BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

 

  • Born in Como, July 1974

  • 1999: M.Sc. degree (full marks) in Environmental Engineer, Politecnico di Milano.
  • 2005: PhD in Information Engineering, Politecnico di Milano.
  • Currently: post-doc researcher at IDSIA.
  • Research interests: probabilistic graphical models, data mining, imprecise probabilities, environmental modelling.
  • Contact:
  • Phone number: +41 91 610 8509

    •  

    WORK AND RESEARCH APPOINTMENTS

     

    January 2006 - present: Post-Doctoral researcher at IDSIA (Manno, Switzerland) 

     

    2002-2005: PhD (Information Engineering, Politecnico di Milano)

    Major thesis: "Environmental modelling via learning-from-data techniques”
    Advisor: Prof. G. Guariso.

    Minor thesis: "VC dimension and Structural Risk Minimization for the analysis of non-linear ecological models and time series.”
    Advisor: Prof. M. Gatto.

     

    2001-2005: part-time consultant at Agenzia Milanese Mobilita' Ambiente, Milano: scientific coordinator of a project for real time prediction of air pollution in Milan.

     

    VISITING RESEARCHER

     

    March-June 2005: Machine Learning Group - University of Bruxelles.
    Research topic: Model averaging and model selection in local learning algorithms.
    I have studied the problem of model selection within a local learning setting, and investigated some novel approaches for this task. In particular, I developed some novel methods for model selection with lazy learning.

     

    January-July 2006: Detached IDSIA researcher at Cognitive Drug Research Ltd., Goring-on-Thames, Berkshire.
     I worked in a joint project between IDSIA and CDR, to develop a classification algorithm based on imprecise probabilities for dementia classification starting from cognitive profiles.

     

    AWARDS AND GRANTS 

     

    2008-2009: Grant by Swiss National Science Foundation, for research on model averaging with imprecise probabilities.

     

    2007: Grant by Hasler Foundation, for research on classification with imprecise probabilities. See here for a short description of the project.

     

    2007: Rotary Prize (issued by Rotary Club Como, Italy) as young researcher in the environmental area.

     

    2005: Fellowship within the program "Progetto DRIN" (realized by Fondazione Politecnico, Fondo Sociale Europeo and Regione Lombardia), enabling me to spend three months at University of Bruxelles.

     

    2002: Best Paper Prize  won at the International Environmental Modelling and Software Conference (Lugano, Switzerland, 2002).

     

    TEACHING

     

    2011-present: teacher of “Statistica Applicata", (Italian), Bach. of Management Engineering, Scuola Universitaria Professionale della Svizzera Italiana (SUPSI). Main topics: statistical inference and statistical process control.

     

    2008-present: “Uncertain Reasoning and Data Mining", (English), Master of Science in Intelligent Systems, University of Svizzera Italiana. Main topics: Bayesian networks and data mining. Assistant teacher in 2008-2009 and 2009-2010; teacher since 2010-2011 together with prof. Zaffalon.

     

    2006-2008: assistant teacher of “Fundamentals of Systems Analysis", (English), Master of Science in Environmental Engineer (prof. Guariso), Polytechnic of Milan. Main topics: systems theory, simulation and identification.

     

    2000-2005: assistant teacher of “Analisi dei Sistemi", (Italian), Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineer (prof. Guariso), Polytechnic of Milan. Main topics: systems theory, simulation and identification.

     

    OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE FOR CLASSIFICATION

     

    Together with Marco Zaffalon, I am the author of the Naive Credal Classifier2 (NCC2), i.e., an extension of Naive Bayes towards imprecise probabilities, desisgned to deliver robust classifications even on small or incomplete data sets. The peculiar feature of NCC2 is that it delivers set-valued classifications (i.e., more than one class), when faced with doubtful instances.

     

    JNCC2 is the open-source implementation of the Naive Credal Classifier2. Visit the JNCC2 page for more information and download.

     

    REVIEWING

     

    Reviewer for J. of Machine Learning Research, Int. J. of Approximate Reasoning, Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, Atmospheric Environment, Water Resources Management, Env. Modelling and Software and many others.

