Associate Professor (L. 240)
Interuniversity Department of Regional and Urban Studies and Planning (DIST)
Profile
Research interests
Biography
Associate Professor in Sustainable Urban Forms and Evaluations at the Polytechnic of Turin. I have a synergistic path covering Engineering, Architecture-Science of Cities, Economic Assessments (Polytechnic of Turin), Urbanism (University of Campinas), Anthropology (University of Oxford), with two degrees cum laude, a PhD and a Post-PhD. I was the Head of Urban Environment at the Erasmus University Rotterdam, and a visiting researcher at, among many, the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge and ETH Zurich. I worked in projects for the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, European Commission, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, and currently for a Grand Challenges Small Grant (Future Urban Growth Lab) from University College London. I am also a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Portsmouth and a member at the University of Birmingham. My works touch human societies and progress from different angles. Currently I am studying relationships among urbanicity level, urban allometry, urban forms and psycho-socio-economic-environmental costs/benefits, and about new possibilities for urban morphogenesis futures. After 10 years abroad, in December 2017, I decided to resign from my Dutch permanent position (senior academic stuff, scale 12.7) as Head of Urban Environment (Erasmus University Rotterdam) to return to my Alpine Italian mother region. I lived 10 years across Ireland, France, Netherlands, Spain, Australia, Brasil, Scotland, Uruguay, England, experiencing an enriching variety of social, physical and working environments. Vietnam, Malaysia, USA, Italy, Ireland, France, Netherlands, Spain, Australia, Brasil, Scotland, Uruguay, England, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark: I have, so far, visited or lived 364 places across 4 continents, among rural villages, towns, cities and megacities, which helps me feeling human settlements beyond books. Research output: I keep a balance between theoretical and empirical research, as well as single and co-authored outputs and between humanistic and quantitative-technical contents. Academic employment or affiliations: Associate Professor - Politecnico di Torino (from Dec 2020) permanent Researcher - Politecnico di Torino (Dec 2017-2020) Associate - Erasmus University Rotterdam (since 2018) Head of Urban Environment - Erasmus University Rotterdam (Feb 2015 - Dec 2017) permanent - resigned Senior Fellow - University of Portsmouth (since 2017) Member Cambridge Networks Network - University of Cambridge (since 2016) Honorary Fellow - University of Birmingham (since 2016) Visiting Professor - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC) (2014) - resigned External Researcher - Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp) (2011-2013) - resigned Ast Researcher - University of Strathclyde (2012) Post-Doc - Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp) (2010-2011) Doc and Post-Doc Researcher - Politecnico di Torino (2004-2006, 2008-2010) Education: two degrees 110/110 cum laude, a PhD, a Post-PhD: - Architecture-Science of Cities (Polytechnic of Turin), MSc, 110/110 cum laude, 2003 - Economic Assessments (Polytechnic of Turin), PhD, 2007 - Mathematics (University of Turin), BSc, 11 recognized exams (mean 30/30 plus three cum laude), 2007 - Construction Engineering (Polytechnic of Turin), BSc, (mean 30/30 cum laude) 110/110 cum laude, 2009 - Urbanism (University of Campinas), post-PhD, 2010 - Anthropology (University of Oxford), 20 credits, 2020
Scientific branch
(Area 0008 - Civil engineering and architecture)
Research topics
- human settlements, well-being and progress
Skills
ERC sectors
SDG
Fellowships
- Scientific Committee member - Laboratório de Ecologia Urbana, Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Brasile (2022-)
- Fellow - Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam (The Erasmus Happiness Economics Research Organisation (EHERO)), Paesi Bassi (2022-)
Research Fellow - Scientific Committee member - Sistemas Configuracionais Urbanos (SCU), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS, Brasile (2019-)
- Other roles - Erasmus University Rotterdam, Paesi Bassi (2018-2023)
- Fellow - Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Paesi Bassi (2017-2018)
Ass Professor - Fellow - University of Portsmouth (Cluster for Sustainable Cities), Regno Unito (2017-2020)
- Fellow - University of Birmingham, School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Urban Morphology Research Group,, Regno Unito (2016-2021)
- Fellow - Birmingham University, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Regno Unito (2016-)
Honorary Research Fellow - Scientific Committee member - Spatial Intelligence Unit (SPIN Unit), Estonia (2013-)
- Scientific Committee member - International Society of Biourbanism, Italia (2013-)
Editorial boards
- PLOS MENTAL HEALTH (2024-), Editorial board member
- PLOS ONE (2023-), Editorial board member
- Humanities & Social Sciences Communications (2023-), Editorial board member
- URBAN PLANNING (2016-2020), Director
Management or scientific roles in Research Institutes
- Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam - Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam (2015-2017), Head of Urban Environment, Sustainability and Climate Change, at Erasmus University Rotterdam (IHS)
Conferences
- Challenges in Data Science: a Complex Systems Perspective (16/11/2023-18/11/2023), Program committee
- Biennale di Venezia - Padiglione Italia (30/6/2021-31/8/2021), Steering commitee
Other research or teaching roles outside Politecnico
- Visiting Researcher, presso Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zürich (1/11/2015-30/11/2015)
- Visiting Researcher, presso University of Cambridge (24/9/2015-9/10/2015)
- Visiting Researcher, presso University of Oxford (17/8/2015-21/8/2015)
- Ricercatore, presso Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam (1/2/2015-5/12/2017)
- Ricercatore, presso University of Strathclyde (17/8/2012-16/2/2013)
- Ricercatore, presso State University of Campinas (1/9/2010-30/6/2011)
Research networks
- Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam (EHERO) (2022-2024). Partecipazione
- University of Birmingham (College of Engineering and Physical Sciences) (2016-). Partecipazione
- LEUr Urban Ecology Lab (2022-). Partecipazione
- Future Urban Growth Lab (2019-). Partecipazione
- URban Evolution Morphology (2024-). Coordinamento
Teaching
Collegi of the PhD programmes
- URBAN AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, 2023/2024 (39. ciclo)
Politecnico di TORINO - URBAN AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, 2022/2023 (38. ciclo)
Politecnico di TORINO - URBAN AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, 2021/2022 (37. ciclo)
Politecnico di TORINO - URBAN AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, 2020/2021 (36. ciclo)
Politecnico di TORINO
Collegi of the degree programmes
- Collegio di Architettura e Design. Componente
- Collegio di Ingegneria Civile ed Edile. Componente
Teachings
PhD
- Urban Allometries: Villages, Cities, Megacities. A.A. 2022/23, URBAN AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT. Main teacher
- Sustainable urban forms: a quantitative and qualitative perspective. A.A. 2021/22, URBAN AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT. Main teacher
- Mathematics of urban morphology (didattica di eccellenza). A.A. 2021/22, MATEMATICA PURA E APPLICATA. Main teacher
- Sustainable urban forms: a quantitative and qualitative perspective. A.A. 2020/21, URBAN AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT. Main teacher
- Mathematics of urban morphology (didattica di eccellenza). A.A. 2020/21, MATEMATICA PURA E APPLICATA. Main teacher
- Sustainable urban forms: a quantitative and qualitative perspective. A.A. 2019/20, URBAN AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT. Main teacher
- Psycology of urban life. A.A. 2019/20, URBAN AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT. Main teacher
Master of Science
- Città, territorio, paesaggio (modulo di Estimo). A.A. 2025/26, ARCHITETTURA COSTRUZIONE CITTA'. Titolare del corso
- Valutazione della sostenibilità economica dei progetti B. A.A. 2025/26, ARCHITETTURA PER LA SOSTENIBILITA'. Collaboratore del corso
- Investments analysis. A.A. 2024/25, INGEGNERIA EDILE. Titolare del corso
- Economic evaluation of projects. A.A. 2024/25, ARCHITETTURA COSTRUZIONE CITTA'. Titolare del corso
- Investments analysis. A.A. 2023/24, INGEGNERIA EDILE. Titolare del corso
- Economic evaluation of projects. A.A. 2023/24, ARCHITETTURA COSTRUZIONE CITTA'. Titolare del corso
- Investments analysis. A.A. 2022/23, INGEGNERIA EDILE. Titolare del corso
- Economic evaluation of projects. A.A. 2022/23, ARCHITETTURA COSTRUZIONE CITTA'. Titolare del corso
- Investments analysis. A.A. 2021/22, INGEGNERIA EDILE. Titolare del corso
- Economic evaluation of projects. A.A. 2021/22, ARCHITETTURA COSTRUZIONE CITTA'. Titolare del corso
Bachelor of Science
- Real Estate evaluation. A.A. 2025/26, ARCHITETTURA (ARCHITECTURE). Titolare del corso
- Real Estate evaluation. A.A. 2024/25, ARCHITETTURA (ARCHITECTURE). Titolare del corso
- Real Estate evaluation. A.A. 2023/24, ARCHITETTURA (ARCHITECTURE). Titolare del corso
- Real Estate evaluation. A.A. 2022/23, ARCHITETTURA (ARCHITECTURE). Titolare del corso
- Real Estate evaluation. A.A. 2021/22, ARCHITETTURA (ARCHITECTURE). Titolare del corso
- Real Estate evaluation. A.A. 2020/21, ARCHITETTURA (ARCHITECTURE). Titolare del corso
- Comprendere l'ambiente e il clima - Talenti. A.A. 2019/20, ARCHITETTURA. Collaboratore del corso
- Real Estate evaluation. A.A. 2019/20, ARCHITETTURA (ARCHITECTURE). Titolare del corso
Research
Other activities and projects related to research
https://sites.google.com/view/lucadacci/projects
2022: University College London & Royal Town Planning Institute : “Future Urban Growth Lab”: Isobenefit Urbanism (won January 2022)
Laboratório de Ecologia Urbana, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (2022, Cnpq) https://leur.ufsc.br/en/parceiros.html
Temporalidades do território universitário: entre o espaço edificado e o espaço propositivo sent for the Brasilian call: CNPq Nº 26/2021 (March 2022 sent)
2021: HORIZON 2020: EU Green Deal call (Feb 2021 sent), 5M€
2021: PRIN: Sustainable Urban Mobility (Feb 2021 sent), 1M€
2020: Platform for the resilience of cities. Federal University of Santa Catarina UFSC.
