The PRISMA Project<\/h2><\/div>PRISMA \u2013 Photonics for Railway Infrastructure: Smart Maintenance and Assessment<\/b> \u2013 is a research project aimed at advancing predictive diagnostics for railway infrastructure through the integration of photonic sensing technologies.<\/p>\n<\/div>The project is based on two key principles. First, predictive diagnostics systems can significantly improve both safety and economic efficiency in infrastructure management. Second, fiber optic sensing represents an enabling technology for advanced monitoring, although its adoption requires dedicated solutions to ensure robustness, reliability, and ease of integration in real environments.<\/p>\n
PRISMA addresses these challenges by developing an integrated approach that combines sensing hardware, numerical modeling, and data analysis, enabling continuous and reliable monitoring of critical railway components.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>The University<\/mark><\/div><\/div>Politecnico di Milano<\/p>\n
DAER<\/h2><\/div>
The project is led by the Department of Aerospace Science and Technology (DAER) at Politecnico di Milano. DAER is the only university department in Italy entirely dedicated to aerospace engineering and represents a key pillar of Politecnico di Milano\u2019s engineering excellence. \u200b<\/p>\n<\/div>
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Internationally recognized for advanced research in aeronautics and space, the Department operates in close collaboration with industry and European research networks. \u200b<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>
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Within DAER, PRISMA is developed in the framework of the AMATECH research group. The group develops multifunctional composite structures and smart material systems, with research activities including structural health monitoring based on fiber optic and piezoelectric sensors, self-healing composite systems, and morphing or deployable structures enabled by smart materials such as shape memory alloys and piezoelectric actuators.\u200b<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>
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Research also addresses sustainable and alternative solutions, including recycling strategies and advanced manufacturing technologies.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div>Principal Investigator<\/span><\/span><\/mark><\/div><\/div>Prof. Paolo Bettini<\/h2><\/div>Prof. Paolo Bettini is Associate Professor of Aerospace Materials and Technologies at Politecnico di Milano<\/b> and Principal Investigator of the PRISMA project.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>- <\/i><\/span>\n
His research activity focuses on advanced materials and technologies, with particular emphasis on smart materials, smart structures, and composites.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>
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He has extensive experience in multidisciplinary research projects across aerospace, oil & gas, automotive, and civil engineering sectors, collaborating with major industrial partners and research institutions including Leonardo, Prysmian, CNR, and CIRA.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>
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He is the author of more than 150 scientific publications, holds 5 patents, and has supervised over 140 MSc and PhD theses. Since 2018, he has been a reference expert for the Italian Space Agency (ASI) on advanced materials for space applications.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>
PRISMA \u2013 Photonics for Railway Infrastructure: Smart Maintenance and Assessment<\/b> \u2013 is a research project aimed at advancing predictive diagnostics for railway infrastructure through the integration of photonic sensing technologies.<\/p>\n<\/div> The project is based on two key principles. First, predictive diagnostics systems can significantly improve both safety and economic efficiency in infrastructure management. Second, fiber optic sensing represents an enabling technology for advanced monitoring, although its adoption requires dedicated solutions to ensure robustness, reliability, and ease of integration in real environments.<\/p>\n PRISMA addresses these challenges by developing an integrated approach that combines sensing hardware, numerical modeling, and data analysis, enabling continuous and reliable monitoring of critical railway components.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> DAER<\/h2><\/div> The project is led by the Department of Aerospace Science and Technology (DAER) at Politecnico di Milano. DAER is the only university department in Italy entirely dedicated to aerospace engineering and represents a key pillar of Politecnico di Milano\u2019s engineering excellence. \u200b<\/p>\n<\/div> Internationally recognized for advanced research in aeronautics and space, the Department operates in close collaboration with industry and European research networks. \u200b<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li> Within DAER, PRISMA is developed in the framework of the AMATECH research group. The group develops multifunctional composite structures and smart material systems, with research activities including structural health monitoring based on fiber optic and piezoelectric sensors, self-healing composite systems, and morphing or deployable structures enabled by smart materials such as shape memory alloys and piezoelectric actuators.\u200b<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li> Research also addresses sustainable and alternative solutions, including recycling strategies and advanced manufacturing technologies.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> Prof. Paolo Bettini is Associate Professor of Aerospace Materials and Technologies at Politecnico di Milano<\/b> and Principal Investigator of the PRISMA project.<\/p>\n<\/div> His research activity focuses on advanced materials and technologies, with particular emphasis on smart materials, smart structures, and composites.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li> He has extensive experience in multidisciplinary research projects across aerospace, oil & gas, automotive, and civil engineering sectors, collaborating with major industrial partners and research institutions including Leonardo, Prysmian, CNR, and CIRA.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li> He is the author of more than 150 scientific publications, holds 5 patents, and has supervised over 140 MSc and PhD theses. Since 2018, he has been a reference expert for the Italian Space Agency (ASI) on advanced materials for space applications.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>Politecnico di Milano<\/p>\n
Prof. Paolo Bettini<\/h2><\/div>
![](\"https:\/\/prisma-fisa.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/20251222_Bettini-Profilo_06-scaled.jpg\" "\\"20251222_Bettini-Profilo_06\\"")
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