     

    Member of the program committee of ISIPTA 09, ISIPTA 11 and IPMU 2010.

     

    PUBLICATIONS LIST 

    International Journals


    [A.11]    A. Giusti, P. Taddei, C. Magli, G. Corani, L. Gambardella, L. Gianaroli: "Artificial Defocus for Displaying Markers in Microscopy Z-Stacks". IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics, 17(12), 1757--1764, 2011.

    [A.10]    G.Corani, C.P. De Campos, “A tree augmented classifier based on Extreme Imprecise Dirichlet Model”, J. of Approximate Reasoning, 51, 1053-1068, 2010. >> preprint

    [A.9]    G.Corani, M. Zaffalon “JNCC2: The Java Implementation Of Naive Credal Classifier 2 ”, Journal of Machine Learning Research (Track on Open Source Software), 9, 2695--2698, 2008. >> download

    [A.8]    G.Corani, M. Zaffalon “ Learning Reliable Classifiers From Small or Incomplete Data Sets: The Naive Credal Classifier 2 ”, Journal of Machine Learning Research, 9, 581--621, 2008. >> download

    [A.7]    G.Corani, M. Gatto “ Structural Risk Minimization: a robust method for density-dependence detection and model selection ”, Ecography, 30(3), 400–416, 2007. >> preprint

    [A.6]    M. Bianchi, G.Corani, G. Guariso, C. Pinto “ Prediction of ungulates abundances through local linear algorithms ”, Environmental Modelling and Software, 21(10), 1508-1511, 2006 >>preprint

    [A.5]    G.Corani, M. Gatto “VC-Dimension and Structural Risk Minimization for the Analysis of Nonlinear Ecological Models”, Applied Mathematics and Computation, 176(1), 166-176, 2006 >>preprint

    [A.4]    G.Corani, M. Gatto “Model selection in demographic time series using VC-bounds”, Ecological Modelling, 191 (1), 186-195, 2006.  >>preprint  >> Errata Corrige

    [A.3]    G.Corani, G.Guariso “Coupling fuzzy modelling and neural networks for river flood prediction”, IEEE Transactions on Men, Systems and Cybernetics part C, 35(3), 382-391, 2005.   >>preprint

    [A.2]    G.Corani, G.Guariso “An application of pruning in the design of neural networks for real time flood forecasting”, Neural Computing & Applications, 14, 66-77, 2005.  >>preprint

    [A.1]    G.Corani “Air quality prediction in Milan: neural networks, pruned neural networks and lazy learning”, Ecological Modelling, 185, 513-529, 2005.  >>preprint


    Proceedings of peer-reviewed international conferences

    [C.23]    A. Antonucci, M. Cattaneo, G. Corani, "Likelihood-Based Naive Credal Classifier", Proc. of ISIPTA '11 , (7th Intern. Symposium on Imprecise Probability: Theories and Applications), pages 21--30.   >>download

    [C.22]    Marco Zaffalon, Giorgio Corani, Denis Mauá, "Utility-Based Accuracy Measures to Empirically Evaluate Credal Classifiers", Proc. of ISIPTA '11, (7th Intern. Symposium on Imprecise Probability: Theories and Applications), pages 401--410.   >>download

    [C.21]    A. Giusti, G. Corani, L. Gambardella, C. Magli and L. Gianaroli, "3D Localization of Pronuclei of Human Zygotes Using Textures from Multiple Focal Planes", Proc. of the Medical Image Computing and Computer-Assisted Intervention (MICCAI 2010), Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 2010, Volume 6362/2010, pages 488-495. (acceptance rate: 32%).   >>preprint

    [C.20]    G. Corani, A. Giusti, D. Migliore, and J. Schmidhuber, "Robust Texture Recognition Using Credal Classifiers.", Proc. of the British Machine Vision Conference 2010 (BMVC 2010), pages 78.1-78.10. (acceptance rate: 34%).   >>download

    [C.19]    G. Corani, A. Benavoli, "Restricting the IDM for classification: Good and evil of epsilon", Int. Conf. on Information Processing and Management of Uncertainty in Knowledge-Based Systems, (IPMU 2010), Part 1, pages 328--337.   >>preprint

    [C.18]    A. Giusti, G. Corani, L. Gambardella, C. Magli and L. Gianaroli, "Blastomere Segmentation and 3D Morphology Measurements of Early Embryos from Hoffman Modulation Contrast Image Stacks", IEEE International Symposium on Biomedical Imaging (ISBI) 2010.

