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The Rome Technopole Project: Energy Transition and Digital Transition in Urban Regeneration and Construction

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 2763

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Luca Gugliermetti

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Project and Design, University of Rome La Sapienza, 00185 Rome, Italy
Interests: energy; digital systems; built environment; sustainability; heat and mass transfer; bioregenerative systems; computational fluid dynamics; extender reality; cultural heritage; system integration; machine learning; aerospace systems
Prof. Dr. Fabrizio Tucci

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Planning, Design, Architecture Technology, University of Rome La Sapienza, 00185 Rome, Italy
Interests: built environment; bioclimatic design; energy and environment; climate change; sustainability; green and circular economy; innovative materials
Prof. Dr. Giovenale Anna Maria

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Project and Design, University of Rome La Sapienza, 00185 Rome, Italy
Interests: architecture; building management; design; retrofitting; architecture for health; innovative design; building systems

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to present a range of research from the Flagship 2 Project "Energy and Digital Transition in Urban Regeneration and Buildings". This project focuses on digital and green technologies for urban and building regeneration that align with the green city approach, which assumes ecological quality as a strategic priority to ensure sustainability and resilience. The project is promoted by the regional innovation ecosystem Rome Technopole, funded by the European Union through the Next-Generation EU National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) Mission 4, Component 2, Investment 1.5. The scope of this Special issue includes digital transition, zero emissions in buildings, sustainable mobility and transport, urban regeneration, education and training activities, scaling up technologies on the market, and the enhancement of public awareness and engagement in order to promote the culture of digital transition and green technologies. This Special Issue will be dedicated to the best research developed within the NRRP Flagship Project 2. High-quality research articles, case studies and review articles will be considered eligible for publication.

Project link: https://rometechnopole.it/progetti-flagship-project-2/

Project partners: University of Rome La Sapienza, Coima REM S.r.l., University of Rome Tor Vergata, University of Roma Tre, University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, University of Tuscia, LUISS University, University of Rome—Campus Bio-Medico, CNR—National Research Council, ENEA, INFN—National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Almaviva S.p.A., BV-Tech S.p.A.

Publisher’s notice:

As stated above, the central purpose of this Special Issue is to present research from The Rome Technopole Project: Energy Transition and Digital Transition in Urban Regeneration and Construction. Given this purpose, the Guest Editors' contribution to this Special Issue may be greater than standard Special Issues published by MDPI. Further details on MDPI's Special Issue guidelines can be found here: https://www.mdpi.com/special_issues_guidelines. The Editorial Office and Editor-in-Chief of Applied Sciences has approved this and MDPI's standard manuscript editorial processing procedure (https://www.mdpi.com/editorial_process) will be applied to all submissions. As per our standard procedure, Guest Editors are excluded from participating in the editorial process for their submission and/or for submissions from persons with whom a potential conflict of interest may exist. More details on MDPI’s Conflict of Interest policy for reviewers and editors can be found here: https://www.mdpi.com/ethics#_bookmark22.

Dr. Luca Gugliermetti
Prof. Dr. Fabrizio Tucci
Prof. Dr. Giovenale Anna Maria
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • energy transition
  • urban regeneration
  • digital transition
  • built environment
  • sustainability
  • green economy
  • hydrogen
  • waste management
  • smart mobility
  • national recovery and resilience plan
  • Rome technopole

