ABC PhD Program Guide

Welcome day – 30th cycle
Aula didattica, NAVE – Campus Leonardo,
Politecnico di Milano – November 3rd, 2014
ABCPhD Program
Architecture, Built Environment
and Construction Engineering
Doctorate Program

A long presentation …
1. What is a PhD (and some starting tips …)
2. Where are you (we)
3. Who are we? And: What is our vision?
4. Management principles
5. Courses (insegnamenti)
6. You!!
7. How stakeholders may work with us?

What is a PhD?
Notes by enrico de angelis with reference to Matt Might, Ken Robinson,
Nathan Yau, Peter Kraker, the whole StarTrek saga … and others!

The origin of PhD
19° century: german education reform
The faculties of science and humanities start demanding a formal research
dissertation for the award of their degree
Doctor of Philosophy (abbreviated as Ph.D.)

The german practice is a success!
• US students come in Germany to get a PhD
after their Bachelor
• Yale University start a PhD Degree in 1861:
– Postgrad Courses + thesis
• From the beginning of 20° century, European
and US universities move toward three
degrees: Bachelor, Master, Doctorate
• In Italy Dottorato starts in 1985

Il dormiglione (Sleeper), 1973.
In the original US version, she pretends to have a PhD.
In the Italian translation, she has only a Master (the discipline il … XXXrated)

A fun, smart, humorous site
PhD Comics

Internet is plenty of jokes about PhD
• You can find many tips too!
• Just try not to get lost in the network
• «MODERN TECHNOLOGY MAKES POSSIBLE TO
SIT AT YOUR DESK FOR HOURS AND NOT
ACCOMPISH ANYTHING PRODUCTIVE: it is
called INTERNET»

This slide is just to quote that PhD is such a viral topic in the
net that it gave birth to a comics series: www. phdcomics.com

What is a PhD, from MATT MIGHT

(Thanks4yourslides, Matt)
Suppose this circle represent the advancing
boundary of actual human knowledge …

… And that this is your primary school learning
of such an amount of knowledge …

… And this what you gain from your secondary
school studies …

… bachelor …

… master …

… and phd…

Let’s go closer!

A successful Phd is able to go beyond
boundaries!

May be it is not enough to do something really
immediately useful … but it is always a step toward!

Others’ notes and tips about PhD

ROAMING: an occasion you will hardly have again!
Nathan Yau, Tips on making it through, what I would tell my previous self going in,
and advice on taking advantage of the unique opportunity that is graduate school.

Some tips by Nathan Yau
absorb information!

find an adviser!

jump at opportunities!

learn to say no!

you are alone!

NOT SO ALONE!
Distribution of R&D professionals http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.SCIE.RD.P6/countries?display=map

• There are thousands of researchers in Europe,
hundried thousands in the world: the most of
them works on actual (the same?) topics

http://tapastic.com/episode/22823

BE PREPARED!
It will happen! For sure!!
Let’s go back to M.Might

Other tips by Matt Might
3 qualities of successful PhD students
• Perseverance
• Tenacity
• Cogency (ability to
persuade)
http://matt.might.net/articles/successful-phd-students/
I add another one:
• Frugal, agile … lean
http://www.influencia.net/fr/actualites1/innovations,innovation-ingenieuse-faire-
plus-avec-moins,41,3909.html

See also:
• A thesis proposal is a contract
• How to get a great letter of recommendation
• Defending your PhD (Academic martial arts)
• How to get into grad school for science …
• How to send and reply to email
• 10 easy ways to fail a PhD
• 6 blog tips for busy academics …

See also: PhD-by-enrico-de-angelis

Where are we?
(Politecnico di Milano)

Politecnico di Milano
– 229th university (previous 230)
– 31th technical university (previous 29)
– 8th technical university in Europe (previous 11)
(after: ETH Zurich, University of Cambridge, Imperial
College, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne,
University of Oxford, Delft University of Technology,
Technische Universität München)
Dati 2014!

Part of the Italian Research System
Articles per Global Expenditure in Research
and Development (GERD) in million dollars
Immagini e dati
dal rapporto
Elsevier 2013

PhD in the Italian Research System
Valore assoluto del numero di
dottorandi nei Paesi analizzati
dal rapporto Elsevier2013
Si noti
• crescita: USA/CHI/UK
• Decrescita: ITA/JPN
• Valore assoluto:
UK=2ITA
DEU=3ITA
ITALY DOESN’T BELIEVE IN PhD
Immagini e dati
dal rapporto
Elsevier 2013

PhD School – Polimi
@Polimi
1985 PhD Programs started
2001 PhD School started
2014 XXX cycle
 18 Programmes
 More than 1100 PhD candidates
 370 new PhD candidates per year (~ 75% of them earn
grants or research contracts) (~ 1300 applications)
 ~ 28% International students (33% in 2013-14)
 ~ 200 third-level courses, held by Italian and
POLITECNICO BELIEVES IN PhD
International Experts
 3692 PhDs in about 30 years
 Less than 1/3 works in university
 Teaching mostly in English – at least an English track
 Research in international environment (international
projects, professors, PhD candidates)

Who are we?
(Dipartimento ABC-Dottorato ABC)

The ABC Department
ABC: Architecture, Built Environment
and Construction Engineering
– 155 Researchers, Associate and Full professors
– About 100 “Assistant Researchers” (assegnisti),
“Assistant Professors” and other contracts
– About 40 Administrative and Technical Staff
– About 100 PhD Students (average num.)