    [C.17]    A. Giusti, G. Corani, L. Gambardella, C. Magli and L. Gianaroli “Lighting-Aware Segmentation of Microscopy Images for In Vitro Fertilization”, Proc. of International Symposium on Visual Computing (ISVC) 2009, Las Vegas, Springer LNCS vol. 5875/2009, 576--585.

    [C.16]    A. Giusti, G. Corani, L. Gambardella, C. Magli and L. Gianaroli “Segmentation of Human Zygotes in Hoffman Modulation Contrast Images”, Proc. of Medical Image Understanding and Analysis (MIUA), 2009, 189--193     >>online proceedings   

    [C.15]    G. Corani, M. Zaffalon, “Lazy Naive Credal Classifier”, 1st ACM SIGKDD workshop on Knowledge Discovery from Uncertain Data (KDD 09), 30--37, Paris, 2009     >>preprint    >>slides   

    [C.14]    G. Corani, C. De Campos, S. Yi, “A Tree Augmented Classifier Based on Extreme Imprecise Dirichlet Model”, Proc. 6th International Symposium on Imprecise Probability: Theories and Applications (ISIPTA 09), 89--98, Durham, 2009     >>download    >> slides

    [C.13]    G.Corani, A. Rizzoli, A. Salvetti, M. Zaffalon “Reproducing human decisions in reservoir management: the case of lake Lugano”, Proc. of the 4th International ICSC Symposium on Information Technologies in Environmental Engineering, Thessaloniki, pages 252--263, 2009     >> preprint    

    [C.12]    G.Corani, M. Zaffalon “Credal Model Averaging: an Extension of Bayesian Model Averaging to Imprecise Probabilities, Proc. ECML PKDD '08 (European Conf. on Machine Learning and Principles and Practice of Knowledge Discovery in Databases), pages 257--271 (acceptance rate: 20%)     >> preprint     >> slides    

    [C.11]    G.Corani, M. Zaffalon “Naive Credal Classifier 2: an Extension of Naive Bayes for Delivering Robust Classifications”, Proc. DMIN'08 (Int. Conf. on Data Mining), Las Vegas, July 2008     >> preprint     >>slides

    [C.10]    M. Bianchi, G.Corani, G. Guariso “PM10 forecasting with a local linear approachs”, Proc. Advanced Atmospheric Aerosol Symposium, Milano, 215-221, 2006     >>preprint

    [C.9]    Giorgio Corani, Chris Edgar, Isabelle Marshall, Keith Wesnes and Marco Zaffalon “Classification of dementia types from cognitive profiles data”, Proc. ECML PKDD '06 (European Conf. on Machine Learning and Principles and Practice of Knowledge Discovery in Databases), pages 470--477 (acceptance rate: 25%). >>preprint

    [C.8]    G.Corani, M. Gatto “An application of Structural Risk Minimization to the selection of ecological models”, 16th IFAC World Conference, Prague, July 2005

    [C.7]    “Fuzzy modelling of basin state and Neural Networks for flood forecasting”, 2nd International Environmental Modelling and Software Society Conference, Osnabruck, June 2004. >>download

    [C.6]    M. Cecchetti, G. Corani, G. Guariso, “Artificial Neural Networks Prediction of PM10 in the Milan area”, 2nd International Environmental Modelling and Software Society Conference, Osnabruck, June 2004.  >>download

    [C.5]    S. Barazzetta, G. Corani, “First results on the prediction of PM10 in Milan: the Air Sentinel project”, 9th  International Conference on Harmonisation within Atmospheric Dispersion Modelling for Regulatory Purposes, Garmish, May 2004. 

    [C.4]    L.Bolognini, G. Corani, C. Faggioni, G. Guariso, “Neural networks forecast of ozone pollution in Milan”, 8th Int. Conference on Engineering Applications of Neural Networks, Malaga, September 2003. 