2019-2020: Future Urban Growth Lab: Isobenefit Urbanism. University College London. UCL Grand Challenges Small Grant.
2016: the Liveable City project. University of Birmingham, Lancaster University, UCL, University of Southampton, EPSRC.
2016: Land Value Capture Instruments. Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
2016: Asian Development Bank (ADB) training project in Vietnam: Training on Urban Management for Climate Change.
2016: TA-8781 MAL, Asian Development Bank (ADB), Sustainable Urban Management (Green Cities), Melaka, Malaysia.
2015-2016: SUSTAIN: Strengthening Urban Sustainability (curricula) in Higher Education in Europe and Asia, European Commission, Erasmus Mundus programme.
2015: Sustainability Benefit Assessment (A handbook for green growth projects in urban areas) for the World Bank – with IHS
2008-09: JESSICA: Joint European Support for Sustainable Investment in City Areas. Research in collaboration with SINLOC, Prometeia, SiTI, and ISMU – with SiTI.
2008-09: Evaluations of the real estate property of the ASL and ASO of the Piedmont Region. In SiTI (Higher Institute on Territorial Systems).
2005/06: PRIN member (Research Projects of Relevant National Interest). Research topic: effects of urban transformation on local economical systems and real estate markets – with Politecnico di Torino.
Publications
Publications by type
Latest publications View all publications in Porto@Iris
- D'Acci, Luca (2025)
Empirical overview of urban scaling, Urban allometry origins, critics and city performance evaluations. In: Urban Scaling. Allometry in Urban Studies and Spatial Science / D'Acci L., S.L., Routledge, pp. 18-27. ISBN: 978-1-032-26440-0
Contributo in Volume - D'Acci, Luca (2025)
Planning New Cities and Isobenefit Urbanism. In: Free Global Cities / S.N., S.L., Bloomsbury, pp. 233-248. ISBN: 9781509976416
Contributo in Volume - D'Acci, Luca S.; Banister, David; White, Roger W. (2024)
Liveable urban forms: planning, self-organisation, and a third way (Isobenefit urbanism). In: HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES COMMUNICATIONS, vol. 11. ISSN 2662-9992
Contributo su Rivista - D'Acci, Luca S. (2023)
A morphological cellular automata-agent based model prototype for simulating future isobenefit urbanism growth. In: UK Ireland Planning Research 2023, Glasgow
Contributo in Atti di Convegno (Proceeding) - D'Acci, L. S.; Voto, M. (2023)
Morphogenesis of Isobenefit urbanism: Isobenefit-cities simulator. In: SOFTWAREX, vol. 23. ISSN 2352-7110
Contributo su Rivista - D'Acci, Ls (2023)
Is housing price distribution across cities, scale invariant? Fractal distribution of settlements' house prices as signature of self-organized complexity. In: CHAOS, SOLITONS AND FRACTALS, vol. 174. ISSN 0960-0779
Contributo su Rivista - Carta, Maurizio; Jose Antonio Lara-Hernandez, ; Accossato, Katia; Baggio, Marilena; ... (2022)
The Peccioli Charter, the New Constitution of the Nation of the Italian Resilient Communities. In: Resilient Communities and the Peccioli Charter / S.N., S.L., Springer. ISBN: 978-3-030-85846-9
Contributo in Volume - D'Acci, Luca (2021)
Preferring or Needing Cities? (Evolutionary) psychology, utility and life satisfaction of urban living. In: CITY, CULTURE AND SOCIETY. ISSN 1877-9166
Contributo su Rivista - D'Acci, L.; Voto, M. (2021)
A cellular automata for e-planning sustainable urban forms. In: Italian Society of Applied and Industrial Mathematics - conference, Parma, 2021
Contributo in Atti di Convegno (Proceeding) - D'Acci, L.; Marshall, S.; van Oort, F.; Rogers, C. D. F.; Gabrieli, T.; Voto, M. (2021)
Planning, environmental, economic perspectives of urban isobenefit morphogenesis. In: 14th Ecocity World Summit (Ecocity 2022), Rotterdam, 2022
Contributo in Atti di Convegno (Proceeding) - D’Acci, Luca (2020)
Urbanicity mental costs valuation: a review and urban-societal planning consideration. In: MIND & SOCIETY. ISSN 1593-7879
