 Contributions and research focus

Reza's research delves into urban sustainability and regeneration, with a particular interest in the spatial configuration and sociability of urban spaces in iranian cities. his doctoral thesis, conducted at universidad politécnica de madrid, explored the impact of alleyways and squares on Urban Planning pedestrian mobility, using space syntax to analyze the accessibility of these urban areas. his research fellowship in italy further expanded on urban adaptability and governance, emphasizing how public spaces can foster social interaction.

🏆 Accolades and recognition

Reza's academic excellence is evident from his rank as the second-highest student in his master's program. his work has gained significant attention within the academic community, particularly his thesis on public libraries and social interaction. moreover, his expertise in urban Urban Planning sustainability has been acknowledged through his roles as a technical reviewer for prestigious international journals such as nature, elsevier, mdpi, and taylor & francis, where he reviews top-tier research in urban studies, architecture, and environmental sciences.

🌍 Impact and influence

reza’s work has had a notable impact on the study of urban spaces, particularly in iran and other global cities. his research on the accessibility of urban areas has opened up new discussions on how cities can be designed to enhance social interaction and pedestrian mobility. his research Urban Planning fellowship at the university of cagliari contributed to urban governance policies aimed at transforming residual spaces into vibrant social spaces, offering practical solutions to enhance community engagement in urban environments.

📚 Legacy and future contributions

with his extensive academic and professional background, reza askarizad is poised to continue making significant contributions to the fields of urban sustainability and architectural design. his work, which bridges theory and practical applications, has the potential to shape future urban development in a way that promotes sociability and environmental sustainability. reza's legacy will be one of innovation, with a focus on improving urban spaces to meet the social and environmental needs of modern cities.

Notable Publications