Search Results (131)

Inherently, there exists a significant security hole in sensor networks. The majority of sensors are not high-end Internet of Things (IoT) devices with sufficient computing resources. Connected sensors (physical nodes in real networks) are allocated to logical nodes and managed remotely by a supervisor in a virtual network. Data acquired by sensors are then collected by a data center on which artificial intelligence operates. If an adversary spoofs a logical node (e.g., an account in a transport layer security (TLS) session) of a vulnerable sensor on the network, then it can manipulate data input to artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence cannot verify the integrity of the data input for learning. It is difficult to stop data poisoning with no countermeasures against session spoofing. To avoid session spoofing, physical and logical nodes must be linked seamlessly. One might think this can be achieved by utilizing Hardware Root-of-Trust (HRoT) based on a Physically Unclonable Function (PUF). However, a PUF is based on an expensive System-on-a-Chip (SoC), which has been specifically designed for high-end devices, like expensive smartphones. Many sensors (low-end and middle-end IoT devices) can hardly be protected with existing PUFs. Since the number of IoT devices with a PUF is insufficient to cover the entirety of IoT devices, an attacker can find a vulnerable IoT device with no PUF to perform session spoofing. This is the problem of numbers. To resolve it, we propose Physical Cyber Authentication (PCA). A Blockchain account (a logical node in a TLS session) is anchored to an integrated circuit (IC) chip inside a sensor, allowing Blockchain to manage sensor networks, which provides necessary data to artificial intelligence, thus forming a Blockchain of sensors. Full article

Safe and sustainable water sources are a serious global concern because of growing population, urbanization, industrialization, and climate change. The conventional water surveillance systems that rely on periodic sampling and laboratory analysis fail to provide time-sensitive and high-resolution data utilized for proactive water management. Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) offers a viable solution, as they can provide tools of constant active monitoring and predictive analytics. The integration of IoT sensor networks with machine learning (ML) methods enables real-time data-driven water resource monitoring and intelligent decision-making, enhances water quality assessment, supports early detection of anomalies, improves predictive capabilities for floods and droughts, and facilitates efficient irrigation and reservoir management, ultimately leading to sustainable and resilient water management systems. The paper presents an extensive overview of AIoT solutions for water quality monitoring and water resource management, including IoT sensor networks for real-time data acquisition, machine learning methods for prediction, classification, anomaly detection, and edge computing platforms for data processing and decision support. This study also highlights existing possibilities, obstacles, and research gaps identified through a review of the recent literature. Key challenges reported across multiple studies include limited data availability, sensor calibration bias, integration of heterogeneous data, and insufficient model interpretability. Advanced paradigms such as digital twin systems, TinyML, federated learning, and explainable AI (XAI) are examined as enabling technologies to enhance system efficiency, flexibility, and transparency. Future research directions are outlined to develop scalable, interpretable, and real-time water management solutions. Full article

Construction 4.0 refers to the integration of automation, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things (IoT) in the construction industry, which has changed traditional construction practices. MSc courses play a crucial role in developing the next generation of leaders within the construction industry by equipping graduates of these courses with advanced technical, managerial, and strategic skills, including the arrival of Construction 4.0. As future professionals and construction industry leaders, it is necessary to identify the current level of awareness and understanding of Construction 4.0 amongst master’s level students. As such, this paper studies these areas to help identify the gaps in education and training requirements—essential for matching academic programs with industry needs. Through the use of a survey-based approach with 112 MSc students on various Construction Management courses, a series of revealing results were obtained. The results presented herein indicate that there is a shared definition of what constitutes Construction 4.0 amongst engineering management students. However, while they are relatively aware of Construction 4.0 technologies, they do not differentiate strongly between Industry 4.0 and Construction 4.0. Therein, they are ambivalent as to the role of Education 4.0 in improving this situation. Key to this is the requirement to keep up with industry needs. The lack of application of Construction 4.0 means students lack the necessary ‘practical skills’ to implement innovations on real construction sites. Students advocated for more hands-on training, industry-linked projects, and guest lectures within the curriculum, alongside developing the essential skills of critical thinking and problem-solving. Changes in the curricula are suggested, achievable through readily existing 4.0 Frameworks. Full article

