Monica Nicoli

Assistant Professor
Dipartimento di Elettronica e Informazione (DEI)
Politecnico di Milano
P.zza L. da Vinci 32
I-20133 Milano, Italy
Ph: +39 02 2399 3429
Fax: +39 02 2399 3413
E-mail: nicoli@elet.polimi.it
BIOGRAPHY
Vitae
·
Dec. 2002-, Assistant Professor.
· March 2002-Dec. 2002, Post Doc researcher at DEI, Politecnico di Milano.
·
Jan. 2002, PhD degree in Electronic and Communication Engineering,
Politecnico di Milano.
·
March 2001-August 2001, visiting researcher at Signals and Systems, Uppsala University (Sweden).
·
Sept. 1998-March 1999, internship at ENI-Divisione Agip (Research on
Geophysics and Geology Unit), San Donato Milanese (Milano),
·
Jul.
Awards
· 1999: “Marisa Bellisario Award” from Fondazione Marisa Bellisario.
·
1998: “Best Thesis Awards in Petroleum Engineering and
Geosciences” from SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers, Italian Section)
and EAGE (European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers).
RESEARCH
INTERESTS
Statistical signal processing for communication systems:
wireless sensor networks, distributed signal processing, cooperative systems,
traffic monitoring and modelling, radio localization, PHY-layer for
multi-carrier/multi-antenna systems, soft iterative processing, channel aware
resource allocation.
New: see the Wi-Roads project.
TEACHING
Undergraduate
level:
·
Fondamenti
di segnali e trasmissione
(Fundamentals
of signals and communication systems), academic year 2003-2004, 2004-2005,
2005-2006, 2006-2007, 2009-2010.
· Fondamenti di elaborazione numerica dei segnali/Elaborazione numerica dei segnali (Digital signal processing) - Esercitazioni, academic year 2005-2006, 2006-2007, 2007-2008.
· Telecomunicazioni (Telecommunications), academic year 2008-2009.
Graduate
level:
·
Lectures on "Hidden
Markov models" within the course Teoria e tecnica
·
Lectures on "Wireless
localization methods" within the course Sistemi
radar e localizzazione
(Radar and
localization), academic year 2005-2006 and Elaborazione
statistica dei segnali
(Statistical signal
processing), academic year 2007-2008, 2009-2010.
· Sistemi di comunicazione(Communication systems) - Esercitazioni, academic year 2003-2004, 2005-2006.
· Teoria della stima - V.O./Elaborazione statistica dei segnali (Statistical signal processing) - Esercitazioni, academic year 2002-2003, 2004-2005.
· Elaborazione numerica dei segnali - V.O. (Digital signal processing) - Esercitazioni, academic year 2001-2002, 2002-2003.
Ph.D.
level:
·
Lectures on "Bayesian
methods for localization of moving terminals in wireless networks" within
the course Topics on signal processing for wireless communication systems, academic year 2006-2007, 2009.
TUTORING/CO-TUTORING
OF M.Sc. THESES
·
P.
Castiglione, Coded cooperation over
time-variant channels, co-tutored with T. Zemen (FTW,
·
A.
Pascale, Traffic monitoring and modelling
for intelligent transportation systems, co-tutored with B. Dalla Chiara, F.
De Florio (Dip. Idraulica, Trasporti e Infrastrutture, Politecnico di Torino), July 2009.
·
D.
Fontanella, Cooperative localization
based on times of arrival: Fundamental limits and algorithms, co-tutored with L.
Vandendorpe (UCL,
·
M.
Minelli, multi-user receivers for
GSM/EDGE systems with the orthogonal subchannel feature, July 2009.
CO-SUPERVISION
OF Ph.D. THESES
· D. Molteni, Interference management in wireless systems, Politecnico di Milano. Supervisor: Umberto Spagnolini.
·
C.
Dumard, Low-Complexity Iterative Receiver
for Multi-User OFDM Systems in Time-Varying MIMO Channels, Technischen
Universitat Wien (TUW), April 30, 2009. Supervisor: G. Matz (TUW). Examiner:
Monica Nicoli.