ICAR05 TRASPORTI
ICAR06 TOPOGRAFIA E CARTOGRAFIA
ICAR07 GEOTECNICA
ICAR08 SCIENZA DELLE COSTRUZIONI
ICAR09 TECNICA DELLE COSTRUZIONI
ICAR10 ARCHITETTURA TECNICA
ICAR11 PRODUZIONE EDILIZIA
ICAR12 TECNOLOGIA DELL'ARCHITETTURA
ICAR14 COMPOSIZIONE ARCHITET. E ICAR15 ARCHITETTURA DEL PAESAGGIO
ICAR17 DISEGNO
ICAR18 STORIA DELL'ARCHITETTURA
ICAR19 RESTAURO
ICAR21 URBANISTICA
ICAR22 ESTIMO
INGIND11 FISICA TECNICA AMBIENTALE
MED42 IGIENE GENERALE E APPLICATA
SECSP06 ECONOMIA APPLICATA
SECSP07 ECONOMIA AZIENDALE
Architectural
&Urban Design
Structural
Mechanics
Building Technologies
Modelling
The Disciplines of the Department

ABC-Dept comes from a fusion
The department is the result of a complex fusion
process among different scientific groups

The PhD Program too
ABC-PhD Program
Doctoral program in Architecture, Built
Environment and Construction Engineering

General Presentation
ABC-PhD Program has been established in 2012, following the complete
reorganization of the area of Architecture, Built Environment and
Construction Engineering in one only Department.
It results as merge of the following four PhD Programs:
– Architectural Composition
– Building Systems Engineering
– Design and Technologies Exploitation for the Cultural Heritage
– Technology and Design for Environment and Building
These four programs have been joined by a group of researchers from a fifth
one: the PhD Program in Structural Seismic and Geotechnical Engineering.
All these Programs have been separately active since 1990, mainly focussing
on one only discipline. Their merge was aimed at optimizing the capability of
the Department in facing and solving complex training needs, with a single
organizational unit.
ABC
PhD
ARCHITECTURAL
COMPOSITION
Building System
ENGINEERING
Cultural
Heritage
Built Environment
Technologies
Structural
Engineering

ABC PhD Program
Cosa siamo noi?
What is our vision?

Dottorato di Ricerca in Architettura, ingegneria delle costruzioni e ambiente costruito
PhD Programme in Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering
ABC-PhD Trained to face
complex questions
The mission of ABC Doctoral Program is to train future researchers for the extensive
field of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering.
PhD-Candidates are trained to face complex questions, to develop in-depth analysis and
reliable models (theories) of complex contexts (seen as physical, economic,
environmental or social systems) and to innovate: concepts, products and their use,
rules and organisations. These skills are proven realizing an original study (the PhD
thesis) a specific Research theme in one of the following research field (each with a
certain degree of overlap on the others):
1. Advanced Materials and Innovative Systems for Buildings
2. Design and Technologies for the Energy-Efficient and Sustainable Built Environment
3. Risk prevention and emergency management
4. Architectural Design and Urban Design
5. Complex Buildings Design, Construction and Management
6. Preservation, Valorisation and Promotion of Built Heritage
7. ICT and Smart Systems in Construction and Planning
8. Built Environment Economics and Management
Coordinatore/Head
prof. Enrico De Angelis , deputy head C.Castiglioni, A.Ciaramella, S.Protasoni
Segreteria/contacts
sig.ra Marchegiani Cristina
Documenti/documents
Any reference document about ABC-PhD Program can be dowloaded here.
Trained to face
complex questions
in complex contexts
Trained to innovate

ABC PhD VISION (the future)
• Our vision wish:
– Our students to become self-sufficient, independent
“actors”, able to gain – as scientist, as intellectuals, as
professionals or as entrepreneurs – an outstanding
position at an international level.
– Our PhD Program to become – in few years – the Italian
Point of Reference for training experts in all the most
critical subjects related to the sustainable (environmental,
economical, social and cultural sustainability)
transformation and management of the Built Environment
ecosystem

What do we need?
WE ARE A GREAT STRUCTURE
and WE WANT to be competitive

A competitive PhD
Works on actual topics

ABCPhD’s Eight research fields
1. Advanced Materials and Innovative Systems for Buildings
2. Design and Technologies for the Energy-Efficient and
Sustainable Built Environment
3. Risk prevention and emergency management
4. Architectural Design and Urban Design
5. Complex Buildings Design, Construction and Management
6. Preservation, Valorisation and Promotion of Built Heritage
7. ICT and Smart Systems in Construction and Planning
8. Built Environment Economics and Management

A competitive PhD is
An interesting PhD
In an “interesting” PhD, candidates are
independend and free but not alone

ABC-PhD studies in particular:
to work independently – not alone
• Candidate’s training through research
• Candidates work is supported by a strong Mentorship
• Research training is embedded in institutional
strategies and policies: (Sistematica Collaborazione
all’interno in programmi di ricerca dipartimentali)

I docenti del Collegio di dottorato

The advisory board
New entries:
– Mauro Fasano (regione Lombardia)
– Pietro Baratono (provveditore LLPP Liguria,
Lombardia e Emilia Romagna)
– Lorenzo Bellicini (CRESME)
– Pietro Petraroia (Eupolis)

An interesting PhD
An “interesting” PhD offers Candidates
great opportunities for a great works
and results are seriously assessed

ABC-PhD studies in particular: work, work,
work, work and independent assessment
+
– Mentorship comes together with systematic independent
assessment and review of candidate’s projects and products
– Candidate is requested to produce original research
and knowledge advancements
– Results are expected from the first year

An interesting PhD
An “interesting” PhD gives actual skills
(and competitive advantages)

ABC-PhD studies in particular:
Tailor made training
Each Candidate defines, with the
Tutor his/her Research and Training
Plan (R&Tplan):
– A lot of research activity about a
chosen topic (66-85%).
– Some formal training (few):
• For a common starting level
and to fill possible gaps
• To get some basic skills
(e.g. research management and
communication)
• To be updated about specific
topics

An interesting PhD
An interesting PhD has strong relations
with competitors and is part of the
huge network of the global research

There are thousands of researchers in Europe,
hundried thousands in the world: the most of
them works on similar projects and topics

An interesting PhD
… has strong relation with stakeholders
…

ABC-PhD 29° Program (2013-2016)
• 9 Scholarships from MIUR
• 3 Scholarships “Fondo sostegno giovani” [DM 198/03]
• 3 Scholarships funded by external entities
• 3 Internal scholarships
• 1 scholarship fondazione Fratelli Confalonieri
• 3 students without scholarships
More than 50% of the scholarships are
strongly related to research contracts or
external sponsorships
TOTAL 22 PhD Candidates

ABC-PhD 30° Program (2014-2018)
• 9 Scholarships from MIUR
• 3 Scholarships “Fondo sostegno giovani” [DM 198/03]
• 2 Internal scholarships (others will be added)
• 8 Cofunded scholarships (Department+external
entities)
The number of students without scholarships and other
internal scholarships are expected to grow the TOTAL
NUMBER up to about 30 PhD CANDIDATES
The expected n. of ABC-PhD Candidates (three cycles) is
about one hundried
More than 50% of the scholarships are
strongly related to research contracts or
external sponsorships

An interesting PhD
We want you to have strong relation with
stakeholders: the PhD Program is YOU

We don’t want Candidates
OPEN to live INNOVATION
in a glass bowl
Inside-out
Outside-in
know led g e
r eso urces
skills
id ea s

You are encouraged to jump out
Image from Cheeky Scientist Association, from the post “How To
Transition From Academia Into Business”
http://cheekyscientist.com/phd-jobs/

… to open the door and look around
… before ending your PhD and your scholarship!
Published by AAAS, ILLUSTRATION: ROBERT NEUBECKER

PhD studies in general
 The PhD title is a necessary requirement
to enter the Academy and a professorship
but
 A PhD holder is appreciated by companies
(and public institutions) also in Italy
 PhD is a must, in many foreign countries,
for high management positions also outside of
research labs
 So, stay in touch with your stakeholders and
create relationships for your (and our) sake

Urban legend
It is no more true that big companies don’t want
to hire PhDs because they’re overqualified and
too independent, so, it is easier to get a job with
a Master of Science than with a PhD»
«PhD-qualified professionals are in high
demand. The problem is that very few PhDs
know how to leverage their PhD».
Just don’t expect the world be served on a
sliver platter
Isaiah Hankel, “7 Advantages PhDs Have Over Other
Job Candidates” www.cheekyscientist.com

1. A researcher knows how to find answers
If you are trained to identify
and solve problems, you are
trained for decision-making:
• critical thinking
• complex problem solving

