Research | Security, Semantics and Social Networks

Mission

The activities of the S^3 Laboratory (Security, Semantics and Social Networks) focus on the theoretical and practical aspects of knowledge and information extraction, dissemination, and processing. In particular, the laboratory will support the area of research in Computer Science for:

• designing efficient algorithms for information processing;
• defining theories, techniques in Natural Language Processing (NLP), and methodologies for the extraction and processing of knowledge from unstructured, heterogeneous, and multi-dimensional data;
• knowledge graphs, semantic representation, and semantic technologies for the interconnection and advanced analysis of data;
• neurosymbolic models for knowledge representation;
• Information Retrieval for information extraction using Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) approaches;
• management of large volumes of unstructured, heterogeneous, and distributed data, including with NoSQL technologies;
• development of tools for information security;
• defining methodologies for extracting information from unstructured material or from time-series data.

These goals are pursued using a broad knowledge base ranging from computation theory and computational complexity, to information theory and cryptography, from computational intelligence to semantics, to knowledge graphs or big data models, from graph theory to game theory.

Activities

The activities conducted in this laboratory have numerous practical applications, including:

• Development of algorithms for advertising and marketing, social network analysis (e.g., Facebook or Twitter);
• Security and applications of Blockchain technology.
• Big Data analysis and management systems with NoSQL approaches.
• Knowledge graphs and models for knowledge representation.
• Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) approaches.

Teaching

The laboratory hosts thesis activities and post-graduate projects for students and graduates in Computer Engineering, as well as PhD students in Computer Science and Information Engineering. Many of these activities involve participation in research projects in an international context.

Equipment

• 1 server workstation
• 4 PC stations
• 1 printer