Dr Luca Piras


Dr Luca Piras
NameDr Luca Piras
Job titleSenior Lecturer in Computer Science
Research institute
Primary appointmentComputer Science
Email addressL.Piras@mdx.ac.uk
ORCIDhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-7530-4119
Contact categoryAcademic staff

Biography

Biography

Luca Piras is a Senior Lecturer (of Software Engineering, Privacy and Gamification Engineering) at Middlesex University (MDX), London (UK), Programme Leader of Information Technology (IT) BSc, member of the MDX Software Engineering, Theory and Algorithms (SETA) Group, and Module Leader of the “Web-Based Mobile App Development” Module. Previously, he was a Lecturer of Privacy, Security, Acceptance and Gamification Engineering at Robert Gordon University (RGU), Aberdeen (UK), member of the RGU Cybersecurity Group, and Module Coordinator of the Modules: “Computer Security and Cryptography”, “Managing a Network Group Project” and “Routing and Switching”.

He is an official program committee member of different International Conferences, and official reviewer of International Journals such as the Elsevier Journal of Systems and Software (JSS), the IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering Journal (TSE), the Elsevier International Computers & Security Journal (COSE).

His research concerns designing, developing, and applying novel Software Engineering, Requirements Engineering, Modeling techniques and methods for solving Privacy, Security, Software Acceptance and Gamification problems:

- Specifically, one of his research interest is related to privacy-by-design, with particular interest to supporting organisations in achieving GDPR compliance, via semi-automated software tools able to guide and support requirements analysts in visual/modeling ways.

- The other important research interest concerns Acceptance Requirements Analysis based on Gamification for making Software Systems more engaging. This research focuses on characterising software users (by analysing also behavioural and human-science related aspects), for supporting requirements analysts to identify the most suitable game elements and mechanisms (able to motivate the intended users), for designing software systems functionalities enriched with gamification solutions (more details in the related scientific papers, PhD Thesis available at http://eprints-phd.biblio.unitn.it/3424/1/Luca_Piras_PhD_Thesis_FINAL_VERSION.pdf and at https://pirasluca.wordpress.com/home/acceptance/).

He is also interested in the intersections of the two research directions indicated above.

He worked in the the Data govErnance For supportiNg gDpr (DEFeND) European Project (https://www.defendproject.eu/). He contributed to the research activities of such project, being first author of the most important publications of such project. He also played the role of Task Leader for core aspects of the project, and was also in charge of the technical project management concerning all the contributions delivered by the University of Brighton to the DEFeND Project, and supported directly the Technical Manager of DEFeND. In that period, he worked as Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Privacy and Security Engineering, Acceptance Requirements Analysis and Gamification Engineering at the University of Brighton (UK) for 2 years.

Previously, he worked as researcher at the University of Trento (Italy) for 5 years, by pro-actively participating and contributing to different EU Projects (e.g., the PACAS Project, VisiOn Project, ERC Lucretius Project, SUPERSEDE Project, STREETLIFE Project), related to Privacy, Security, Acceptance and Gamification Engineering applied within context such as Privacy and Security for organisations, Air Traffic Management (ATM), Participatory and Architectural Change Management for ATM, Smart Cities and Sustainable Transports.

He also holds Cisco Certifications (Cisco CCNA and CCNA Security). He also has experience from the industry by working for 5 years as Software Engineer and Team Leader concerning the analysis, design and development of complex information systems related to projects of the Sardinia Autonomous Region (RAS), a Region of Italy.

Teaching

CST3145 "Web-Based Mobile App Development"

CST3144 "Full Stack Development"

Education and qualifications

Grants

Prizes and Awards

External activities

Research outputs

Assuring privacy of AI-powered community driven Android code vulnerability detection

Senanayake, J., Kalutarage, H., Piras, L., Al-Kadri, M.O. and Petrovski, A. 2024. Assuring privacy of AI-powered community driven Android code vulnerability detection. 3rd International Workshop on System Security Assurance. Bydgoszcz, Poland 19 - 20 Sep 2024 Springer.

Formalizing federated learning and differential privacy for GIS systems in IIIf

Kammueller, F., Piras, L., Fields, B. and Nagarajan, R. 2024. Formalizing federated learning and differential privacy for GIS systems in IIIf. 3rd International Workshop on System Security Assurance. Bydgoszcz, Poland 19 - 20 Sep 2024 Springer.

Model-based gamification design with Web-Agon: an automated analysis tool for gamification

Zaw, H., Piras, L., Calabrese, F. and Al-Obeidallah, M. 2024. Model-based gamification design with Web-Agon: an automated analysis tool for gamification. 50th Euromicro Conference Series on Software Engineering and Advanced Applications. Paris, France 28 - 30 Aug 2024 IEEE.