·
A.
Pascale, Traffic monitoring, modelling
and control for intelligent transportation systems.
·
F.
Iannello, Localization of mobile terminals
in UWB wireless sensor networks, Tema di ricerca minore (Minor PhD Thesis).
RESEARCH
PROJECTS AND COOPERATIONS
Idustrial cooperations:
·
Siemens I.C.N. 2000-2002, “Space-time processing techniques for multiple antenna
receivers in CDMA systems”.
Projects:
·
MIUR-FIRB INSYEME 2007-2010, “Integrated System for Emergency”,
national project.
·
COST-2100 2007-2010, “European Co-operation in
the field of Scientific and Technical Research”, “Pervasive Mobile
& Ambient Wireless Communications”.
Cooperations with universities/research institutes:
EDITORIAL WORK
Reviewer
for several Transactions, Journals and
Conferences. Appreciated reviewer for Trans Signal Processing
(2002-2006, 2008).
TPC
member at the
PUBLICATIONS
Journal papers
A1.
M.
Nicoli, V. Rampa, U. Spagnolini, “Hidden Markov Model for
multidimensional wavefront tracking,” IEEE Trans. Geoscience and Remote Sensing,
Vol. 40, N. 3, pp. 651-662, March 2002. (pdf)
Cover of the issue. (pdf)
A2.
M. Nicoli, O. Simeone,
U. Spagnolini, “Multi-slot estimation of fast-varying space-time
channels in TD-CDMA systems,” IEEE Communication Letters, Vol.6, N.9,
pp.376-378, September 2002. (pdf)
A3.
M. Nicoli, O. Simeone, U. Spagnolini,
“Multi-slot estimation of fast-varying space-time communication channels,”
IEEE Trans. Signal Processing, pp. 1184-1195, Vol. 51, N. 5, 1184-1195, May
2003. (pdf)
A4.
M. Nicoli, O. Simeone, U. Spagnolini,
“Multi-slot estimation of frequency-selective fast-varying
channels,” IEEE Trans. Commun., pp. 1337-1347, Vol. 51, No. 8, August
2003. (pdf)
A5.
M. Nicoli, U. Spagnolini, “Reduced-rank channel
estimation for time-slotted mobile communication systems,” IEEE Trans. Signal
Processing, Vol. 53, N. 3, pp. 926-944, March 2005. (pdf)
A6.
C. Morelli, M. Nicoli, V. Rampa, U. Spagnolini,
“Hidden Markov models for radio localization in mixed LOS/NLOS
conditions,” IEEE Trans. Signal Processing, Vol. 55,No. 4, pp. 1525-1542,
April 2007. (pdf)
A7.
S. Ferrara, T. Matsumoto, M. Nicoli, U. Spagnolini,
“Soft iterative channel estimation with subspace and rank
tracking,” IEEE Signal Processing Letters, Vol. 14, No. 1, pp. 5-8,
January 2007. (pdf)
A8.
M. Nicoli,
A9.
M. Nicoli, C. Morelli, V. Rampa, “A jump Markov
particle filter for localization of moving terminals in dense multipath indoor
scenarios,” IEEE Trans. Signal Processing, Vol. 56, N. 8, pp. 3801-3809,
August 2008. (pdf)
A10.
S.
Savazzi, M. Nicoli, M. Sternad, “A comparative analysis of spatial
multiplexing techniques for outdoor MIMO-OFDM systems with limited feedback
constraints,” IEEE Trans. Vehicular Technology,Vol. 58, No. 1, pp.
218-230, Jan. 2009. (pdf)
A11.
S. Savazzi, U. Spagnolini, L. Goratti, D. Molteni, M.
Latva-aho, M. Nicoli, “Ultra-Wide Band Sensor Networks in Oil and Gas
Explorations,” submitted.
