MaIn Intensive Programme - Mathematical Models for Social Innovation
23 June - 4 July 2014
Lecture room
MaIn IP 2014 will be held from 23 June to 4 July 2014 at the University of L'Aquila, Italy.
Lectures will be given at the Department of Information Engineering, Computer Science and Mathematics, located in Coppito (an area to the west of L'Aquila, see the MAP) close to the main hospital "San Salvatore".
The lecture rooms are 1.7 and 2.5. They are in the Math Department, first and second floor respectively - main building (the grey one)
Scientific Committee
- Bruno Rubino, University of L'Aquila
- Aureli Alabert, Autonomous University of Barcelona
- Jaroslaw Rybicki, Gdansk University of Technology
- Ingenuin Gasser, University of Hamburg
- François Delarue, University of Nice - Sophia Antipolis
- Josef Šlapal, Brno University of Technology
List of the Partner Institutions involved in MaIn IP 2014
- Autonomous University of Barcelona
- Brno University of Technology
- Gdansk University of Technology
- Hamburg University
- Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine (London)
- International School for Advanced Studies (Trieste)
- Middle East Technical University (Ankara)
- Second University of Naples
- Tehnical University of Cluj Napoca
- University of Bath
- University of Brescia
- University of Crete
- University of Naples "Federico II"
- University of Nice Sophia Antipolis
- University of Padua
- University of Rome "La Sapienza"
Presentation
Our 2014 Intensive Programme (IP) in MaIn - Mathematical models for social innovation involves a set of short courses and seminars addressed to MSc and PhD students.
The programme will revolve around applied mathematics viewed as an interdisciplinary area at the interface with engineering, economy, life and social sciences. It will cover several applied topics including models for opinion formation, individual based simulations, modeling earthquakes. We will be addressing different methodologies, such as the analysis of partial differential equations, numerical calculus and simulations, stochastic calculus and kinetic modelling. MaIn IP 2014 aims also to have a strong social impact for the Abruzzi Region and L’Aquila, which are still suffering from the consequences of the 2009 earthquake.
The programme will be hosted by the D.I.S.I.M. (Department of Information Engineering, Computer Sciences and Mathematics) of the University of L'Aquila in the period June 23 - July 4, 2014.
All the students who wish to join our summer school must be currently enrolled at a MSc or PhD course in one of the following disciplines:
- mathematics,
- applied mathematics,
- physics,
- engineering
- or similar subjects.
The participation of students and teachers will be supported by the LLP Erasmus Programme (see the partner universities and the details about reimbursement).
To register, enter the Application Form.
Reimbursement for LLP participants
Applicants from LLP partner institutions (but not from the University of L'Aquila) are eligible for a reimbursement of living and travel expenses.
This contribution is offered by the LLP Italian National Agency. 
We assume to select:
- around 50 students (MSc or PhD) for the contribution for travel costs and the contribution for accommodation and subsistence costs: this corresponds to an average of 3 students for each partner institution.
- around 15 teachers for the contribution for travel costs and the contribution for accommodation and subsistence costs.
The contact person of each institution in the Organizing Committee is responsible for the selection of students in their universities.
Details about Reimbursement
Reservation for lodging and contribution for subsistence costs.
Please notice that students and teachers from LLP partner universities will be hosted in university premises free of charge for the whole period of the IP. Unfortunately, the Erasmus agency applies a very low daily amount for subsistence costs of students (159 euro per week, both for lodging and full board). That's why, in addition to the accommodation, we can confirm that we will only be able to offer students free access to the university canteen (open on working days). We hope we'll be able to offer some additional support to students, but we cannot guarantee anything at the moment.
Reimbursement for travel costs.
- We are allowed to reimburse travel costs only to teachers and students (MSc and PhD) who are from LLP partner institutions.
- The Erasmus Agency requires each single participant to certify they bought the cheapest flight ticket they could find. In addition, only tickets from/to the town of your home institution can be reimbursed. In any case the reimbursement for travel costs cannot be higher than 450 euros.
- Please upload a copy of your electronic ticket as soon as possible. If you have an online check-in, please upload a pdf copy of it, as well. Otherwise, please keep the boarding pass with you and hand it to us when you arrive. Without that, we will not be able to reimburse your travel expenses!
- For the participants who need a visa, please contact the organizers to ask for a specific invitation letter. The cost of the visa will be reimbursed if the participant provides the original receipt of payment.
- For any additional tickets (or not electronic ones), when you are here, you'll have to provide us with the original one. In addition, you will be requested to provide us with the original boarding pass (if you have not uploaded the electronic one).
Lecture Details
Askan
TITLE
Estimation of Seismic Losses in Urban Regions within an Interdisciplinary Mathematical Framework: A Case Study
LECTURER
Aysegul Askan, Middle East Technical University, Turkey
ABSTRACT
Risk mitigation in urban regions starts with identification of potential seismic losses in future earthquakes. Estimation of seismic losses concerns a wide range of authorities varying from geophysical and earthquake engineers, physical and economic planners to insurance companies while the process naturally involves inputs from multiple disciplines. In this study a city model is constructed where potential seismic losses are expressed in terms of building vulnerabilities and regional seismic hazard. The main components of the study are probabilistic and deterministic seismic hazard assessment and estimation of potential ground motions, regional building vulnerability and fragility information, casualty and economic loss functions. Each stage involves mathematical modeling with well-defined input parameters regarding the physical process involved.
