ONE SCHOLARSHIP CO-FUNDED BY UNIVERSITY AND DEPARTMENT (DAD) FUNDS AND BY AN AGREEMENT WITH THE MUNICIPALITY OF GENOA
1 SCHOLARSHIP
Research Supervisor: Prof. Nicola Valentino Canessa, Arch. Federica Alcozer
Title: Mapping the 15-Minute City. Nature, Accessibility, Participation and Strategies for the Smart City
Research Objectives
The 15-minute city proposes reorganising urban space around everyday life. Services, workplaces, green spaces and social relationships should be accessible within short travel times, on foot or by sustainable means of transport. This model places quality of life, equity and climate adaptation at its core, although its effectiveness depends on an accurate understanding of the territory. It is essential to establish where proximity actually exists, for whom, and where gaps, barriers and inequalities emerge.
Genoa represents a particularly significant testing ground. Its topography, steep slopes, valley-based urban structure, neighbourhoods, network of creuze (traditional stepped pathways) and vertical transport systems, together with the widespread presence of natural areas, make proximity a concept that must also be measured vertically and adapted to a complex city. A reading based solely on linear distances is insufficient.
The research is co-funded by the Municipality of Genoa and will be conducted in close collaboration with the Department of Territorial Development, which is responsible for the municipality's territorial planning and development policies. Its objective is to develop knowledge-based and decision-support tools for proximity-oriented urban policies. The project addresses three key issues:
• Nature as proximity infrastructure. Urban green spaces, open spaces and nature-based solutions are essential neighbourhood services, contributing to health, well-being and climate adaptation.
• Actual accessibility. Accessibility must be measured by taking into account topography, slopes, physical barriers and the different conditions of inhabitants (age, disability, gender and income).
• Participation as a form of knowledge. Residents contribute to mapping needs, practices and perceptions of everyday spaces, integrating quantitative data with local knowledge.
Methodology
The research adopts an interdisciplinary and multi-scalar approach, integrating three dimensions:
1. Proximity indicators and mapping. A system of indicators will be developed covering services, green spaces, active mobility and public transport. Travel times will be calculated using the actual pedestrian network, taking slopes and vertical connections into account. The system will identify underserved areas and socio-spatial vulnerabilities.
2. Participatory mapping. Collaborative mapping tools and data collection activities involving residents in selected pilot neighbourhoods will make it possible to verify and enrich the analyses through first-hand experience of the use of urban space.
3. Scenarios and decision-making tools. Maps, dashboards and intervention scenarios will be developed in collaboration with the Department of Territorial Development and the Genova Smart City Association, also using transparent and explainable artificial intelligence tools, to guide priorities and investments.
The research will focus on selected neighbourhoods representative of the city's different morphological and social conditions. The objective is to define a method that can be replicated throughout the municipal territory and transferred to other contexts.
Planned Activities
In addition to the educational activities of the PhD Programme, the research will include:
• a critical state-of-the-art review of 15-minute city models, accessibility measurement and urban green infrastructure;
• the progressive acquisition, including through dedicated training programmes, of the spatial analysis, data management and visualisation skills required for the research;
• an assessment of the data available from the Municipality of Genoa and open data sources, and the development of an integrated database;
• the definition of an indicator system and the production of maps and dashboards for the selected pilot neighbourhoods;
• the organisation of participatory mapping activities involving residents, associations and municipal districts;
• the development of scenarios and intervention guidelines in collaboration with municipal departments;
• a total period of at least 12 months spent at the Municipality of Genoa, within the Department of Territorial Development. This period will be distributed throughout the three-year programme, alternating phases of more intensive and continuous presence with more intermittent periods, according to the progress of the research and the administration's needs;
• collaboration, on behalf of the Municipality of Genoa, with the Genova Smart City Association, appointed by the Municipality to support the city's smart transition, in order to integrate the research findings into ongoing strategies and projects;
• dissemination of research findings through articles in specialist journals and presentations at national and international conferences;
• networking with public administrations, civil society organisations and research institutions working on proximity and data-driven planning.
The programme will also include teaching support activities and the writing of the doctoral thesis.
Expected Results
The research aims to make a significant contribution to both academic knowledge and practical applications, through the development of:
• a proximity indicator system adapted to Genoa's topographical conditions;
• an atlas of the 15-minute city, featuring maps and updatable dashboards made available to the Municipality;
• a participatory mapping method that can be replicated in other neighbourhoods;
• scenarios and guidelines supporting urban policies, green space planning and mobility strategies;
• a network of relationships between the University, the Municipality of Genoa, Genova Smart City and local communities.