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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28 pages, 1168 KB  
Article
Climate Change in Built Environment: Remote Sensing for Thermal Assessment Measurement Paradigms
by Maria Michaela Pani, Stefano Urbinati, Chiara Mastellari, Lorenzo Mariani and Fabrizio Tucci
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 3992; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16083992 - 20 Apr 2026
Viewed by 343
Abstract
Climate change exerts growing pressure on the built environment, intensifying urban heat stress, altering microclimatic conditions, and increasing energy demand and health risks. Urban areas, characterized by dense construction and extensive soil sealing, are particularly susceptible to thermal anomalies such as Urban Heat [...] Read more.
Climate change exerts growing pressure on the built environment, intensifying urban heat stress, altering microclimatic conditions, and increasing energy demand and health risks. Urban areas, characterized by dense construction and extensive soil sealing, are particularly susceptible to thermal anomalies such as Urban Heat Islands (UHIs), making thermal assessment a crucial element in adaptation and mitigation strategies. This research provides an updated and critical review of methodologies for the thermal evaluation of the built environment, with a focus on remote sensing as an emerging and integrative measurement paradigm. The study presents a comprehensive framework of detection systems, including satellite and aerial remote sensing, ground-based monitoring, and hybrid approaches, complemented by analytical and modeling techniques that combine physical and data-driven methods. A comparative assessment of open-access satellite sensors is carried out, analyzing spatial, spectral, and temporal resolutions and their relevance to urban-scale applications. The integration of remote sensing data with artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cloud-based processing is highlighted as a key advancement for improving interpretative, predictive, and decision-support capabilities. The findings indicate that such integration represents a new frontier for multiscale thermal analysis, supporting resilient urban planning, enhanced energy efficiency, and effective climate change mitigation policies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Rome Technopole Project: Energy Transition and Digital Transition in Urban Regeneration and Construction)
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18 pages, 3788 KB  
Article
Species-Specific Particulate Matter Retention by Shade-Tolerant Plants in Modular Living Walls: SEM-Based Quantification and Trait-Guided Selection
by Caterina Dalsasso, Mattia Martin Azzella, Maria Rosaria Bruno, Antonella Campopiano, Annapaola Cannizzaro, Federica Angelosanto and Fabrizio Tucci
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 3811; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16083811 - 14 Apr 2026
Viewed by 399
Abstract
Airborne particulate matter (PM) poses a major health risk, yet species selection for vertical greening systems (VGS) is poorly quantified. We evaluated PM retention by seven commercially available shade-tolerant species grown in a modular living wall system (LWS) on a north-facing façade at [...] Read more.
Airborne particulate matter (PM) poses a major health risk, yet species selection for vertical greening systems (VGS) is poorly quantified. We evaluated PM retention by seven commercially available shade-tolerant species grown in a modular living wall system (LWS) on a north-facing façade at Sapienza University of Rome. After 3 months of in situ exposure, leaves were analyzed via SEM (1000×), collecting 210 images, 30 per species. An automated FIJI/ImageJ pipeline segmented particles, computed equivalent circular diameters, and classified them into (PM < 0.5, PM [0.5, 1), PM [1, 2.5), PM [2.5, 10), and PM ≥ 10 µm). Across species, ultrafine and fine fractions dominated deposits, with the <0.5 µm class typically comprising 60–70% of counts. Vinca minor cv. albomarginata exhibited the highest densities in ultrafine and fine classes, closely followed by Fatsia japonica; Hedera helix captured more coarse particles (2.5–10 µm and >10 µm). Heuchera sanguinea consistently displayed the lowest densities across all size classes. Performance patterns aligned with leaf surface traits: wax-coated, moderately rough or gently structured cuticles favored adhesion, whereas highly irregular microrelief did not consistently enhance retention. Methodological considerations include thresholding sensitivity, use of equivalent circular diameter for irregular particles, and an upper area filter that may undercount large aggregates. The findings identify Vinca minor cv. albomarginata and Fatsia japonica as priority species for PM mitigation in shaded VGS, with Hedera helix complementing coarse PM capture. The results provide trait-based, design-oriented guidance for living wall species selection in Mediterranean urban and indoor contexts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Rome Technopole Project: Energy Transition and Digital Transition in Urban Regeneration and Construction)
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27 pages, 8591 KB  
Article
Key Performance Indicators for Sustainable Stormwater Management in Architectural and Urban Design: Assessment Framework and Application in the Urban Context of Rome
by Lidia Maria Giannini, Giada Romano and Fabrizio Tucci
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 3762; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16083762 - 12 Apr 2026
Viewed by 337
Abstract
Urban areas are increasingly exposed to water-related challenges, including flood risk and water scarcity, amplified by climate change, population growth, and extensive soil sealing. Addressing these pressures requires integrated stormwater management (SWM) strategies that balance hydraulic, environmental, and social objectives. This study introduces [...] Read more.
Urban areas are increasingly exposed to water-related challenges, including flood risk and water scarcity, amplified by climate change, population growth, and extensive soil sealing. Addressing these pressures requires integrated stormwater management (SWM) strategies that balance hydraulic, environmental, and social objectives. This study introduces a novel, replicable Key Performance Indicator (KPI)-based assessment framework for 36 green–blue and grey sustainable stormwater management systems (SWMSs), designed to enable cross-typology, multiscale comparison. Six KPIs, encompassing flood regulation, water consumption, water quality, air quality, environmental amenity, and biodiversity potential, are derived through a critical synthesis and harmonisation of the literature and complemented with new parameters and sub-parameters to address existing methodological gaps. The framework structures evaluations into six analytical tables and one summary table, ensuring transparent, systematic, and comparative assessment of heterogeneous solutions. Application to a pilot project in Rome demonstrates how integrating KPI evaluation with parametric hydraulic modelling provides actionable insights for solution selection. It also facilitates identification of potential synergies between performance dimensions, enhancing its value as a decision-support tool in preliminary design. Overall, the study demonstrates the research value of multi-scalar, performance-based approaches for urban water planning, highlights the transferability of resilient stormwater strategies in climate-sensitive contexts, and identifies promising avenues for future research, including multi-sectoral integration, trade-off analysis, and cross-platform application. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Rome Technopole Project: Energy Transition and Digital Transition in Urban Regeneration and Construction)
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Review

Jump to: Research

26 pages, 3848 KB  
Review
Rethinking Cities Beyond Climate Neutrality: Justice and Inclusion to Prevent Climate Gentrification
by Laura Ricci, Carmela Mariano and Marsia Marino
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(1), 259; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16010259 - 26 Dec 2025
Viewed by 1035
Abstract
Contemporary cities constitute both the primary site where the climate crisis manifests its most evident impacts and the privileged laboratory for testing strategies of adaptation and resilience. However, the growing emphasis on “climate neutrality” policies risks obscuring the social dimension of urban regeneration [...] Read more.
Contemporary cities constitute both the primary site where the climate crisis manifests its most evident impacts and the privileged laboratory for testing strategies of adaptation and resilience. However, the growing emphasis on “climate neutrality” policies risks obscuring the social dimension of urban regeneration processes, thus generating new imbalances and forms of exclusion. This paper offers a critical reflection on the role of urban planning beyond climate neutrality, reorienting it towards a perspective of climate justice capable of integrating ecological transition goals with those of social and territorial cohesion. The research adopts a mixed-method approach, combining theoretical and documentary analysis with empirical case comparison, to investigate the relationship among urban regeneration, urban welfare, and spatial inequalities. The study aims to identify strategies for preventing climate gentrification, a phenomenon in which adaptation and mitigation measures—if not accompanied by adequate redistributive mechanisms—produce socio-spatial displacement effects that exclude the most vulnerable communities from the environmental benefits generated. The comparative analysis of two international case studies—Little Haiti (Miami) and the Green Corridors of Medellín (Colombia)—reveals two contrasting trajectories of the ecological transition: a regressive one, driven by market logics and real-estate valorization, and a progressive one, grounded in principles of equity, participation, and inclusive distribution of environmental benefits. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Rome Technopole Project: Energy Transition and Digital Transition in Urban Regeneration and Construction)
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