Collective intelligence within a quantum-informed cybernetic paradigm presents a transformative perspective to examine adaptability and resilience in Internet of Things (IoT) systems. This paper introduces Cogitor5, a fifth-order cybernetic system that builds upon the foundational principles of the fourth-order COgITOR framework, a liquid computational system designed for complex adaptive processes. The term COgITOR is etymologically linked to the Latin passive verb cogĭtur, translating to “He is gathered,” in contrast to the more commonly recognized active form cogito, meaning “I gather” or “I think,” as famously articulated by Descartes. In contrast to conventional binary systems, Cogitor5 functions as a simulation-based complex adaptive system, inspired by a population of nano agents represented by nanoparticles suspended in a colloidal medium. These agents exhibit autonomous interactions within the solvent, featuring quantum-enabled properties that facilitate advanced self-organization and coevolutionary dynamics. This intricate model captures the complexities of agent interaction, offering a refined representation of their evolving collective intelligence. The study redefines collective intelligence as emergent process intelligence, relevant to the adaptive capacities of both biological and cybernetic systems. By utilizing metacybernetic principles in conjunction with theories of complex adaptive systems, this paper investigates how IoT networks can evolve to enhance agency trajectory formation and increase adaptability. Cogitor5 serves as an innovative computational framework for addressing the inherent complexities of IoT, providing clarity in examining self-organization, self-regulation, self-maintenance, and sustainability, thus elevating system viability. The methodology encompasses the modeling of collective and process intelligence within the scope of Mindset Agency Theory (MAT), an advanced metacybernetic model that allows for evaluable characteristics. Furthermore, this approach integrates theoretical modelling and a practical case study implemented in Matlab^® to illustrate agency functionality within a dynamic system simulating failures in the nodes of an electric grid. Full article

The accelerated growth of e-commerce and ongoing urban expansion have intensified the challenges associated with last-mile delivery, making it a critical issue in sustainable urban logistics. Therefore, our paper presents a scoping review to systematically delineate the current state of research on smart and sustainable last-mile delivery systems. We explore both innovative technologies—such as artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, the Internet of Things, and digital twins—and human-centered dimensions, including urban design, policy development, and collaborative stakeholder engagement. Using the PRISMA-ScR-based methodology, 140 peer-reviewed articles (2015–2025) have been analyzed to highlight key trends, gaps, and prospective directions. The study underlines how the technologies of Industry 4.0 have improved visibility and operational efficiency, but holistic thinking that incorporates environmental, human, and policy factors remains undeveloped. Based on these findings, this article provides a conceptual framework for smart and sustainable last-mile delivery, focusing on the intersection of digital and simulation tools and human-centric governance to achieve optimized efficiency, environmental performance, and equity. This framework helps both academics and decision-makers to advance data-driven, resilient, and integrative city logistic ecosystems. Full article

This research presents a systems-thinking analysis of Green Internet implementation in Zimbabwe, integrating the Socioecological Model and Life Cycle Model to provide a multi-faceted understanding of the challenges involved. This study analytically investigates the multilevel socioecological factors and dynamics of the technology life cycle that influence the adoption of sustainable IT principles among institutional actors. Utilizing a hermeneutic phenomenographic approach and data from 102 in-depth interviews, this study reveals a significant lack of awareness, inconsistent implementation, and systemic constraints. A key analytical finding is the dominance of cost-driven procurement and a widespread “technological fetish”, which, combined with the absence of a national e-waste regulation, constitutes a permissive constraint that enables unsustainable practices in the country. The study identifies the lack of a formal e-waste recycling infrastructure and a “fear of disposal” as critical inhibitors in the end-of-life phase of the technology life cycle. Rather than viewing these issues in isolation, this research uses a systems lens to identify the establishment of a national e-waste law with mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) as a crucial leverage point. This intervention is a strategic measure to overcome structural impediments and promote sustainable urban development in policy-fragile, low-resource contexts, providing valuable insights for policymakers and contributing to the broader discourse on sustainable ICT adoption in education. Full article