2. A researcher is not frightened
he/she learns from failures

3. A researcher is not frightened
he/she comfortable with uncertainty

4. A researcher is taught (tempered)
for high level communication
You don’t just regurgitate information, you create it.

5. A researcher is taught (tempered)
to compete and to cooperate

6. A researcher is fully experienced
with negative bosses
(not always negative!)

7. Researcher talent is innovation
[disruptive innovation]
«les docteurs … peuvent apporter “les innovations de rupture” qui feront les
emplois et la croissance de demain» M.C. Corbier, LesEcho.fr 12/11/14

We are you 100
Per ora tra 50 e 60 dottorandi …

… some more about
ABC PhD
and its management principles

Management principles
• MILESTONES, Mentors and other figures
• R&T Plan
• Colleagues
• Courses
• Thesis and excellence

MILESTONE-ZERO
• Candidates present their R&T program to the
Board.
• The PhD Program Board will assign a
(tentative) Research Topic to each PhD
Candidate and …
• … will appoint a Tutor, for each one of them.

The Tutor
• The Tutor is chosen among the members of the PhD
Program Board, with the following assignment:
– To refine – together with the PhD Student – the
definition of his/her Research Topic.
– To monitor, supervise and support the PhD
Student in his/her activity.
• He periodically refers, with a written report to the
PhD Program Board, about the attainment of
Student’s objectives and the quality of his/her work.
FORMAT 02MOD_ABCPhD Tutor’s an Supervisor’s evaluation

The Supervisor
• Once the Student has reasonably detailed the
subject of his/her PhD Thesis and completed his/her
competencies and skills, the PhD Program Board will
appoint a Supervisor who will guide and support the
Student in the development of his/her research
activities related to the thesis.

The Reviewer
• At the end of the third year – or before, if
needed – the PhD Program Board will appoint
one or more external Reviewer to evaluate
PhD Student’s work and Thesis.
La figura del Reviewer può anticipare, già fin dalla
valutazione del primo anno, una figura indipendente di
valutatore esterno, evitando che ogni membro del
collegio sia obbligato a valutare tutti i candidati.

MILESTONE01
• Milestone 1 – 6 months
The candidate presents the Academic Board the main
research issues arising from his/her first overview of
the State of the Art and Reference Bibliography for
the Research Area/Topic under investigation.

MILESTONE02
• Milestone 2 – 12 months (1st year annual exam)
Presentation of the Research Project, revision of the
R&T Plan, with a detail of the future work
(foreign stay in particular) and of the first scientific
products. A Supervisor may be identified and
appointed to support the elaboration of the Student’s
research.

MILESTONE03
Presentation of Research Project progress, the main
Training Program changes and scientific products. The
PhD-Program Board review the feasibility, the
originality and the scientific relevance of Student’s
Research, on the basis of the evaluation of the Tutor
evaluation. Student’s Supervisor is definitely
appointed.

MILESTONE04
• Milestone 4 – 24 months (2nd year annual exam)
First draft of the thesis work; research progress, main
Training Program changes and scientific products.
The Board examines and assesses the value and the
originality of the research, on the basis of Tutor’s and
Supervisor’s documented evaluation.
A reviewer may be appointed to have an
independent assessment of Candidate’s products.

MILESTONE05
Draft of the PhD thesis (with a complete list of
contents), of the main Training Program changes and
scientific products. The PhD-Program Board assesses
the advancements, the feasibility and the valuing
opportunities of the PhD thesis, on the basis of
Tutor’s and Supervisor’s documented evaluation. The
opportunity of a Reviewer is evaluated as proposal of
the Tutor and the Supervisors for the same milestone
or for the final milestone (06).

MILESTONE06
• Milestone 6 – 36 months (3rd year annual exam)
Presentation of the thesis in its final version (except
amendments and reviews after this last meeting).
The Academic Board decides on admission to the
final exam.

Reviewer
The EVALUATION
Invited experts
Candidate’s Presentation
PhD Student
Tutor&supervisor
1° step:
AUDIENCE (Some interested participants)

The EVALUATION
3° step:
the Assessment
The commisson
EVALUATION
PROPOSAL
Tutor&supervisor
Reviewer
Invited experts

The EVALUATION
2° step:
EVALUATION Commission’s proposal
PROPOSAL
The PhD BOARD GIVE
the FINAL ASSESSMENT
The PhD Board

The EVALUATION GRADES
• Grades are not fundamental, the fundamental
is the RESEARCH and the interaction with the
BOARD and the best EXPERTS in your field

The EVALUATION GRADES
E = not sufficient
D = sufficient
C = good
B = very good
A = excellent
29° 1yr
(0)
(2)
(2)
(11)
(6)
Our wish
(0)
(0)
(0)
(0)
(22)