Chapters
in International books
B1. M. Nicoli, U. Spagnolini, Subspace-methods for space-time processing, pp. 27-52, in Smart Antennas - State of the Art., edited by T. Kaiser, A. Bourdoux, H. Boche, J. R. Fonollosa, J.B. Andersen, W. Utschitch, Part I Receiver, EURASIP-Book series on Signal Processing and Communications, Hindawi Publ. Corp., 2005. (pdf)
B2. M. Nicoli, S. Savazzi, O. Simeone, R. Bosisio, G. Primolevo, L. Sampietro, C. Santacesaria, Deployment and design of multi-antenna WiMax systems in a non-stationary interference environment, in Current Technology Developments of Wimax Systems, edited by Maode Ma, Springer Publications. (pdf)
C1. M. Nicoli, Rivelazione e Inseguimento di Orizzonti Multipli nella Sismica a Riflessione (Detection and estimation of multidimensional wavefronts in 3D seismic reflection surveys), Master thesis in Telecommunication Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, July 1998. Advisors Prof. Fabio Rocca, Prof. Umberto Spagnolini, Eng. Vittorio Rampa.
C2. M. Nicoli, Stima di Orizzonti in Volumi Sismici a N Dimensioni (Multitarget delay tracking based on Hidden Markov Models), Ph.D. Minor Research Thesis, Politecnico di Milano, October 2000. Advisor Prof. Fabio Rocca. Internal Report n. 2000.36.
C3. M. Nicoli, Multi-user Reduced Rank Receivers for TD/CDMA Systems, Ph.D. Thesis, Politecnico di Milano, December 2001. Advisor Prof. Umberto Spagnolini, referee Prof. Anders Ahlén (Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden). (pdf)
D1. V. Del Bello, M. B. Nicoli, U. Spagnolini, “Variable complexity space-time channel estimation and receiver for mobile communication systems,” European Patent, n. EP 01830291.9, 04/05/2001.
D2. M. Aldrovrandi, M. B. Nicoli, O. Simeone, U. Spagnolini, “Method and device for channel estimation in digital radio communications,” European Patent, n. EP 02425260.3, 23/04/2002.
D3.
L.
Moretti, M. Nicoli, O. Simeone, U. Spagnolini, “Method for the estimation
and tracking of channel modes in multicarrier communication systems,”
European Patent, n. EP 03425721.2, 05/11/2003.
D4.
M.
Nicoli, L. Sampietro, C. Santacesaria, S. Savazzi, O. Simeone, U. Spagnolini,
“Method for optimizing the spacing between receiving antennas of an array
usable for counteracting both interference and fading in cellular
systems,” patent pending.
D5.
M.
Nicoli, L. Sampietro, C. Santacesaria, O. Simeone, U. Spagnolini, “Method to improve the channel
estimate in broadband SIMO/MIMO cellular radio networks during abrupt
interference variations,” patent pending.
Publications in
International Refereed Conferences
E1.
N.
Bienati, M. Nicoli, U. Spagnolini, “Automatic horizon picking algorithms for
multidimensional data,” Proc. 61st European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers (EAGE’99)
Meeting, Vol. 1, paper N. 6-30, 4 pp., Helsinki, 7-11 June 1999. (pdf)
E2.
N.
Bienati, M. Nicoli, U. Spagnolini, “Horizon picking for multidimensional
data: an integrated approach,” Proc. 6th International Congress of the
Brazilian Geophysical Society, N. SBGf359, Rio de Janeiro, 4 pp., 15-19 August
1999. (pdf)
E3.
N. Bienati, M. Nicoli, U. Spagnolini, “Non
parametric methods for multidimensional wavefront estimation,” Proc. IEEE International Conference on
Geoscience and Remote Sensing (IGARSS’00), Vol. 2, pp. 705 -707,
E4.
M.
Nicoli, V. Rampa, U. Spagnolini, “Multitarget detection/tracking based on
Hidden Markov Model,” Proc. IEEE International Conference on Acoustics,
Speech, and Signal Processing (ICASSP’00), Vol. 5, pp. 3196-3199,
Istanbul, 5-9 June 2000. (pdf)
E5.
M.
Nicoli, U. Spagnolini, “Multiuser space-time channel estimation for CDMA
under reduced-rank constraint,” Proc. IEEE Global Telecommunications
Conference (GLOBECOM’00), Vol. 1, pp. 147-151,
E6.