This article explores the potential of an integrated pedagogical approach that combines project-based learning (PBL) with Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Within the context of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), this model transforms students from passive consumers of information into active agents of change. The study demonstrates that leveraging IoT sensors enables students to tackle pressing and complex sustainability challenges by engaging them in a comprehensive problem-solving cycle—from collecting real-world data to developing innovative solutions. By analysing the existing scientific literature, the approach is shown to significantly improve critical thinking skills, systems thinking, creativity, and teamwork. The study also proposes a new conceptual framework (hypothesis), the EcoHabits model, whose effectiveness remains to be empirically validated. This model demonstrates IoT’s potential to enhance sustainability competencies, improve health literacy, and promote individual and collective behaviour change. Despite its significant pedagogical benefits, the article identifies key implementation challenges, including the need for adequate teacher training and community collaboration. In conclusion, this innovative framework offers a promising solution for preparing future generations to address global issues and become active, responsible citizens of the 21st century. Full article

The global drive toward sustainability and energy efficiency has accelerated the development of smart buildings integrating the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). These technologies optimise energy use, enhance occupant comfort, and advance building management systems. This study examines the integration of IoT and AI in energy-efficient smart buildings, emphasising applications and challenges. A qualitative methodology, combining systematic literature review, case study analysis, and systems analysis, underpins the research. Findings indicate that IoT enables smart metering, real-time energy monitoring, automated lighting and HVAC, occupancy-based energy optimisation, and renewable energy integration. AI complements these functions through predictive maintenance, energy forecasting, demand-side management, intelligent climate control, indoor air quality automation, and behaviour-driven analytics. Together, they reduce carbon emissions, lower operational costs, and improve occupant well-being. However, challenges remain, including data security and privacy risks, interoperability gaps, scalability and cost constraints, and retrofitting difficulties. To address these, the paper proposes a systems thinking-enabled conceptual framework structured around three pillars: adopting IoT and AI as enabling technologies, overcoming integration barriers, and identifying application areas that advance sustainability in smart buildings. This framework supports strategic decision-making toward net-zero and resilient building design. Full article

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic, declared to be over by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 5 May 2023, significantly impacted global physical, mental, economic, social, and political conditions. Since the onset of the pandemic, conspiracy theories have surged globally, facilitated by the Internet and social media. Conspiracy thinking is associated with mistrust in traditional sources of information, such as newspapers and news/TV programs, and lower adherence to public health guidance. However, there is limited understanding of how these beliefs are reflected in specific health-related behaviors and the mediating variables involved. Objective: The study aims to analyze the relationship between the belief in conspiracy theories, perceived personal control, and psychological well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy to understand how belief in conspiracy theories may contribute to less adherence to government guidelines and the role of factors such as personal control, trust in social media, and traditional sources of information in this relationship. Methods: In total, 437 Italian adults (296 women, 140 men, 1 non-binary; M_age = 31.41, SD = 13.32) completed measures of well-being, perceived control, use/trust of traditional vs. social-media sources, conspiracy beliefs, and adherence. Results: Well-being correlated positively with perceived control and social-media trust. Perceived control correlated positively with social-media trust and negatively with traditional-source trust. Adherence correlated positively with traditional-source trust and negatively with all conspiracy measures. Mediation showed an indirect effect of conspiracy beliefs on lower adherence only via reduced trust in traditional sources. In contrast, no indirect effects were found via social-media trust or perceived control. Conclusions: Conspiracy beliefs undermine adherence primarily by eroding trust in traditional information. Risk communication should rebuild institutional trust and tailor messaging across both social and traditional channels, taking into account psychological factors. Full article