Gamification of E-Learning apps via acceptance requirements analysis

Calabrese, L., Piras, L., Al-Obeidallah, M., Egbikuadje, B. and Alkubaisy, D. 2024. Gamification of E-Learning apps via acceptance requirements analysis. 19th International Conference on Evaluation of Novel Approaches to Software Engineering. Angers, France 28 - 29 Apr 2024 SCITEPRESS - Science and Technology Publications. pp. 291-298 https://doi.org/10.5220/0012550400003687

FedREVAN: real-time detection of vulnerable Android source code through federated neural network with XAI

Senanayake, J., Kalutarage, H., Petrovski, A., Al-Kadri, M.O. and Piras, L. 2024. FedREVAN: real-time detection of vulnerable Android source code through federated neural network with XAI. ESORICS Workshop on Attacks and Software Protection (WASP). The Hague, The Netherlands 25 - 29 Sep 2023 Springer. pp. 426-441 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-54129-2_25

Defendroid: real-time Android code vulnerability detection via blockchain federated neural network with XAI

Senanayake, L., Kalutarage, H., Petrovski, A., Piras, L. and Al-Kadri, M. 2024. Defendroid: real-time Android code vulnerability detection via blockchain federated neural network with XAI. Journal of Information Security and Applications. 82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jisa.2024.103741

Android code vulnerabilities early detection using AI-powered ACVED plugin

Senanayake, J., Kalutarage, H., Al-Kadri, M.O., Petrovski, A. and Piras, L. 2023. Android code vulnerabilities early detection using AI-powered ACVED plugin. Atluri, V. and Ferrara, A. (ed.) 37th Annual IFIP WG 11.3 Conference (DBSec 2023). Sophia-Antipolis, France 19 - 21 Jul 2023 Cham Springer. pp. 339–357 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-37586-6_20

Labelled vulnerability dataset on Android source code (LVDAndro) to develop AI-based code vulnerability detection models

Senanayake, J., Kalutarage, H., Al-Kadri, M.O., Piras, L. and Petrovski, A. 2023. Labelled vulnerability dataset on Android source code (LVDAndro) to develop AI-based code vulnerability detection models. Vimercati, S. and Samarati, P. (ed.) International Conference on Security and Cryptography (SECRYPT) 2023. Rome, Italy 10 - 12 Jul 2023 SCITEPRESS - Science and Technology Publications. pp. 659-666 https://doi.org/10.5220/0012060400003555

Goal-modeling privacy-by-design patterns for supporting GDPR compliance

Al-Obeidallah, M., Piras, L., Iloanugo, O., Mouratidis, H., Alkubaisy, D and Dellagiacoma, D. 2023. Goal-modeling privacy-by-design patterns for supporting GDPR compliance. Fill, H.-G., Domínguez-Mayo, F.J., van Sinderen, M. and Maciaszek, L. (ed.) International Conference on Software Technologies (ICSOFT). Rome, Italy 10 - 12 Jul 2023 SCITEPRESS - Science and Technology Publications. pp. 361-368 https://doi.org/10.5220/0012080700003538

Android source code vulnerability detection: a systematic literature review

Senanayake, J., Kalutarage, H., Al-Kadri, M.O., Petrovski, A. and Piras, L. 2023. Android source code vulnerability detection: a systematic literature review. ACM Computing Surveys. 55 (9). https://doi.org/10.1145/3556974

Supporting the individuation, analysis and gamification of software components for acceptance requirements fulfilment

Calabrese, F., Piras, L. and Giorgini, P. 2022. Supporting the individuation, analysis and gamification of software components for acceptance requirements fulfilment. Barn, B. and Sandkuhl, K (ed.) IFIP Working Conference on The Practice of Enterprise Modeling. London, UK 23 - 25 Nov 2022 Springer. pp. 33-48 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-21488-2_3

Developing secured Android applications by mitigating code vulnerabilities with machine learning

Senanayake, J., Kalutarage, H., Al-Kadri, M., Petrovski, A. and Piras, L. 2022. Developing secured Android applications by mitigating code vulnerabilities with machine learning. ACM Asia Conference on Computer and Communications Security (ASIA CCS '22). Nagasaki, Japan 30 May - 03 Jun 2022 ACM. pp. 1255–1257 https://doi.org/10.1145/3488932.3527290

A framework for privacy and security requirements analysis and conflict resolution for supporting GDPR compliance through privacy-by-design

Alkubaisy, D., Piras, L., Al-Obeidallah, M., Cox, K. and Mouratidis, H. 2022. A framework for privacy and security requirements analysis and conflict resolution for supporting GDPR compliance through privacy-by-design. Ali, R., Kaindl, H. and Maciaszek, L. (ed.) 16th International Conference on Evaluation of Novel Approaches to Software Engineering. Virtual 26 - 27 Apr 2021 Cham Springer. pp. 67-87 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-96648-5_4

Confis: a tool for privacy and security analysis and conflict resolution for supporting GDPR compliance through privacy-by-design