M.
Nicoli, U. Spagnolini, “Adaptive-rank receiver for space-time DS-CDMA
systems,” Proc. IEEE Vehicular Technology Conference (VTC’S01),
Vol. 1, pp. 78-82, Rodes, 6-9 May 2001. (pdf)
E7.
M.
Nicoli, U. Spagnolini, “Reduced-rank channel estimation and rank order
selection for CDMA systems,” Proc. IEEE International Conference on
Communications (ICC’01), Vol. 9, pp. 2737-2741,
E8.
M.
Beretta, A. Colamonico, M. Nicoli, V. Rampa, U. Spagnolini, “Space-Time
multiuser detectors for TDD-UTRA: design and optimization,” Proc. IEEE
Vehicular Technology Conference (VTC’F01), Vol. 1, pp. 375-379,
E9.
M.
Nicoli, U. Spagnolini, “Reducing the complexity of the space-time channel
estimate at minimum risk,” Proc. IEEE Vehicular Technology Conference
(VTC’F01), Vol. 1, pp. 17-21,
E10. M. Nicoli, M. Sternad, U.
Spagnolini, A. Ahlén,
“Reduced-rank channel estimation and tracking in time-slotted CDMA
systems,” Proc. IEEE International Conference on Communications
(ICC’02), Vol. 1, pp. 533-537, New York City, 28 April - 2 May 2002. (pdf)
E11. M. Nicoli, O. Simeone, U.
Spagnolini, “A multi-slot method to estimate the fast-varying channels in
TD-CDMA systems,” Proc. EURASIP XI European Signal Processing Conference
(EUSIPCO’02), Vol.3, pp.635-638,
E12. M. Aldrovrandi, M. Nicoli, O.
Simeone, U. Spagnolini, “Subspace tracking methods
for channel estimation in TD-SCDMA systems,” European Conference on Wireless Technology (ECWT’02), Sessione E6 (4pp), Milano,
26-27 September 2002. (pdf)
E13. A. Bifano, A. Colamonico, M. Nicoli,
V. Rampa, U. Spagnolini, “Architectures for sliding window multiuser
detection in TD-SCDMA systems,” European Conference on
Wireless Technology
(ECWT’02), Sessione E3 (4pp), Milano, 26-27 September 2002. (pdf)
E14. M. Nicoli, O. Simeone, U.
Spagnolini, “Multi-slot estimation of fast-varying space-time
communication channels,” COST 273 6th Meeting of the Management
Committee, Document number TD(03)042, 12 pp., Barcelona, 15-17 January 2003. (pdf)
E15.
O.
Simeone, M. Nicoli, U. Spagnolini, “Subspace tracking for uplink/downlink
array processing in CDMA systems,” Proc. IEEE Global Telecommunications
Conference (GLOBECOM’03), pp. 824-828, Vol. 2,
E16.
B.
Moschini, M. Nicoli, U. Spagnolini, “A subspace method for soft
estimation of block-fading channels in turbo equalization,” COST 273 10th
Meeting of the Management Committee, Document number TD(04)090, 6 pp.,
Gothenburg, June 2004. (pdf)
E17.
C.
Morelli, M. Nicoli, V. Rampa, U. Spagnolini, “Hidden Markov Models for
Radio Location of Moving Terminals in LOS/NLOS conditions,” IEEE
International Conference on Acoustics, Speech, and Signal Processing
(ICASSP’05), Vol. 4, pp. 877-880, Philadelphia, March 2005. (pdf)
E18.
R.
Bosisio, M. Nicoli, U. Spagnolini, “Kalman filter of channel modes in
time-varying wireless systems,” IEEE International Conference on
Acoustics, Speech, and Signal Processing (ICASSP’05), Vol. 3, pp.
785-788,
E19.
M.
Nicoli, U. Spagnolini, “A subspace method for channel estimation in
soft-iterative receivers,” Proc. EURASIP European Signal Processing
Conference (EUSIPCO’05), 4 pp., Antaya, September 2005. (pdf)
E20.