In this seminar, description of the multiple stages of the algorithm will be presented followed by a case study.
As the study area, Erzincan, a city on the eastern part of the North Anatolian Fault zone, Turkey is selected. Located within a triple conjunction of major fault systems within a basin structure, and experienced a major event (Ms=8.3) in 1939, this city has significant hazard potential. I will present the initial results in terms of key components such as construction of a 2D velocity model, ground motion simulations of past earthquakes and scenario events, site-specific probabilistic seismic hazard analyses and fragility functions derived using regional building characteristics along with simulated regional ground motion data.
Chiorean
TITLE
Advanced Nonlinear Inelastic Analysis Methods for Seismic Performance Evaluation of Structures
LECTURER
Cosmin Chiorean, TU Cluj-Napoca (Romania)
ABSTRACT
Di Francesco
TITLE
Interacting particle systems in social sciences. Microscopic and macroscopic descriptions.
LECTURER
Marco Di Francesco, University of Bath
ABSTRACT
The goal of this mini course is to introduce deterministic particle methods and continuum partial differential equations for systems of interacting agents in animal biology and sociology. We will first introduce the concept of gradient flow in finite dimensions. We shall then construct gradient flows of systems of interacting particles subject to nonlocal forces, which consist of systems of ODEs. We shall show with simple examples that simple qualitative properties of the interaction potentials account for phenomena such as finite time collapse (or consensus), clustering, confinement. In the second part of the course we shall introduce continuum systems, consisting of PDEs with nonlocal fluxes. We shall then provide a short introduction to transport distances in spaces of probability measures, and prove that some properties of the particle systems can be proven for the continuum counterpart. Finally, I will consider models with nonlinear diffusion, and prove the existence of stationaty states under suitable conditions on the interaction potentials.
Doglioni
TITLE
A Tectonic model of the Earth and earthquakes
LECTURER
Carlo Doglioni, INGV
ABSTRACT
The mechanisms of geodynamics are still unclear. We will revise the main geometric and kinematic constraints of plate tectonics in order to formulate some new dynamical inferences. The astronomical effects on plate motion will be discussed. This framework allows to present a new model also for the generation of earthquakes as being controlled by stress and strain gradients occurring within the Earth’s outer shell.
Emolo
TITLE
Inverse problems: a tale of adventure
LECTURER
Antonio Emolo, University of Naples "Federico II"
ABSTRACT
Let us imagine we find ourselves on a gleaming white beach somewhere in the Caribbean with time in our hands, a device that measures changes in gravitational acceleration, and a certain conviction that a golden blob of pirate booty lies somewhere beneath us. In pursuit of wealth, we make a series of measurements of gravity at several points along the beach. How can we use these observations to decide where the pirate gold lies and how much gold is present? Generally speaking, an inverse problem is one in which you want to derive inferences on a physical model from a finite set of observations containing errors. Some examples will be used to discuss the non-uniqueness of solution and the role of data uncertainties. Particular attention will be devoted to linear discrete inverse problems, deriving the least-squares solution and discussing its association with the maximum likelihood. Once the fitted model parameters have been obtained, further investigations have to be done in order to assess the quality of fit and estimating how errors in the data propagate into the model. The issue of data outliers is handled introducing the 1-norm minimization as a robust estimation technique. Some insight about linearized inverse problems will be finally provided.
Festa
TITLE
Earthquake source mechanics
LECTURER
Gaetano Festa, University of Naples "Federico II", Italy
ABSTRACT
In the course I will present theoretical description of the earthquake source, as a nucleating and propagating rupture, its kinematic and dynamic modelling, numerical, analogical and theoretical challenges.
An earthquake source can be modelled as a developing rupture, propagating along weak interfaces inside the Earth, where the tectonic stress concentrates. Nevertheless, a fracture cannot nucleate if a sufficiently large zone does not coherently move in the initial part of an earthquake. I will discuss the physical ingredients that control an earthquake rupture (the friction, the cohesion), present the mathematical formulation of an advancing rupture for nucleation and dynamic propagation, show some theoretical results, solutions and expectation for a realistic propagating earthquake.
As far, I will connect the physical parameters of an earthquake to the data and discuss the inverse problem of characterizing an earthquake rupture from the seismic/geodetic and other geophysical data recorded immediately after a large earthquake. I will discuss the ill posedness of the inverse problem and actual trials of regularization for the problem.
Finally, I will discuss the challenges of numerical methods in describing a propagating rupture, with specific application toward high-order finite element methods.
