Risk management in a mega-project: the Universal EXPO 2015 case

The paper analyses the literature on risk management in mega-projects suggesting possible mitigation actions to be considered in the stakeholders' management. EXPO 2015 represents a perfect project to understand the strength of a rigorous methodological approach to uncertainty and the need for a mature consciousness at managerial level on these topics. Analysing real available data on this project, the number of visitors appears overestimated, so, by adopting a framework, called SHAMPU, the paper quantifies the relative impact and provides possible mitigation actions. Practical actions crossing the risk management phases in mega projects proposed by literature are suggested in the conclusions

Ab Initio Carr-Parrinello Simulations of High Temperature GeO 2 : a comparison of the effects of plane waves cut-off and time step choice

Ab initio Carr-Parrinello simulations of high temperature GeO 2 have been carried out using a set of different parameters supposedly significantly affecting the results, as well as the computing times. A particular attention has been paid to the effects related with the plane waves cut-off using lower and higher values than commonly suggested. Comparisons of the results for the different values are presented and illustrated indicating that the results are essentially the same

Project controlling in mega events: the Expo 2015 case

Although Universal Expositions are an incredible catalyst for the development of hosting cities, they have to face projects’ common problems as over-budgets and delays. This last issue is critic since mega events have to respect a mandatory deadline and any delay could cause critical project scope reduction. It is thus fundamental to control efficiently and effectively their progress to obtain the best performances. Despite “project controlling” field is well-documented concerning mega-projects, there is a gap for mega events. In addition, literature focuses on strategic elements without providing operative methods to control the execution phase. This paper fi lls this gap highlighting how mega-events can be considered as “mega-programmes”, suggesting supervision through a project envelope to avoid forecasting problems and proposing a gradual control according to project statuses. These results provide a model to monitor Milan Expo 2015 execution phase, guaranteeing that all projects involved end within deadlines

The divergence between actual and estimated costs in large industrial and infrastructure projects: is nuclear special?

Megaprojects are frequently over budget and late all over the world in many different sectors. There has been little or no improvement over the decades. Project performance today is roughly similar to ten, twenty and thirty years ago. On the other hand, even if public opinion and the press are focusing on nuclear projects being over budget and late, such poor performance is not a fatality. The Korean and the (pre-2000) French experience shows that it is possible to deliver nuclear projects on time and budget. Key success factors are the replication of existing reactors, a relative monoculture, a stable environment with experienced stakeholders and a long-term view. Some of these factors may no longer be replicable and the most promising way forward may be to start learning from other high technological sectors such as aerospace or oil and gas, where a number of major companies have evolved from national champions to global competitors

Fine-Structure Classification of Multiqubit Entanglement by Algebraic Geometry

We present a fine-structure entanglement classification under stochastic local operation and classical communication (SLOCC) for multiqubit pure states. To this end, we employ specific algebraic-geometry tools that are SLOCC invariants, secant varieties, to show that for $n$-qubit systems there are $\lceil\frac{2^{n}}{n+1}\rceil$ entanglement families. By using another invariant, $\ell$-multilinear ranks, each family can be further split into a finite number of subfamilies. Not only does this method facilitate the classification of multipartite entanglement, but it also turns out to be operationally meaningful as it quantifies entanglement as a resource.Comment: 11 pages, 2 figures, Minor changes, Published versio

First-principles study of amorphous germanium under pressure

In this paper we present the study of the modifications of structural propertiesof a-Ge due to the application of external pressure. The investigations are carried out in the framework of density functional theory via first-principles molecular dynamics (FPMD)

b-Initio Molecular Dynamics Simulation of High Temperature GeO2

We made a series of molecular dynamic simulations to get a representative, high temperature GeO2 system to eventually be quenched down to room temperature so as to obtain an amorphous system to be studied under pressure for comparison to experimental results. We carefully generated an initial configuration such that all simulations have entirely been carried out by ab-initio methods in the range 10K-3000K

Automotive diesel engine transient operation: modeling, optimization and control

Traditionally, the study of internal combustion engines operation has focused on the steady-state performance. However, the daily driving schedule of automotive engines is inherently related to unsteady conditions. There are various operating conditions experienced by (diesel) engines that can be classified as transient. Besides the variation of the engine operating point, in terms of engine speed and torque, also the warm up phase can be considered as a transient condition. Chapter 2 has to do with this thermal transient condition; more precisely the main issue is the performance of a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system during cold start and warm up phases of the engine. The proposal of the underlying work is to investigate and identify optimal exhaust line heating strategies, to provide a fast activation of the catalytic reactions on SCR. Chapters 3 and 4 focus the attention on the dynamic behavior of the engine, when considering typical driving conditions. The common approach to dynamic optimization involves the solution of a single optimal-control problem. However, this approach requires the availability of models that are valid throughout the whole engine operating range and actuator ranges. In addition, the result of the optimization is meaningful only if the model is very accurate. Chapter 3 proposes a methodology to circumvent those demanding requirements: an iteration between transient measurements to refine a purpose-built model and a dynamic optimization which is constrained to the model validity region. Moreover all numerical methods required to implement this procedure are presented. Chapter 4 proposes an approach to derive a transient feedforward control system in an automated way. It relies on optimal control theory to solve a dynamic optimization problem for fast transients. From the optimal solutions, the relevant information is extracted and stored in maps spanned by the engine speed and the torque gradient