Based on the cognitive-behavioral model of pathological internet use (PIU), this study examined the longitudinal impact of parenting styles on college students’ PIU and the roles played by rumination and environmental sensitivity. A total of 652 freshmen were tracked three times over one year by means of Parenting Style Questionnaire, the Pathological Internet Use Scale, the Rumination Thinking Scale and the High Sensitivity Personality Questionnaire. T1 positive parenting significantly negatively predicted T3 PIU, while T1 negative parenting significantly positively predicted T3 PIU; T2 rumination partially mediated the longitudinal relationship between T1 parenting styles and T3 PIU; environmental sensitivity plays a moderating role in both the direct pathway and the first half pathway of the mediating effect of parental rearing styles on pathological Internet use through rumination thinking, and the results of the moderating effect support the differential susceptibility model. We found that the indirect effect of parenting styles on PIU among college students through rumination was moderated by environmental sensitivity. Specifically, environmental sensitivity strengthened the pathway from parenting styles and rumination to PIU. Full article

Background/Objectives: The internet has unquestionably altered how people acquire health information. Instead of consulting with a medical professional, billions of pages of information can be accessed by anyone with a smartphone. Women’s health issues have been historically and culturally taboo in many cultures globally; therefore, internet searches may be particularly useful when researching these topics. Methods: As an exercise in scientific information evaluation, we chose 12 non-cancer topics specific to women’s health and developed a scoring metric based on quantifiable webpage attributes to answer: What topics generate the highest and lowest scores? Does the quality of information (mean score) vary across topics? Does the variation (score deviation) differ among topics? Data were collected following systematic searches after filtering with advanced features of Google and analyzed in a Bayesian framework. Results: The mean score per topic was significantly correlated with the number of sources cited within an article. There were significant differences in the quality scores across topics; “pregnancy” and “sleep” scored the highest and had more sources cited per page than all other topics. The greatest variation in scores were for “cortisol” and “weight”. Conclusions: A purposeful, systematic internet search of 12 critical women’s health topics suggests that scrutiny is necessary when this information is obtained by a typical internet user. Future work should include review by medical professionals based on their interaction with patients who self-report what they know or think about a condition they present and respect, while educating, patients’ own internet searching. Full article

Framed within the lens of systems theory and sociotechnical systems thinking, this systematic review examines telehealth as a complex adaptive system and dynamic health system shaped by the interactions between interconnected technological, social, and institutional components. Recognizing telehealth as part of a complex adaptive system, the review identifies how interdependent factors, such as digital literacy, connectivity, and policy, evolve and influence access to and the emergent properties of care. A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines and PROSPERO registration (CRD420251103608), analyzing 42 peer-reviewed articles published between January 2020 and June 2025, identified through the MEDLINE, Web of Science, EBSCOhost, ACM Digital Library, PsycINFO, and Scopus databases. Key findings include sustained but reduced telehealth use after the pandemic peak, as well as a small yet statistically significant positive effect of telehealth interventions on cognitive emergent properties, defined here as measurable outcomes like memory, attention, executive function, and processing speed (SMD = 0.29; 95% CI [0.04, 0.54]) with very low heterogeneity (I² = 0%). Significant system components such as digital illiteracy, poor internet connectivity, and complex technology interfaces disproportionately affected economically disadvantaged, minority, and rural older adults. Practical strategies rooted in systems thinking include digital literacy programs, simplified interfaces, caregiver support, improved broadband infrastructure, hybrid healthcare models, and supportive policies. Future research should focus on evidence-based, system-level interventions across diverse settings to bridge the digital divide and promote equitable access to telehealth for older adults. Full article