Lippiello
TITLE
An introduction to statistical seismology
LECTURER
Eugenio Lippiello, Second University of Naples, Caserta (Italy)
ABSTRACT
Statistical seismology is the application of rigorous statistical methods to earthquake occurrence. Its main scope is the improvement of our scientific understanding of physical mechanisms responsible of earthquakes and of the evaluation and testing of earthquake forecasts and seismic hazards assessments. Within this course, seismic occurrence will be framed within the general statistical mechanical approach to complex phenomena. The most relevant statistical models for seismic occurrence will be presented as well as a general framework where seismic occurrence is described as a stochastic process. Within this scheme the evolution of seismic occurrence probability is given by the superposition of a deterministic part plus a random fluctuating contribution. The implications for seismic hazard evaluation will be discussed and some examples of forecasting maps will be presented.
Triacca
TITLE
The influence of atmospheric parameters on radon level: A time series approach
LECTURER
Umberto Triacca, University of L'Aquila
ABSTRACT
Lesson 1. Univariate autoregressive moving average (ARMA) models
Lesson 2. Vector autoregressive (VAR) models
Lesson 3. Granger causality analysis
Riguzzi
TITLE
GNSS monitoring of strain rates in the Italian area
LECTURER
Federica Riguzzi, INGV
ABSTRACT
The Italian peninsula is a rather interesting natural laboratory for geodynamical investigations since its tectonic evolution is affected by the interaction of the African and Eurasian plates. The entire area is characterized by a complex tectonic setting generating slow crustal deformations (at the few mm/yr level) and velocity spatial gradients (strain rates) changing rapidly from point to point. In this perspective, the rapid development of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) networks, with relatively low cost and high accuracy positioning, provides great advances in geodynamical studies. Since the first attempts to measure the convergence rate between Africa and Eurasia at large scale, based on space geodetic methods, current GNSS networks allow to study the deformation process at fault scale level and the seismic cycle evolution.
Twarogowska
TITLE
Modelling and Simulation of Crowd Dynamics
LECTURER
Monika Twarogowska, IAC-CNR
ABSTRACT
Growing population densities combined with easier transport lead to greater accumulation of people and increasing number of life threatening situations due to accidents and panic. Modern designs of walking facilities follow optimal requirements regarding flow efficiency and pedestrians comfort and security. Numerous engineering projects welcome the support of mathematical modelling and simulations in optimization processes. Pedestrians moving within a given walking area can be described at a microscopic scale by a system of ordinary differential equations. However, when the distance between individuals becomes much smaller than the walking area crowd may be considered as a continuum medium and macroscopic models can be applied. In this lecture we will give a general description of the microscopic social force model introduced by Helbing (1) and some macroscopic models: Hughes model (2) and the second order model (3). Then we will present basic numerical methods used to approximate the solutions of the above systems on two dimensional domains. Finally we will give some examples of numerical simulations of evacuation of pedestrians from walking facilities such as a large room, university campus or airport.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. D.Helbing, P.Molnár. Social force model for pedestrian dynamics. Physical Review E, 4282-4286, 1995.
2. R.L.Hughes. A continuum theory for the flow of pedestrians. Transportation research Part B: methodological, 36(6):507-535, 2002.
3. Y.Q.Jiang, P.Zhang, S.C.Wong, R.X.Liu. A higher-order macroscopic model for pedestrian flows. Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, 389(21):4623-4635, 2010
Verdes
TITLE
The Modeling procedures in Earthquake Engineering
LECTURER
Doina Verdes, TU Cluj-Napoca (Romania)
ABSTRACT
1. Introduction
2. The ground movement
3. The structural system: modeling in 1D, 2D, 3D of space dimensions
4. Numerical methods
5. Experimental methods
The lecture presents some procedures used to model and design earthquake resisting buildings. It is starting with the ground movement which is modeled by seismologists, geologists and mathematicians. The engineer uses the accelerograms real or artificial into computation of seismic response of building.
The building is a very complex system which is studied and designed by a multidisciplinary team involving: the architect, the structural engineer, the building facility engineer, the IT engineer, the mechanical engineer into certain environment conditions.
The seismic response of building is the task of structural engineer who is able to model adequately the resistance structure and to find as call seismic response of it and compute on this base the dimensions of structural elements which accomplish the appropriate performance level. Many procedures have been developed to solve this task; these are depending on what type of structure is the building - one level or multistory building - what is the material used to build the structure - steel, reinforced concrete, masonry, wood or is it a simple form or a complicated one, like the bio-mimetic building or high rise building.
The modeling is referring to structure or to structure interacting with nonstructural elements of the building. These are dynamic computation or in certain cases static one. The process is beginning with creation of the dynamic model of the building involving the characteristics of mass, damping and stiffness of the structural system. From this step the equations of seismic equilibrium can be obtained and the mathematics is called again to solve the system of numerous equations.
There are structural systems which need an experimental study in order to validate the theoretical modeling and the seismic response. On this raison are developed the installations to test models at reduced scale of dimensions and masses subjected to accelerograms ; the engineers asked tests on as call shake table which can move in the one to three or six directions on space.
The procedure presented will have examples of computation and the applications on case study buildings. Experimental test on shake table will be also presented in order to better understand the complexity of the modeling of seismic response of the building.