A seven times excellent candidate
1. Has completed an excellent Research and Training Plan
2. Has shown a full mastery of his/her topic, a full
knowledge of the State of Art and the main References in
terms of people, works and actual results.
3. Has shown a full and continuative commitment in
research activities.
4. Is independent and autonomous, able to plan and manage
his work and to seek synergies with colleagues.
5. Has produced a phd thesis assessed as original,
innovative and relevant for knowledge advancements
6. Is able to communicate and value his/her work in
international sessions
7. Is able establish strong and profitable relations with
stakeholders to value his/her work

The Research and Training Plan
• This Program will schedule, for three years of full-time work,
this kind of training activities:
– Educational Activities: courses and studies needed to
complete and to refine Student’s skills, propaedeutic to
the analysis of the Research Topic. In particular, the
Program will schedule courses for a minimum of 30, up to
a maximum of 60 ECTS: at least 5 ECTS Credits must be
acquired attending courses offered by the PhD School.
– Teaching activities: PhD Students may include Teaching
activities about their PhD Thesis topics, which will be
acknowledged as knowledge transfer and communication
activities, for a maximum of 5 ECTS, in their whole
program.

• This Program will schedule, for three years of full-time work,
this kind of training activities:
– Research Activities: the development of the PhD Thesis
and the participation to specific research activities, related
to the Research Topic, if suitable to gain experience in
research planning, management and execution, as well as
in knowledge transfer practice or for a particular
occurrence.
– Communication Activities: writing and publishing the
research results of the Student, in international peer-reviewed
journals and conferences proceedings, and, in
general, his/her active participation to international
research symposiums.

Too much emphasis on CREDITS
• CREDITS is the standart metrics for TRAINING
• RESEARCH can’t be weighted through hours
count. It is weighted through RESULTS
• Nevertheless you might be requested to show
us your real committment ALSO in terms of
hours count, especially when your results are
not satisfactory.
• Nevertheless a PLAN is NEEDED

What is the R&T Plan (first task)?
Cognome attività tipo di att ore crediti
X.YYYY Computational Fluid Dynamics with Open-Source Software Training 125 5
X.YYYY Game Theoretical Models in Engineering Training 125 5
X.YYYY IVP – Interactive Virtual Prototyping: Methods and Tools Training 125 5
X.YYYY Monte Carlo Simulation Methods of Stochastic and Uncertain Systems - MECC Training 125 5
X.YYYY
Quantitative Analysis of Very-Large Systems: Metrics, Models, Techniques,
Methodologies, and Tools Training 125 5
X.YYYY Research Management Training 125 5
X.YYYY Visualizing Data Training 125 5
X.YYYY
Adaptive Control: from Needs to Applications (Methods, Algorithms, and
Applications) Training 125 5
X.YYYY
Smart Grid Technical and Regulatory Issues: DG Integration and Advanced
Network Management Training 125 5
X.YYYY From Reconfigurable Hardware to Self-Adaptive Computer Architectures Training 125 5
X.YYYY Definition of the State-of-the-art research 250 10
X.YYYY Publication Publication 250 10
1750 70
A very simple list of activities:
But a little more detailed than this: Publication, State of the Art …

What is the R&T Plan (first task)?
Cognome attività tipo di att ore crediti
X.YYYY Computational Fluid Dynamics with Open-Source Software Training 125 5
X.YYYY Game Theoretical Models in Engineering Training 125 5
X.YYYY IVP – Interactive Virtual Prototyping: Methods and Tools Training 125 5
X.YYYY Monte Carlo Simulation Methods of Stochastic and Uncertain Systems - MECC Training 125 5
X.YYYY
Quantitative Analysis of Very-Large Systems: Metrics, Models, Techniques,
Methodologies, and Tools Training 125 5
X.YYYY Research Management Training 125 5
X.YYYY Visualizing Data Training 125 5
X.YYYY
Adaptive Control: from Needs to Applications (Methods, Algorithms, and
Applications) Training 125 5
X.YYYY
Smart Grid Technical and Regulatory Issues: DG Integration and Advanced
Network Management Training 125 5
X.YYYY From Reconfigurable Hardware to Self-Adaptive Computer Architectures Training 125 5
X.YYYY Definition of the State-of-the-art research 250 10
X.YYYY Publication Publication 250 10
1750 70
… and a graph:
X.YYY
Research
Training
Publication
teaching

Some tips
• Don’t exceed with TRAINING! (nor teaching)
• Take part of structured Research activities but
• … SAVE TIME FOR YOUR RESEARCH:
– Your R&Tplan
– Your State of the Art and Bibliography (to be kept
alive during all the three years)
– Your Research Project
– Your contacts in Science and among stakeholders
– Your PhD thesis

Some tips
• Publications are expected (but not necessary
in the first year)
• Taking part of Research activities with Tutor
and Supervisor and other researcher is
welcome
• Going to conferences is a good practice
(but better as author of a paper)
• Stay hungry … not too foolish.

