ACLAI – Lab

ACLAI Lab, part of the Mathematics and Computer Science Department at the University of Ferrara, focuses on studying, designing, and delivering artificial intelligence applications. Our research is focused on the edge between logic and AI and our primary objective is to design mathematically sound and formally certified tools. We are also members of the OVERLAY research group.

Team

Prof. Guido Sciavicco

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR

Dr. Giacomo Piva

ADJUNCT PROFESSOR

Dr. Ionel Eduard Stan

PHD STUDENT

Dr. Giovanni Pagliarini

PHD STUDENT

Federico Manzella

STUDENT

Projects

Geochemical fingerprinting of food products and water resources

We study, design, and implement protocols for geochemical fingerprinting based on physical, chemical, and isotopic data. We work with the Department of Physics and Earth Sciences of the University of Ferrara (Italy), the University of Còrdoba (Spain), and the Ayesa Foundation (Sevilla, Spain).

Medical data management and decision support system

In collaboration with the Research Center for the Study of Menopause and Osteoporosis of the University of Ferrara, we are designing and maintaining a data processing center equipped with a innovative decision support system.

Time series classification

We design and study new time series classification methods using symbolic, temporal-logic based knowledge extraction methods. At the moment, we are applying our techniques to many tasks; among them, we work with Siemens Europa, and we are trying to build systems that allow one to predict the need of maintenance of gas turbines.

Images classification

We are studying novel techniques for images classification and segmentation, based on symbolic, spatial-logic based knowledge extraction techniques. These techniques have shown promising results with satellite/areal data, specifically on the task of land cover classification.

Medical document classification and information extraction

This project, currently at the pre-design level, aims to build a system based on textual artificial intelligence which is able to help a medical doctor to identify, classify, and extract information from publicily available medical research papers. For this project, we collaborate with the Department of Translational Medicine and for Romagna of the University of Ferrara.

Open data for everyone

This project, currently at the pre-design level, has the objective of offering a middle level between the administrative and economical Italian open data sources and the final user. We are realizing this idea in collaboration with the Department of Economics and Management of the University of Ferrara.

Research

ACLAI promotes an undergraduate research initiative for mathematics and computer science students. The purpose of this initiative is to stimulate undergraduate students to start their research career and enrich their curricula with conference and journal publications. The Bachelor Degree in Computer Science within the University of Ferrara, in particular, includes 21 ECTS credits (12+9) for internship and final project; students joining the undergraduate research initiative spend this amount of credits at the ACLAI laboratory, enjoy the possibility of studying extra-curricular topics, and, in some cases, publish early-stage theoretical and implementation results. Current and past students that have joined the program are: