Lab full name

Decision and Control Laboratory

ERC 2nd Level Code

PE7 Systems and Communication Engineering

PE1 Mathematics

ERC 3rd level Code

PE7_1 Control engineering

PE1_19 Control theory and optimisation

Research Activities

The Decision and Control Laboratory (D&C Lab) is dedicated to advancing both theoretical and applied research in systems, control, optimization, and decision-making. Its mission is to contribute to scientific progress and technological innovation by engaging with public institutions and private enterprises at the regional, national, and international levels.

The D&C Lab’s work aligns with the disciplinary sector “Systems and Control Engineering” (09/G1), with a particular emphasis on fostering technology transfer and the dissemination of research outcomes across academic and industrial domains.

The laboratory is based on the university campus in Bari and operates within a multidisciplinary framework. Research and experimental activities are organized across the following main thematic areas:

1. Management and Control of Complex Systems

Development of advanced algorithms and ICT solutions for proactive decision-making in domains such as energy, transport, production, and healthcare
Decentralized and distributed control methods for large-scale interconnected systems
Optimization and supervisory control of complex processes and infrastructures
Decision support systems for intelligent transportation, multimodal logistics, and hazardous freight operations
Control strategies for smart mobility and the management of smart environments
Frameworks for the design and governance of smart grids, smart cities, and smart communities
Strategies for sustainable, intermodal, and co-modal mobility
ICT-based solutions for logistics, production, and health service management
Modeling, simulation, and control of discrete event systems
Nonlinear system modeling and control

2. Modeling, Control, and Optimization in Industrial Contexts

Methodologies supporting Industry 4.0 paradigms
Re-engineering and automation of industrial processes
Coordination strategies for multi-agent systems and sensor networks
Fault detection, isolation, and recovery mechanisms
Optimization of logistics, production, and distribution chains
Scheduling, workflow management, and decision support in manufacturing systems
Model-based techniques to enhance technological product/process efficiency
Decision-making under uncertainty and large-choice scenarios
Management of procurement and supply networks
Integration of best practices in advanced manufacturing

3. Management, Control, and Optimization of Energy Systems

Strategic level: Development of analytical and decision-support tools for urban policymakers focused on long-term energy efficiency strategies. Application domains include building and building grid sectors, public lighting systems, and integrated urban energy systems
Operational level: Control and scheduling strategies for smart energy users, optimization frameworks for smart homes and smart home networks, and solutions for the optimal charging of electric vehicles

Department

DEI

Contact Person

Mariagrazia Dotoli

mariagrazia.dotoli@poliba.it

Technical Staff

Raffaele Carli

raffaele.carli@poliba.it

Companies and Institutions

Research group led by Professor Slim Hammadi (école Centrale of Lille, France) on modelling and control of co-modal transport systems, and control and operative management of manufacturing systems

Research group led by Professor Bart de Schutter (Delft University of Technology, Netherlands) on the topic of railway transport optimization

Research group led by Professor Sergio Grammatico (Delft University of Technology, Netherlands) on the topic of decision and control techniques for energy systems

Research group led by Professor Cristian Mahulea (University of Zaragoza, Spain) on the topic of discrete event systems

Research group led by Professor Lidia Żakowska (Cracow University of Technology, Poland) on the topic of transport optimization

Research group led by Professor Alexander Fay (Hamburg Helmut Schmidt University, Germany) in the area of factory automation

Research group led by Professor Marek Miskowicz (AGH University of Science and Technology, Poland) in the area of the control of manufacturing systems

Research group led by Professor Bengt Lennartson (Chalmers University, Sweden) on the topic of scheduling techniques for automated manufacturing systems

Research group led by Professor Prof. Samuel Jia (Tsinghua University, China) on the topic of discrete event systems

Research group led by Professor Alessandra Parisio (Manchester University, UK) on the topic of decision and control techniques for energy systems

Research group led by Professor Alessandro Giua (Aix-Marseille Université AMU, France) on the topic of discrete event systems

Research group led by Professor MengChu Zhou (New Jersey Institute of Technology of Newark, USA) on the topic of control and management of distributed production systems

Research group led by Professor Antoine Salvatore Tabbone (Université de Nancy, France)

Research group led by Professor Ryozo Ooka (University of Tokyo, Japan) on the topic of smart design and control of energy storage systems

Research group led by Professor Carla Seatzu (Cagliari University) in the context of management and optimization of intermodal terminals

Research group led by Professor Michela Robba (University of Genoa) on the topic of automation and optimization for sustainable transportation and energy systems

Innolab S.r.l., spin-off of Politecnico di Bari

Elettric80 S.p.A.

Masmec S.p.A.

IBM

E-distribuzione

Centro Ricerche Fiat S.C.p.A.

Banque Centrale du Luxembourg

TERA S.r.l. (Bari)

Retegas Bari S.p.A. (Bari)

SimNT S.r.l. (Bari)

Ferrovie del Sud Est e Servizi Automobilisti S.r.l.

GTS (General Transport Service) S.p.A. (Bari)

Planetek (Bari)

Macnil Gruppo Zucchetti in Bari

Nicola Veronico S.r.l. in Bari

Dream Project S.p.A. in Barletta (BAT)

Tangari S.r.l. in Corato (BA)

Divella S.p.A. in Rutigliano (BA)

Cannillo S.r.l. in Corato (BA)

Primadonna S.p.A. di Bitonto (BA)

OM Carrelli Elevatori S.p.A. in Modugno (BA)

Projects

SMILE (Smart Islands Energy System) funded by the Research and Innovation program of Horizon 2020

MAIA (Active infrastructure monitoring), funded by the Italian Ministry for Education, University and Research (MIUR)

PICO&PRO (integrated and connected processes for the industrial production evolution), funded by the Italian Ministry for Education, University and Research (MIUR)

RAFAEL (System for risk Analysis and Forecast for critical infrastructure in the ApenninEs dorsaL Regions), funded by the Italian Ministry for Education, University and Research (MIUR)

NOVAE (Networks, Buildings, Roads: New virtuous objectives for the Environment and Energy), funded by the Ministry for Education, University and Research (MIUR) and by the Ministry of the Economic Development

UCCSM (An Urban Control Center for monitoring the energetic flows of Apulian municipalities)

SEMINA (Advanced systems for Smart Mobility in Agile Urban Networks)

Funding

Politecnico di Bari

European Commission

Ministry of the Economic Development

Elettric80 S.p.A.,

E-distribuzione

Masmec S.p.A.

GTS (General Transport Service) S.p.A

Banque Centrale du Luxembourg

Facilities