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Rocco RONGO - Professori Associati

Rocco RONGO

Professori Associati

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Biography Graduated “summa cum laude” in Mathematics in 1992 at the University of Calabria, Italy; Since 1993 collaborator in different European and National Research projects ; From 1999 to 2002 research fellow at the Department of Earth Sciences of University of Calabria; Since 2002 member of the High Performance Computing Centre at University of Calabria; Since December 20, 2002 Assistant Professor in Computer Science at the Department of Earth Sciences; Scientific responsible of Laboratory of Geo-Informatics of the Department of Earth Sciences. Regular teacher for Computer Sciences, GIS and geo-spatial analysis; Researches Activities The area of interest, in which the searches are carried out, belong to the modelling and simulation field of Complex Systems by Cellular Automata and Genetics Algorithms using Parallel Computing. In particular, geological process, such as lava, pyroclastic and debris flow, soil erosion, water and polluting ground percolation, bioremediation, are modelled and simulated using Macroscopic Cellular Automata and calibrated by Genetic Algorithms. The necessity to obtain the results of the simulation in a reasonable computational time suggested the adoption of Parallel computing implementing the models by adopting the MPI-Message Passing Interface library. The new research lines concern in the application of the developed models to define applications for land-use and civil defence planning in the long-term, to quantify, in real-time, the impact of imminent events (lava or debris flows), and to assess the efficiency of protective measures. An innovative methodology for the definition of lava flow invasion susceptibility maps has been devised and the corresponding methodology relatively to debris flows is in progress.
BIOGRAPHY SKETCH Rocco Rongo was born in Naples (Italy) on August 08, 1965. In 1992 he graduated “summa cum laude” in Mathematics. Since 1993 he is collaborator in different European and National Research projects ; From 1999 to 2002 he had a Research Fellowship at Department of Earth Sciences of the University of Calabria. Since December 20, 2002 he is an Assistant Professor in Computer Science at the same Department. Since 2004 he is member of the High Performance Computing Centre at University of Calabria. Lecturer for Computer Sciences, GIS and geo-spatial analysis courses at the University of Calabria. RESEARCH ACTIVITIES The area of interest, in which the researches are carried out, belong to the modelling and simulation field of Complex Systems by Cellular Automata and Genetics Algorithms using Parallel Computing. In particular, geological process, such as lava, pyroclastic and debris flow, soil erosion, water and polluting ground percolation, bioremediation, are modelled and simulated using Macroscopic Cellular Automata and calibrated by Genetic Algorithms. The necessity to obtain the results of the simulation in a reasonable computational time suggested the adoption of Parallel computing implementing the models by adopting the MPI-Message Passing Interface library. PARALLEL COMPUTING His interest in parallel computing started from his thesis work with the design and implementation of a Cellular Automata environment on MIMD architectures, in particular on a network of INMOS-Transputer, creating a general purpose software that permits underlying parallelism to be transparent to users. Since 2001,when at University of Calabria was set up on the High Performance Computing Centre(HPCC) he had the opportunity to implement several models of complex geological phenomena on high performing parallel computers, both simulation and optimization (based on the paradigm of genetic algorithms). In both cases, techniques based on MPI library (Message Passing Interface), for exchanging data between computing nodes, were adopted. Along with the research mainly based on concurrent programming, he also begins actively to the development of models, and then implementing the final phase of their validation. MODELING: LAVA FLOW The decision to model lava flows by Cellular Automata is derived from the fact that using numerical methods, which are related to the solution of differential equations that govern the lava flow (the Navier-Stokes equations), is very difficult. Many national and international projects and collaborations have promoted the development of this model (e.g. IPGP -Institute de Physique du Globe de Paris, Observatoires Volcanologiques du Reunion, National Institute of geophysics and Volcanology, National Institute of Meteorology and Geophysics of Capo Verde). The recent evolution of the SCIARA model (Simulation by Cellular Interactive Automata of the Rheology of Aetnean lava flows) consisted in the introduction of the Binghamian rheological behavior which takes into