• The training activities will be progressively organized, from introductory
meetings and lessons (i.e. with older PhD Candidates or other research
experts) to the PhD Thesis writing, and will be developed in the following
way:
– In the first semester, the activity of each student will be dedicated to
the definition of a State of the Art of his/her Research Area.
– The whole first year will be dedicated to the coverage of basic training
needs of the Student, with the attendance PhD courses, and to the
final clarification of the Research Project.
– The second year will be dedicated to the organization of the PhD
Thesis work and the completion of Student’s skills and knowledge, to
support the achievement of PhD Thesis objectives + FOREIGN STAY.
– The third year constitutes the most intense period of autonomous
and original research work and the elaboration of the PhD Thesis + , if
needed/useful, also FOREIGN STAY

• Tutors will encourage their students to carry out their Training Program in
strict contact with other research groups, in other Universities and
Research Institution.
• On the other hand, each Candidate is expected to plan and organize – as
part of her/his Training Program – a period of work and stay with one – or
more – of these groups, preferably a foreign one, for no shorter than six
months, in order to become more confident with the most wide
international research community. The host of the Student may be
another University or any other institution or private company engaged in
high level research about the Student’s Research Topic. Nevertheless, at
least a half of the whole PhD period (18 months) must be developed at
Politecnico di Milano.

What is a PhD Thesis
Something ORIGINAL

The PhD Thesis
• The main objective of a PhD Student is the
development of an original research
contribution. This contribution will be
reported in the Student’s PhD Thesis
Your PhD THESIS is
YOUR MAIN GOAL!

Thesis or publication?
• Our PhD Program is not a PHD by Publication … We
will assess Student’s ability evaluating the
ORIGINALITY of his/her PhD thesis: its advancement
of the knowledge about a specific Research theme.
• but PhD Student IS PUSHED to produce publications
and anticipate/have peer review of his/her work.
• We can manage this complexity!
«The PhD by publication offers an alternative path to the traditional PhD
by thesis, but it is viewed by some as inferior …»
http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/416988.article

ABC PhD Program Courses
4 courses suggested to everybody
Many disciplinary courses
3 workshops (at least)
Courses are offered in English, or translated in
English to the Student who requests it.

4 for everybody
(ABC-PhD courses)

ABCPhD Course
Sustainability Metrics for the Built Environment and the
efficient use of resources
Lecturers
Monica Lavagna, Architectural Technology, ABC
Giovanni Dotelli, Science and Technology of Materials, CMIC
Lucia Rigamonti, Environmental and Health Eng., DICA
Paco Melià, Ecology, DEIB
Objectives
The objective of the course is to introduce to the use of tools
that measure the benefits achieved through a sustainability
strategy, leading to informed environmental decisions.
The course will explain in detail the Life Cycle Assessment
(LCA). methodology, with examples and exercise on how to
apply it. The use of LCA applied to the built environment will
be detailed, with examples and case studies.
Period and schedule: 40 hours, three weeks, Jan-Febr 2015
air emissions waste waterwaste
emissions
consumptions
energy materials water

ABCPhD Course
Tools and methods for the Economic Analysis of the BE
Lecturers
Roberta Capello, ABC Department
Objectives
The course aims to train students in the use of descriptive (statistical) tools and
interpretative (econometric) methods, in the economic analysis of the Built
Environment (BE). It will deal with the following topics:
• Economic analysis of the built environment: specialization and
performance
• Economic specialization: location quotients, concentration and
diversification
• Measurement of the dynamic performance of the BE: Descriptive
statistics, (shift-share analysis, development patterns) and Inference tools
for the measurement of dynamic performance of the built environment
Theoretical lessons will be accompanied by practical exercises.
Schedule: 02-12-2014 to 09-01-2015
!
!
!
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Roma
Riga
Oslo
Bern
Wien
Kyiv
Vaduz
Paris
Praha
Minsk
Tounis
Lisboa
Skopje
Zagreb
Ankara
Madrid
Tirana
Sofiya
London Berlin
Dublin
Athinai
Tallinn
Nicosia
Beograd
Vilnius
Ar Ribat
Kishinev
Sarajevo
Helsinki
Budapest
Podgorica
El-Jazair
Ljubljana
Stockholm
Reykjavik
København
Bucuresti
Amsterdam
Bratislava
Luxembourg
Valletta
Guyane
Madeira
Acores
Réunion
Canarias
Guadeloupe Martinique
0 250 500
km
Reference scenario
Average regional GDP growth rate
< 0.00
0.01 - 0.56
0.57 - 1.06
1.07 - 1.43
1.44 - 1.71
1.72 - 1.98
1.99 - 2.28
2.29 - 2.89
> 2.90
© Politecnico di Milano, Project GRINCOH, 2014