Alkubaisy, D., Piras, L., Al-Obeidallah, M., Cox, K. and Mouratidis, H. 2021. Confis: a tool for privacy and security analysis and conflict resolution for supporting GDPR compliance through privacy-by-design. Ali, R., Kaindl, H. and Maciaszek, L. (ed.) 16th International Conference on Evaluation of Novel Approaches to Software Engineering. Virtual 26 - 27 Apr 2021 SCITEPRESS - Science and Technology Publications. pp. 80-91 https://doi.org/10.5220/0010406100800091

DEFeND DSM: a data scope management service for model-based privacy by design GDPR compliance

Piras, L., Al-Obeidallah, M., Pavlidis, M., Mouratidis, H., Tsohou, A., Magkos, E., Praitano, A., Iodice, A. and Gallego-Nicasio Crespo, B. 2020. DEFeND DSM: a data scope management service for model-based privacy by design GDPR compliance. 17th International Conference on Trust and Privacy in Digital Business. Bratislava, Slovakia 14 - 17 Sep 2020 Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-58986-8_13

Privacy, security, legal and technology acceptance requirements for a GDPR compliance platform

Tsohou, A., Magkos, M., Mouratidis, H., Chrysoloras, G., Piras, L., Pavlidis, M., Debussche, J., Rotoloni, M. and Gallego-Nicasio Crespo, B. 2020. Privacy, security, legal and technology acceptance requirements for a GDPR compliance platform. 2019 International Workshop on Security and Privacy Requirements Engineering. Luxembourg City, Luxembourg 26 - 27 Sep 2019 Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-42048-2_14

Design thinking and acceptance requirements for designing gamified software

Piras, L., Dellagiacoma, D., Perini, A., Susi, A., Giorgini, P. and Mylopoulos, J. 2019. Design thinking and acceptance requirements for designing gamified software. 13th International Conference on Research Challenges in Information Science. Brussels, Belgium 29 - 31 May 2019 IEEE. pp. 1-12 https://doi.org/10.1109/rcis.2019.8876973

DEFeND architecture: a privacy by design platform for GDPR compliance

Piras, L., Al-Obeidallah, M., Praitano, A., Tsohou, A., Mouratidis, H., Gallego-Nicasio Crespo, B., Bernard, J., Fiorani, M., Magkos, E., Castillo Sanz, A., Pavlidis, M., D'Addario, R. and Zorzino, G. 2019. DEFeND architecture: a privacy by design platform for GDPR compliance. 16th International Conference on Trust, Privacy and Security in Digital Business. Linz, Austria 26 - 29 Aug 2019 Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-27813-7_6

Goal models for acceptance requirements analysis and gamification design

Piras, L., Paja, E., Giorgini, P. and Mylopoulos, J. 2017. Goal models for acceptance requirements analysis and gamification design. Mayr, H.C., Guizzardi, G., Ma, H. and Pastor, O. (ed.) 36th International Conference on Conceptual Modeling. Valencia, Spain 06 - 09 Nov 2017 Cham Springer. pp. 223-230 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69904-2_18

Goal-oriented requirements engineering: an extended systematic mapping study

Horkoff, J., Aydemir, F., Cardoso, E., Li, T., Mate, A., Paja, E., Salnitri, M., Piras, L., Mylopoulos, J. and Giorgini, P. 2019. Goal-oriented requirements engineering: an extended systematic mapping study. Requirements Engineering. 24 (2), pp. 133-160. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00766-017-0280-z

Gamification solutions for software acceptance: a comparative study of requirements engineering and organizational behavior techniques

Piras, L., Paja, E., Giorgini, P., Mylopoulos, J., Cuel, R. and Ponte, D. 2017. Gamification solutions for software acceptance: a comparative study of requirements engineering and organizational behavior techniques. 11th International Conference on Research Challenges in Information Science. Brighton, UK 10 - 12 May 2017 IEEE. pp. 255-265 https://doi.org/10.1109/rcis.2017.7956544

Acceptance requirements and their gamification solutions

Piras, L., Giorgini, P. and Mylopoulos, J. 2016. Acceptance requirements and their gamification solutions. IEEE 24th International Requirements Engineering Conference. Beijing, China 12 - 16 Sep 2016 IEEE. pp. 365-370 https://doi.org/10.1109/RE.2016.43

Using gamification to incentivize sustainable urban mobility

Kazhamiakin, R., Marconi, A., Perillo, M., Pistore, M., Valetto, G., Piras, L., Avesani, F. and Perri, N. 2015. Using gamification to incentivize sustainable urban mobility. IEEE First International Smart Cities Conference. Guadalajara, Mexico 25 - 28 Oct 2015 IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/ISC2.2015.7366196

A portable wireless-based architecture for solving minimum digital divide problems

Fenu, G. and Piras, L. 2008. A portable wireless-based architecture for solving minimum digital divide problems. 4th International Conference on Wireless and Mobile Communications. Athens, Greece 27 Jul - 01 Aug 2008 IEEE. pp. 130-136 https://doi.org/10.1109/icwmc.2008.21
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