account the variation of the viscosity of the magma as the temperature varies. Moreover, the idea of the hexagonal tessellation was abandoned, returning to a classical representation of the square DEM (Digital Elevation Model) introducing appropriate corrections in order to mitigate the problem of anisotropy of the flows. MODELING: DEBRIS FLOW On the basis of the encouraging result obtained with the SCIARA model and thanks to a collaboration with the CNR-IRPI (Italian National Research Council - Research Institute for Geo-Hydrological Protection) the development of a Cellular Automata Model for debris flow simulation was considered. The first phenomena on which the SCIDDICA (Simulation through Computational Innovative methods for the Detection of Debris flow path using Interactive Cellular Automata) model was applied was the Mount Ontake (Japan) event occurred in 1984. This was an excellent case study because it was accurately monitored from local researchers. Sciddica was then applied to the Tessina landslide and with was able to also simulate the tragic events occurred in 1998 in Sarno (Campania-Italy) As part of a MIUR-PRIN research project the model was extended for the simulation of subaerial and submarine flows derived from gravitational instability processes along the coast. The results obtained were particularly encouraging. MODELING: PYROCLASTIC FLOW After the positive experiences obtained with the development of the SCIARA and SCIDDICA models, also pyroclastic flows were considered to be modeled by Cellular Automata. The particular complexity of the phenomenon needed of a careful literature search with the aim to better understand the main cinematic mechanism. Unfortunately, in literature, real events considered as case study are not at present well described. Despite the difficulty to find information, some coarse data relative to the 1991 Mt.Pinatubo (Philippines) event and the 1996 Soufrière Hills, Monserrat, events was retrieved. Nevertheless, their simulations by the PYR model produced promising results. MODELING: SOILS BIO-REMEDIATION Among systems described in terms of local interactions by Cellular Automata, studies on soil bioremediation were addressed in two projects of the European Community ESPRIT: CABOTO-CAPRI and the following COLOMBO. Both concerned the development and implementation of a portable simulation environment on distributed memory computers, using the standard MPI (Message Passing Interface) library. The soil bioremediation problem is extremely complex since it involves the composition of phenomena of various forms: physical, chemical and biological. The first step of the problem regarded the pollution by phenol bioremediation with indigenous bacteria (CABOTO), by initially developing a first CA model with three "layers" (physical, chemical and biological). The first applications, related to limited laboratory cases concerning fluid dynamics of the phenomenon, were quite encouraging despite model validation problems. In fact, the use of a high number of parameters to be calibrated in the model made it necessary to use genetic algorithms for their optimization, applied for the first time to macroscopic CA models. MODELING: HIGHWAY TRAFFIC In collaboration with researchers from the Department of Urban Planning at the University of Calabria, Rende, CRAI and the Department of Electrical Engineering and Applied Mathematics, University of Reggio Calabria, a model for the microscopic simulation of traffic on the highway has been developed, to globally model the main features of the phenomenon in comparison with traditional ones, which describe only partial aspects. Starting from the partial implementation of the model on sequential computers, the simulations have achieved a good agreement with experimental highway traffic data, relative to highways with two lanes and congested traffic conditions. Subsequently, the possibility of using the Camel framework has allowed to refine the model, by also considering three-lane highways and high traffic. The results of the simulations have reproduced correctly the experimental data for a wide range of conditions of the highway. OPTIMIZATION: GENETIC ALGORITHMS As part of the validation and optimization of the parameters used in the various computation models (in particular, models for the simulation of debris flows and lava), since 2004 begins a new line of research and application regarding automatic optimization methods, such as Genetic Algorithms (GA). A GA is a general-purpose search algorithm inspired by genetics and natural selection. The GA simulates the evolution of a population of candidate solutions in a specific research problem, encouraging the "reproduction" of individuals that are more appropriate (genotype). The validation of simulation CA models occurred in the past by means of the classical trial and error method. While this methodology was valid in the case of models with few parameters, the