ABCPhD Course
Construction and Real Estate (RE) Process Management
and Innovation
Lecturers
Andrea Ciaramella, ABC-Polimi
Marzia Morena, ABC-Polimi
Objectives
The course aims to illustrate the real estate market’s
dynamics and underline the link with the construction
industry. The lectures, always accompanied by specific
case studies, will focus the most important business
models adopted by investors, property companies and
corporations to manage and enhance their real estate
assets and to optimize the services to support the
buildings and organizations.
Period and schedule: half day a week, march/april 2015

ABCPhD Course
Energy efficiency in building design,
urban and regional planning
Lecturers
Giuliano Dall’O, ABC-Polimi
Objectives
The course focuses on the rational use of energy and
renewable sources in building and urban planning, the
interactions between climate and building envelope, the most
advanced HVAC technologies, solar and distributed
generation, and provides the main design tools for an energy
and environmental conscious design
Period and schedule:
To be defined
Fabbisogno di Energia [kWh/m2a]
47
33 34 29
18
18
14
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
CLASSE A
EPh=29 kWh/m2a
Fa ore di
conversione EP
0.85
Rendimento
impianto
Dispersioni Appor EPh
Energia
finale

Disciplinary
and multidisciplinary courses
(ABC-PhD courses)
The following are just examples!
ASK4MORE

PhD SCHOOL Courses
Heat and Moisture Transport (HMT) modelling applications
in building envelope design
Resp.: Enrico De Angelis, ABC-Polimi
Lecturers
Hans Janssen - Catholic University of Leuven
Daniel Zirkelbach, Fraunhofer-Institut für Bauphysik
Riccardo Paolini, ABC-Polimi
Objectives
The course aims to introduce to the dynamic Heat &
Moisture Transport modelling, (1-D and 2-D), to provide
numerical skills and to achieve a high proficiency and critical
awareness of the relation between building envelopes (in
new, existing or heritage buildings) and water, one of their
main degradation agents.
Period and schedule: a full week, march 9-13th 2015

PhD SCHOOL Courses
Environmental Risks: linking analytical models to
prevention decisions and operational practice in the field
Resp.: Scira Menoni – DASTU Polimi
Program (six events)
• From risk prevention to resilience: breaking through one
century of studies and research Enrico Zio, Scira Menoni,
Enrico De Angelis
• Risk assessment and management in the context of
seismic risk, Floriana Pergalani, Maria Adelaide Parisi, Luca
Marescotti
• Risk assessment and management in riverbasins
Francesco Ballio, Alberto Guadagnini, Raffaele Giordano
• Managing data and information systems for crisis and
post-crisis management Ouejdane Mejri, Bruna De Marchi,
Grazia Concilio
• Enchained risks and cascading effects: towards a multi-hazard,
multi-risk perspective, Laura Longoni, Alessio
Radice, Francesco Ballio and Scira Menoni, Adriana Galderisi
• Seminario internazionale
to be defined

ABCPhD Course
Technological culture of design
Lecturers
Emilio Faroldi (resp.), Matteo Gambaro, Fabrizio Schiaffonati,
Maria Pilar Vettori – Department ABC_Politecnico di Milano
Objectives
The course aims at investigating the theoretical and design
foundations of the technological culture of design, analysing
the context and the birth of the discipline, through specific in-depth
analysis on the figures, works, projects and
researches.
Period and schedule: april 2015
emilio faroldi
matteo gambaro
fabrizio schiaffonati
maria pilar vettori

ABCPhD Course
Radiative and convective modelling
of urban microclimate
Lecturers
• Tiziana Poli, ABC-Polimi
• Alberto Zasso, MECC-Polimi
• Riccardo Paolini, ABC-Polimi
• Anna Laura Pisello, UniPerugia
• Catherine Gorlé, Stanford University
• Paolo Schito, MECC-Polimi
Topics
• Radiative and convective heat transfer at urban scale.
• Mutual interactions microclimate-urban fabric.
• Urban climate mitigation strategies
• Climate change resilience.
Schedule: 1,2 Dec 2014; 12,13,14,15 Jan 2015 (40 hours)

ABCPhD Course
The research for innovation in the building process.
Knowledge databases
-Best practise knowledge
-Own practice
Briefing
-Functional req.
-Estimates
-Conditions
-Requirements
Laws and regulations
-Building regulations
-Building specifications
CAD software
-Drawings, calculations
-Architect, engineer,…
Visualisation
-Visualisation, 3D models
Simulations
-Comfort
-HVAC
-Life cycle cost
-Light, sound
-Insulation
-Fire, usage
-Environment
-Service Life
predictions
Specifications
-Specification sheets
-Classification standards
-Estimates, accounting
Procurement
-Product databases
-Price databases
Demolition, refurbishment
-Rebuild
-Demolition
-Restoration
Facility management
-Letting, sale, operations
-Maintenance
-Guaranties
Construction management
-Scheduling
-Logistics, 4D

