Search for: All records

The growing adoption of intelligent Electric Vehicles (EVs) has also created an opportunity for malicious actors to initiate attacks on the EV infrastructure, which can include a number of data exchange protocols across the various entities that are part of the EV charging ecosystem. These protocols possess a range of underlying vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit to disrupt the regular flow of information and energy. While researchers have considered vulnerabilities of particular components within an EV charging ecosystem, there is still a notable gap in vulnerability analysis of charging protocols and the potential threats to these. We investigate threat vectors within the most widely adopted protocols used in EV infrastructure, explore the potential impact of cyberattacks and suggest various mitigation techniques investigated in literature. Potential future research directions are also identified. 

The Internet of Things (IoT) has revolutionized built environments by enabling seamless data exchange among devices such as sensors, actuators, and computers. However, IoT devices often lack robust security mechanisms, making them vulnerable to cyberattacks, privacy breaches, and operational anomalies caused by environmental factors or device faults. While anomaly detection techniques are critical for securing IoT systems, the role of testbeds in evaluating these techniques has been largely overlooked. This systematic review addresses this gap by treating testbeds as first-class entities essential for the standardized evaluation and validation of anomaly detection methods in built environments. We analyze testbed characteristics, including infrastructure configurations, device selection, user-interaction models, and methods for anomaly generation. We also examine evaluation frameworks, highlighting key metrics and integrating emerging technologies such as edge computing and 5G networks into testbed design. By providing a structured and comprehensive approach to testbed development and evaluation, this paper offers valuable guidance to researchers and practitioners in enhancing the reliability and effectiveness of anomaly detection systems. Our findings contribute to the development of more secure, adaptable, and scalable IoT systems, ultimately improving the security, resilience, and efficiency of built environments. 

Advances in data science and artificial intelligence (AI) offer unprecedented opportunities to provide actionable insights, drive innovative solutions, and create long-term strategies for sustainable development in response to the triple existential crises facing humanity: climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. The rapid development of AI models has been the subject of extensive debate and is high on the political agenda, but at present the vast potential for AI to contribute positively to informed decision making, improved environmental risk management, and the development of technological solutions to sustainability challenges remains underdeveloped. In this paper, we consider four inter-dependent areas in which data science and AI can make a substantial contribution to developing sustainable future interactions with the environment: (i) quantification and tracking progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals; (ii) embedding AI technologies to reduce emissions at source; (iii) developing systems to increase our resilience to natural hazards; (iv) Net Zero and the built environment. We also consider the wider challenges associated with the widespread use of AI, including data access and discoverability, trust and regulation, inference and decision making, and the sustainable use of AI. 

Open Data Observatories refer to online platforms that provide real-time and historical data for a particular application context, e.g., urban/non-urban environments or a specific application domain. They are generally developed to facilitate collaboration within one or more communities through reusable datasets, analysis tools, and interactive visualizations. Open Data Observatories collect and integrate various data from multiple disparate data sources—some providing mechanisms to support real-time data capture and ingest. Data types can include sensor data (soil, weather, traffic, pollution levels) and satellite imagery. Data sources can include Open Data providers, interconnected devices, and services offered through the Internet of Things. The continually increasing volume and variety of such data require timely integration, management, and analysis, yet presented in a way that end-users can easily understand. Data released for open access preserve their value and enable a more in-depth understanding of real-world choices. This survey compares 13 Open Data Observatories and their data management approaches—investigating their aims, design, and types of data. We conclude with research challenges that influence the implementation of these observatories, outlining some strengths and limitations for each one and recommending areas for improvement. Our goal is to identify best practices learned from the selected observatories to aid the development of new Open Data Observatories.