The three-year programme will train an independent researcher capable of integrating data analysis, urban design and participatory processes, with a professional profile applicable to both academic research and public administration.
Expected Skills and Qualifications of the Ideal Candidate
• Master's degree in Architecture, Spatial and Urban Planning, Engineering, Landscape Architecture or related disciplines.
• Basic knowledge of GIS tools and cartographic representation, acquired during the degree programme or through the master's thesis.
• Interest in the themes of the 15-minute city, urban green spaces, climate adaptation and sustainable mobility.
• Interest in data analysis and visualisation, together with a willingness to further develop these skills during the PhD programme.
• Ability to work in a team and engage with public administrations, associations and citizens.
• Previous experience through internships, workshops or research projects dealing with urban issues, territorial analysis or participatory processes will be considered an advantage, although it is not a requirement.
ONE UNSALARIED PhD POSITION
Research Supervisor: Prof. Nicola Valentino Canessa, Arch. Federica Alcozer
Title: Decoding Urban Data to Support Decision-Making. Indicators, Mapping and Dashboards for Smart City Urban Policies
Research Objectives
Sensors, satellite imagery, digital platforms and open data are making cities increasingly observable in real time, bringing to light urban and environmental dynamics that have long remained invisible. However, the abundance of information does not automatically generate understanding. The challenge of urban governance is shifting from data availability to data interpretation. This research considers artificial intelligence and/or urban dashboards as cognitive infrastructures for decision-making, capable of integrating fragmented knowledge and making it accessible for exploration, provided that they are transparent, verifiable and governed by human judgement.
The project addresses three key issues:
- Democratisation of urban knowledge. Open data can reduce knowledge asymmetries between those who govern and those who inhabit the city, provided that information is made accessible and understandable.
- Management of urban information assets. Urban information assets should be understood as a common good and shared infrastructure, with particular attention to quality, continuity and interoperability.
- Visualisation as a language of decision-making. The design of data visualisations and maps translates complexity into readable forms, makes uncertainties and inequalities explicit, and enables informed dialogue between different stakeholders.
Methodology
The research adopts an interdisciplinary and multi-scalar approach based on the principle of working with complexity. The programme integrates three dimensions:
- Indicators, mapping and visualisation. A system will be developed to bring together environmental, social and spatial dimensions, while making uncertainties, vulnerabilities and possible actions explicit.
- Urban information assets. Urban information assets will be organised according to quality and interoperability criteria.
- Artificial intelligence prototype. An experimental prototype will be developed to support decision-making and the construction of urban scenarios. The prototype will be designed to be explainable and evaluated through co-creation processes involving public administrations, experts and citizens.
The research will be tested on at least one case study, with an assessment of its transferability to other contexts. The objective is to identify the principles that make data useful for decision-making and enable the development of a replicable process.
Planned Activities
In addition to the educational activities of the PhD Programme, the research will include:
- a critical state-of-the-art review of urban data, cartography, visualisation and artificial intelligence for urban planning;
- an assessment of open data sources, the definition of an indicator system and the design of maps and dashboards applied to the selected case study;
- the development and testing of an artificial intelligence prototype to support decision-making, co-created with local stakeholders and also aimed at developing scenarios for future cities;
- dissemination of research findings through articles in specialist journals and presentations at national and international conferences;
- networking with public administrations, civil society organisations and research institutions working on artificial intelligence and cartography for decision-making.
The programme will also include teaching support activities and the writing of the doctoral thesis.
Expected Results
The research aims to make a significant contribution to both academic knowledge and practical applications, through the development of:
- a transferable methodological framework for translating data into decision-making;
- open tools (indicators, maps and dashboards);
- a model for the transparent use of artificial intelligence in support of the development of urban policies.
The three-year programme will train an independent researcher with critical thinking skills, strong analytical capabilities and an aptitude for collaborative design processes.
Expected Skills and Qualifications of the Ideal Candidate
- Master's degree in Architecture, Spatial and Urban Planning or related disciplines.
- Advanced skills in GIS environments and territorial data analysis.
- Knowledge of data analysis and processing tools (e.g. Python, R, SQL).