ABCPhD Course
Solid mechanics for discrete modelling of structures
Lecturer
Siro Casolo, ABC-Polimi
Maurizio Vianello, MATE-Polimi
Objectives
The course gives a fundamental, conceptual account of the main
elements of solid mechanics. The aim is to fill the gap between
the traditional courses of strenght of materials and computational
analyses the are usually based on the finite element method.
Finally, we focus on simple examples of discrete formulations.
Period and schedule: two months, may-june 2015

ABCPhD Course
Non-Linear Behaviour of Building Structures and their
Design Principles
Lecturer
Marco Andrea Pisani, ABC-Polimi
Objectives
This course starts by introducing the concepts and the
theorems of the limit analysis of reinforced and
prestressed concrete frames. These theorems are then
discussed and used to understand the concept known as
hierarchy of strength, or “capacity design”.
The same concepts are then adopted to study the
behaviour at ultimate limit state of masonry arches.
Period and schedule: to be defined, 2015
Possible limit of deformation when the arch becomes (a) unstable, and (b)
a snapshot of animation during collapse. (c) Four hinges define a three-bar-mechanism.

ABCPhD Course
Structural dynamics for condition assessment
and seismic monitoring
Lecturer: Carmelo Gentile, ABC-Polimi
Objectives
The course is focused on the analysis of the response of
real structures in operational (ambient vibration) and
seismic conditions.
The main course expertise is the identification the modal
parameters (natural frequencies, mode shapes and modal
damping ratios) of a structure and its use to understand its
ageing conditions and seismic safety or vulnerability.
Period and schedule: 4 weeks (Jan 12 - Feb 6 - 2015)
damage

ABCPhD Course
Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Applications
Lecturers
Annamaria Cividini, Giancarlo Gioda
ABC – Politecnico di Milano
Objectives
The course aims at presenting the basic aspects of the
mechanical and hydraulic behaviour of soil and soil-like
materials. Various practical problems in the field of
geotechnical engineering will be considered and discussed,
concerning
• excavation in urban area and soil improvement,
• construction of buildings and transformation of existing
structures,
• conservation of architectural heritage, etc.
Period and schedule: one week, april-may 2015

ABCPhD Course
Numerical methods for engineering applications
Lecturers
Edie Miglio, MATE - Polimi
Objectives
The aim si to introduce basic numerical methods for solving typical
problems arising in engineering applications:
• Introduction to MATLAB and Finite Element Methods (FEM)
• Discretization of elliptic and parabolic equations using FEM
• Numerical methods for nonlinear problems –
• Derivation of the equations for transport in porous media and soil
consolidation and application of FEM to transport in porous media
to be defined

3 workshops
(ABC-PhD courses)

ABCPhD Course
Cultural heritage conservation and valorization – Workshop
Lecturers
Daniele Fanzini, ABC
Objectives
The course deals with the theme of the relationship
between protection, conservation and valorizazione of
cultural heritage and development of the territory. It is
expected to articulate a sequence of lectures providing
an introduction and in-depth comments for the related
lemma and to cover various topics related to the
enhancement project, including:
• Cultural policies and enhancement processes;
• Cultural infrastructure and creative cities;
• Cultural industries and especially broadcast policy
in the creative economy.
Period and schedule: to be defined, 2015

ABCPhD Course
Computational Design for Building Manufacturing
Lecturer
Ingrid Paoletti – D-ABC, Polimi
Akim Menges – TU Stuttgart
Paolo Cascone, tbc
Objectives
The course aims to experiment a computational approach to
building manufacturing through a workshop activity. Some first
tool skills will be introduced and then a practical exercise will be
introduced through the making of a component directly
manufactured with cnc machines.
Period and schedule: 1 full week February 2015

ABCPhD Course
Complex constructions:
design of health facilities
Lecturers
Stefano Capolongo, ABC Polimi
Emilio Faroldi, ABC Polimi
Alvaro Valera Sosa, TU-Berlin
Objectives
The aim of the course is to investigate the hospital
project as a "complex and strategic" construction that
has got a key role in the development of the society, for
the particular spatial and functional characteristics that
require innovative solutions for the distributive concepts,
construction, technology and management.
Period and schedule: a full week, in May/Giugne 2015

Other activities
(ABC-PhD courses)

Tranches de vie … tranches de PhD
To be defined … with you
米兰理工大学室内建筑研究生主任
Luca Guerrini 教授
+
“Tranches de vie tranches de gateaux”
by M. Vogliazzo, about 1990
ORGANIZATION OF SCIENTIFIC SEMINARS (PhD 4 PhD)
«… The characterization of these problematic areas is developed by the same
doctoral candidates and it offers a map adjourned of the knowledge produced
and of the evolution of the work areas of our community of Research»

Metid MATCH 4 PhD
To be defined … with you
SOCIAL MEDIA IN RESEARCH

ABC PhD Program Guide

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