Contributo su Rivista - Grafakos, Stelios; Tsatsou, Alexandra; D'Acci, Luca; Kostaras, James; Patricia López ... (2019)
Exploring the Use of Land Value Capture Instruments for Green Resilient Infrastructure Benefits: A Framework Applied in Cali, Colombia. , Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
Altro - D’Acci, Luca (2019)
A new type of cities for liveable futures. Isobenefit Urbanism morphogenesis. In: JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, vol. 246. ISSN 1095-8630
Contributo su Rivista - D'Acci, Luca (2019)
The Mathematics of Urban Morphology. S.L., Springer, P. 564. ISBN: 9783030123819
Libro - D'Acci, Luca (2019)
On Urban Morphology and Mathematics. In: The Mathematics of Urban Morphology / S.N., S.L., Springer. ISBN: 9783030123819
Contributo in Volume - D'Acci, Luca (2019)
Orientational versus esthetical parametrization in space syntax. In: Spatial Cognition & Computation. ISSN 1542-7633
Contributo su Rivista - D'Acci, Luca (2019)
Aesthetical cognitive perceptions of urban street form. Pedestrian preferences toward straight or curvy route shapes. In: JOURNAL OF URBAN DESIGN. ISSN 1469-9664
Contributo su Rivista - D'Acci, L. (2019)
Orientational versus esthetical urban street morphology parameterization in Space Syntax. In: SPATIAL COGNITION AND COMPUTATION, vol. 19, pp. 172-189. ISSN 1387-5868
Contributo su Rivista - D'Acci, L. (2019)
Quality of urban area, distance from city centre, and housing value. Case study on real estate values in Turin. In: CITIES, vol. 91, pp. 71-92. ISSN 0264-2751
Contributo su Rivista - D'Acci, Luca; van Oort, Frank (2017)
The punctiform city: a functional perspective. In: AAG 2017
Contributo in Atti di Convegno (Proceeding) - D'Acci, Luca (2017)
The Punctiform City: a functional perspective. In: American Associations of Geographers AGG 2017, Boston, April 2017
Contributo in Atti di Convegno (Proceeding) - D'Acci, Luca (2016)
Humanistic and scientific approaches to understanding cities. In: URBAN PLANNING, vol. 1. ISSN 2183-7635
Contributo su Rivista - Grafakos, . S.; Tsatsou, A.; D'Acci, L.; Morales, Carlos (2016)
Land-related sustainability and resilience benefits of urban green infrastructure projects. The case of Cañaveralejo river environmental corridor in Cali, Colombia. In: Urban Transitions Global Summit 2016
Contributo in Atti di Convegno (Proceeding) - Grafakos, S.; Gianoli, A.; Tsatsou, A.; D’Acci, L. (2015)
Towards the development of an integrated sustainability and resilience benefits assessment framework of urban interventions. In: International Conference on Urban Resilience - RESURBE II
Contributo in Atti di Convegno (Proceeding) - D’Acci, L; Gianoli, A; Grafakos, S. (2015)
Where people lives matters to their wellbeing. In: 55th ERSA Congress, The European Regional Science Association (ERSA).
Contributo in Atti di Convegno (Proceeding) - Grafakos, S.; Gianoli, A.; Sharma, S.; D’Acci, L. (2015)
Integrating low carbon and climate adaptation benefits in an integrated Sustainability Benefits Assessment methodology. In: European Climate Change Adaptation Conference
Contributo in Atti di Convegno (Proceeding) - D'Acci, Luca (2014)
Monetary, subjective and quantitative approaches to assess urban quality of life and pleasantness in cities (Hedonic Price, Willingness-to-pay, Positional Value, life satisfaction, Isobenefit lines). In: SOCIAL INDICATORS RESEARCH, vol. 115, pp. 531-559. ISSN 1573-0921
Contributo su Rivista - D'Acci, Luca; Medrano, Leandro (2011)
Megacities in developing countries. In: European Urban Research Association (EURA), Cities without limits
Contributo in Atti di Convegno (Proceeding) - D’Acci, L.; Sabatino, S.; Ingaramo, L (2009)
Emerging trends in the Italian housing market. In: ERES Annual European Real Estate Society Conference
Contributo in Atti di Convegno (Proceeding) - D'Acci, Luca; Zorzi, Ferruccio (2007)
Un modello per la simulazione dei valori immobiliari. In: Sistemi economici locali e mercati immobiliari / Mollica E., S.L., Gangemi
Contributo in Volume