- Experience in designing web maps, dashboards and data visualisations.
- Documented professional or research experience in projects involving public administrations, territorial authorities or organisations active in urban planning, which will provide a valuable foundation for developing the case studies.
- Interest in the application of artificial intelligence to urban planning and policies.
ONE UNSALARIED PhD POSITION
Research Supervisor: Prof. Alberto Bertagna
Title: Alpine Atlas. Alpine Space as a Paradigm of Contemporary Society, Its Crises and Its Possibilities
General Research Objectives
The research aims to investigate the contemporary transformations of Alpine territories, understood as a field of observation of the relationships between unstable natural and architectural forms, multiple and changing uses, and individual and collective forms of appropriation. The research places particular emphasis on physical exploration as the primary means of investigating the Alps, with in-depth study locations including local communities, high-altitude mountain huts, technological infrastructures, alpine pastures, agricultural and tourist areas, and fragile or abandoned territories. The Alpine space thus becomes a paradigm through which to explore contemporary society, its crises and its possibilities.
Specific Objectives
The research aims to develop a critical atlas of Italian and cross-border Alpine territories, starting from the Ligurian context. Particular attention will be devoted to the ways in which natural or designed forms guide, enable or constrain different modes of use, seeking to identify recurring devices and principles that, beyond specific historical and functional conditions, can strengthen the relationship between space, nature and society.
“Alpine Atlas” is conceived as a starting point for proposing a research project within the Interreg Alpine Space programme, in view of the 2028–2034 European programming period. The atlas will therefore serve as a tool capable of documenting what has been observed while also comparing its specific features with broader issues relevant to contemporary society, identifying possible design approaches and theories for its future.
The Alpine region, with its millions of inhabitants, like every individual nation or territory, must address challenges that cannot be managed at a local level: rapid climate change and increasing natural hazards; biodiversity loss and ecosystem fragmentation; tourism generating significant environmental and social pressures, demographic imbalances, tensions in the housing sector, and substantial impacts on transport and transit; the need for a transition towards circular economic systems rooted in local territories; and the complex requirements of multi-level governance.
These deeply interconnected challenges call for equally integrated, long-term solutions. By examining the spatial dimension of Alpine countries, the atlas will seek to identify devices and strategies capable of addressing them.
Methodology
The research will be structured as a travelling investigation across the entire Alpine arc, initially producing accounts and critical redrawings of the territories explored. Through in-depth physical exploration of Italian and cross-border Alpine territories, it will then develop a comparative analysis of selected areas and case studies, which will be surveyed and categorised.
Written and visual narratives, interviews and visual sequences, plans and territorial sections, diagrams and interpretative models will be used to investigate the relationships between geomorphological characteristics, spatial configurations, architectural episodes, economic values, connective, technological and social systems, and cultural heritage.
Following an initial phase dedicated to selecting and comparing significant features and conditions, the research will develop into applied research, including design experimentation based on issues emerging from dialogue with stakeholders, sector operators, companies and public administrations.
Planned Activities
- Participation in the activities of the PhD Programme as set out in its curriculum.
- Preparation of the doctoral thesis as a document presenting the research process, the critical interpretations developed through the explorations undertaken, and the theories and design proposals developed through engagement with local stakeholders.
- Scientific dissemination activities: organisation of seminars or participation in conferences and sector events; preparation of contributions for scientific or specialist journals.
- Third Mission activities: engagement with stakeholders, sector operators, companies and public administrations.
Expected Results
The research aims to assess whether, and to what extent, the reality under investigation can offer new interpretative tools and operational and organisational approaches for designing future spaces and societies.
The study and critical interpretation process will be developed as field-based and applied research, characterised by general and specific mapping activities and advanced design experimentation aimed at imagining open-ended and non-predetermined prefigurations and scenarios. Within these scenarios, proposed solutions should explore the potential for spatial continuity and appropriation, with a view to building interspecific relationships.
“Alpine Atlas” will thus become a testament to an Alpine vocabulary capable of engaging with a broad contemporary audience, offering an opportunity to reflect on the role of architecture in creating spaces open to different uses and interpretations.
Expected Skills and Qualifications of the Ideal Candidate
- Degree in Architecture or Master's degree in Architecture.
- Interest in European architectural culture, particularly in contemporary design approaches to Alpine space.
- Ability to undertake critical analysis and develop theoretical reflections on the issues affecting Alpine space.