introduction of additional terms of variability in the outcome of the models required the adoption of automated (and more sophisticated) optimization techniques. Applications of AG (in particular versions implemented on parallel computers) for the optimization of parameters of cellular automata models for lava and debris flows have proved the validity of the method, both in terms of computational efficiency, and in terms of goodness of the solutions produced. NEW RESEARCH LINES The experience gained over the years regarding Message Passing techniques, of modeling and optimization, has led recently to the creation of project group for the implementation of a C ++ open-source parallel library for Scientific Computing: libAuToti. The library, built for the definition of macroscopic Cellular Automata and portable across different platforms (ie Windows, Linux, MacOS), allows a simple and concise definition of the transition function and other model characteristics (eg size of the cellular space, the definition of substates / parameters, etc.). It is equally suitable for sequential and parallel architectures (thanks to the adoption of MPI), hiding, in this case, implementation details to the user. Particular attention was paid to the optimization of the parallel engine and load balancing, allowing a better communication efficiency, thus increasing overall performances. Performance tests, performed on both high-performance machines (eg an Alpha Server SC45 to 16 knots) and low-cost machines (eg an Intel dual-core generation) confirmed the validity of the library, exhibiting excellent scalability values. Simultaneously, several viewer modules were also implemented, written in OpenGL and wxWidgets, which can be directly used with programs that use libAuToti, allowing an interactive and graphic interface in experiments. Simultaneously with this last research, another line regarding Web 2.0 applications for scientific computing has been launched. SWII (Sciddica Web Interactive Interface) is a first example of application of a Cellular Automata model used directly on the Internet. The user interface is based on AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript And XML), provides a clear separation between the client and server application, and permits a high degree of interactivity and usability for the user. Applications of the first prototype are based on the SWII SCIDDICA S4D model, one of the last of a version of advanced models for simulating phenomena of inertial debris flows. The perfect application modularity allows the replacement of the model with any other (also not based on the CA paradigm), even if Cellular macroscopic Automata which are designed in a similar way (eg for the model SCIARA lava), are to be preferred. Another aspect of the developing research is closely related to the type of the studied phenomena. In fact, lava flows, pyroclastic flows or landslides are closely related to the morphologies and territories on which they evolve. Therefore, the possibility of integrating the models so far developed with GIS environments in order to obtain a "virtual laboratory" are currently being investigated, permitting the mapping of the phenomenon in the area and allowing a detailed geo-statistics analysis. This integration will be particularly useful for Civil Defence purposes, since it would assess results with a very high detail and immediately permit to obtain all the features of the area affected by the phenomenon, thanks to the possibility to query the database associated with the GIS. RESEARCH PROJECTS 2008-2010: Project: INGVV3/6 – Etna 2008-2010 – Financed by the Italian Civil Protection Agency - Definition of lava flow invasion susceptibility maps for Mt Etna 2006-2007: Project: INGV V3/6 – Etna 2005-2007 - Financed by the Italian Civil Protection Agency - Definition of lava flow invasion susceptibility maps for Mt Etna 2007-2009: Project: PRIN 2006- prot. 2006042319 - Integration of innovative techniques for geological and geophysical exploration of onshore and offshore for the study of coastal processes of gravitational instability – Period: 2007-2009: Project: MIUR - FIRB (Fund for Investment in Basic Research) - Lava flow simulation by cellular automata - Protocol: RBAU01RMZ4 – Period: 2003-2006. 2002 – 2005: Project: Development of a Space-Time Modeling Experimental Evolutionary Processes Environment and Spatial Planning for Hazard Mitigation Financed by the Campania Region. 1999 – 2001: European Project: Programme EnviroNment and Climate- FLOW Subproject (Sponsor: European Commision) 1998-2000: Project: HPCN-COLOMBO (Sponsor: European Commision). 1998 – 2000: European project: European Programme EnviroNment and Climate Project – RUNOUT subproject (Sponsor: European Commision). 1995 – 1996: Project: HPCN-ESPRIT-CAPRI (Calcolo ad Alte PRestazioni per le Imprese)-subproject CABOTO (Sponsor: European Commision).
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