    [C.3]    S. Castelli, G. Corani, G. Guariso, “Structural identification of multivariate neural networks for rainfall runoff modeling”, 13th  IFAC Symposium on System Identification, Rotterdam, August 2003

    [C.2]    5.    S. Barazzetta, G.Corani, G. Guariso, “A Neural Emission-Receptor Model for Ozone Reduction Planning”, 1st International Environmental Modelling and Software Society Conference, Lugano, 2002.  This paper has been awarded with the “Best Paper Prize” of the Conference.  >>download

    [C.1]    A.Castelletti, G.Corani, E.Weber, A. Rizzoli, R.Soncini Sessa: “A reinforcement learning approach for the operational management of a water system” IFAC Workshop on Modeling and Control in Environmental Issues. Yokohama, August 2001.   >>preprint


    Chapter in Books


    [B.2]    G.Corani, A. Antonucci, M. Zaffalon, “Bayesian Networks with Imprecise Probabilities: Theory and Application to Classification”, Ch. 4 of the book “Data Mining: Foundations and Intelligent Paradigms”, editors: D.E. Holmes, L.C. Jain, pages 49--93, doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-23166-7_4, >> preprint

    [B.1]    R. Bellasio, R. Bianconi, G. Corani, G. Maffeis, M. Molari and N. Quaranta, “SINERGIE, A Decision Support System for Environmental Emergencies Management”, in "Environmental Sciences and Environmental Computing - Volume II”.  E-book edited by “The Envirocomp Institute”.


    Extended abstracts


    [E.1] A. Giusti, C. Magli, G. Corani, L. Gambardella, L. Gianaroli, “Observing the 3-Dimensional Morphology of 4-Cell Embryos using Computer Analysis of Image Z-Stacks”, Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the European Society on Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE 2011), published in Human Reproduction (Supplement: Abstract book), vol.26, 2011.


    Invited talks and tutorials


    [T.4] A. Antonucci, C.P. De Campos and G. Corani, “Classification with Imprecise Probabilities”, 4th SIPTA Summer School , Durham, September 2010. >> All slides of the school.

    [T.3] A. Antonucci, G. Corani, “ “Bayesian Networks with Imprecise Probabilities: Theory and Applications to Knowledge-based Systems and Classification”,”: “AAAI-10: Twenty-Fourth Conference on Artificial Intelligence”, Atlanta, July 2010.

    [T.2] G. Corani, “Statistical approaches for air pollution prediction”, within the workshop: “Méthodes Statistiques et Pollution”, Insa de Rouen, June 2008    >> slides         >> handouts


    [T.1] G. Corani, “Naive Credal Classifier”, within the “SIPTA (Society for Imprecise Probability: Theories and Applications) School 2008",, (15 mins presentation, within the more general tutorial about credal networks), Montpellier, July 2008    >> slides   


    Thesis


    [F.1]    A. Castelletti, G. Corani, “Q-Learning for water system management”, Master Degree Thesis in Environmental Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Tutor: Prof. R. Soncini Sessa, 1999.
    [F.2]    G. Corani, “Environmental modelling via learning-from-data techniques”, PhD Thesis in Information Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Tutor: Prof. G. Guariso, 2005.   >>introduction


    Internal reports


    [D.1]    G.Corani, M. Gatto “ Comments on: -Model Complexity Control for Regression Using VC Generalization Bounds [IEEE Transaction on Neural Networks, 10(5), 1999]- ”, Dipartimento Elettronica ed Informazione, Politenico di Milano, Internal Report 2006.54 >>download


    National journals


    [E.1]    G. Corani G. Guariso, “Efficienza e robustezza nella previsione di piene fluviali basata su reti neurali”, L'acqua, 6 -2002, pag. 45-54.
    [E.2]    G. Corani, G. Guariso, “Il contributo dell'informatica ambientale: misure e modelli per la pianificazione delle risorse fisiche”, Territorio, 3-2002, pag. 18-27
    [E.3]    A. Castelletti, G. Corani, E. Weber, A. Rizzoli, R. Soncini Sessa: “Q-learning nella gestione dei laghi regolati”, Automazione e Strumentazione, 7-2001, pag. 119-126