University students use the Internet regularly for study, socialising, and entertainment; moreover, in adolescents and young adults, Internet use increases with age. More than ever before, the wide availability of online information requires critical thinking coupled with skills for evaluating online information, such as verifying the reliability of information and netiquette. These competencies might influence deep learning; however, few studies have analysed all these variables together. In addition, there is an ongoing academic debate as to whether using smartphones at an early age is beneficial for learning. Our study aimed to analyse, according to the age of the first smartphone, to what extent students’ critical thinking disposition, netiquette, and evaluation of the reliability of online information predict their capacity for deep learning. Our sample comprised 415 Spanish university students aged 18–36 (M = 19.98 and SD = 4.18). The instruments used were, for the assessment of Deep Learning, the Subscale of the questionnaire Attitudes towards learning of university students CEVAPU (to measure the Critical Thinking Disposition, we used the CTDS scale (Spanish adaptation of Bravo et al., 2020 and also the Competence Scale Evaluation of the reliability of online information (e-CEI) (Denoni & Cebollero-Salinas, 2025; and, finally, to assess Netiquette, the subscale of the questionnaire Evaluation of the quality of cyberbehavior “EsCaCiber” Multiple linear regression results indicated that in those participants who indicated they had acquired a smartphone before the age of thirteen, the two competencies of netiquette and evaluation of online information reliability were more strongly predictive of deep learning than in the group of participants who had their first smartphone when they were thirteen or older. Our study confirms that critical thinking disposition is a factor that favours deep learning in both groups (i.e., smartphone acquisition before and after 13 years old). The social and educational implications are along the lines of fostering a disposition to critical thinking, educating in digital literacy, especially in verifying the reliability of information, and communicating with netiquette for deep learning. Our findings indicate a potential association between critical thinking disposition and a greater propensity for deep learning in both groups (i.e., smartphone acquisition before and after 13 years old). A relevant educational implication of the results seems to indicate that a possible way to achieve deep university learning is to encourage critical thinking, to educate in digital literacy, especially in the verification of the reliability of information and to communicate with netiquette. Some of the limitations of the research design are the use of self-reports, convenience sampling and a cross-sectional design. Full article

The rapid development of smart home and building technologies requires educational methods that facilitate the integration of theoretical knowledge with practical, system-level design skills. Computer-assisted tools play a crucial role in this process by enabling students to experiment with complex Internet of Things (IoT) and building automation ecosystems in a risk-free, iterative environment. This paper proposes a pedagogical framework that integrates simulation-based prototyping with collaborative and spatial design tools, supported by elements of design thinking and blended learning. The approach was implemented in a master’s-level Smart Building Systems course, to engage students in interdisciplinary projects where virtual modeling, digital collaboration, and contextualized spatial design were combined to develop user-oriented smart space concepts. Analysis of project outcomes and student feedback indicated that the use of simulation and visualization platforms may enhance technical competencies, creativity, and engagement. The proposed framework contributes to engineering education by demonstrating how computer-assisted environments can effectively support practice-oriented, user-centered learning. Its modular and scalable structure makes it applicable across IoT- and automation-focused curricula, aligning academic training with the hybrid workflows of contemporary engineering practice. Concurrently, areas for enhancement and modification were identified to optimize support for group and creative student work. Full article

This study examines the impact of public data openness on environmental welfare performance using a quasi-natural experimental approach based on the establishment of prefecture-level city public data openness platforms. Our findings reveal that public data openness significantly improves urban environmental welfare performance. Furthermore, heterogeneity analysis highlights that public data openness can play a more positive role in cities in eastern China, cities with greater fiscal autonomy, and cities where local governments place greater emphasis on environmental protection. Mechanism analysis demonstrates that public data openness enhances environmental welfare performance through stricter environmental regulatory constraints, industrial structure upgrading, increased public participation and supervision, and advancements in innovation and entrepreneurship. Extensive analysis shows that public data openness within a spatial framework can significantly enhance environmental welfare performance in the region. However, this process will generate a triple “siphon effect” that inhibits improvements in urban environmental welfare performance in surrounding areas. Additionally, this effect exhibits a certain degree of geographical attenuation influenced by economic interdependence, with an attenuation boundary of 1000 km. This study injects internet and big data thinking into ecological civilization construction, endowing it with new models, new scenarios, and new momentum, and providing a brand-new approach to sustainable development practices. Full article