M.
Nicoli, C. Morelli, V. Rampa, U. Spagnolini, “HMM-based tracking of moving
terminals in dense multipath indoor environments,” Proc. EURASIP European
Signal Processing Conference (EUSIPCO’05), 4 pp., Antaya, September 2005.
(pdf)
E21.
S.
Ferrara, M. Nicoli, U. Spagnolini, “Soft-iterative estimation of
structured channels: performance analysis and comparison,” Proc.
International Workshop on Convergent Technologies (IWCT’05), 5 pp.,
E22.
S.
Savazzi, M. Nicoli, M. Sternad, “Spatial multiplexing for outdoor
MIMO-OFDM systems with limited feedback costraint,” Proc. IEEE
International Conference on Communications (ICC’06), Vol. 1, pp. 73-78,
E23.
C.
Morelli, M. Nicoli, V. Rampa, U. Spagnolini, C. Alippi, “Particle filters
for RSS-based localization in wireless sensor networks: An experimental
study,” Proc. IEEE International Conference on Acoustics, Speech, and
Signal Processing (ICASSP’06), Vol. 4, pp. 957-960,
E24.
M. Nicoli, L. Sampietro, C. Santacesaria, S.
Savazzi, O. Simeone, U. Spagnolini, “Throughput optimization for non-uniform linear antenna arrays in
multicell WiMAX systems,” Proc. IEEE Workshop on Smart Antennas
(WSA’06), 8 pp., Reisensburg
near Ulm, 13-14 March 2006. (pdf)
E25.
M.
Nicoli, M. Sala, L. Sampietro, C. Santacesaria, O. Simeone, “Adaptive
array processing for time-varying interference mitigation in IEEE
802.16,” Proc. IEEE Personal Indoor and Mobile Radio
Communications (PIMRC’06), pp. 1-5, Helsinki, 11-14 Semptember 2006. (pdf)
E26.
M.
Nicoli, L. Sampietro, C. Santacesaria, U. Spagnolini, D. Archetti, A. Bonfanti,
M. Sala, “Deployment and design of
multiantenna solutions for fixed WiMax systems,” Proc. 8th European Conference on Fixed
Wireless Networks and Technologies (ECRR 2007), Paris, April 2007. (pdf)
E27.
D.
Molteni, M. Nicoli, R. Bosisio, L. Sampietro, “Performance analysis of
multiantenna WiMax systems over frequency-selective fading channels,” Proc.
IEEE Personal Indoor and Mobile Radio Communications (PIMRC’07), Athens, 3-4 Semptember 2007. (pdf)
E28.
D.
Molteni, R. Bosisio, M. Nicoli, “Analytic framework for performance
evaluation of multi-antenna WiMax systems over fading channel,” Proc.
IEEE International Conference on Acoustics, Speech, and Signal Processing
(ICASSP’08). (pdf)
E29.
D.
Molteni, M. Nicoli, “Interference mitigation in multi-cell LTE systems:
performane over correlated fading channels,” Proc. IEEE International
Symposium on Spread Spectrum Techniques and Applications (ISSSTA’08). (pdf)
E30.
P.
Castiglione, M. Nicoli, T. Zemen,
“Performance Analysis of Coded Cooperation over Time-Variant
Channels”, joint Newcom++ - AcoRN workshop,
E31.
S.Savazzi,
U.Spagnolini, M.Nicoli, D.Fontanella, “Self-configurating wireless sensor
networks for seismic applications”, joint Newcom++ - AcoRN workshop,
E32.
M.Nicoli
and D.Fontanella, “Accuracy limits for TOA cooperative
localization,” NEWCOM++ ACoRN Joint Workshop,
E33.
P.
Castiglione, M. Nicoli,
E34.
M.
Nicoli and D. Fontanella, “Fundamental Performance Limits of TOA-based
Cooperative Localization,” Proc. International Workshop on Synergies in Communications
and Localization (SyCoLo 2009), workshop of the IEEE International Conference
on Communications (ICC’09), June 2009. (pdf)
E35.
P.
Castiglione, M. Nicoli,
E36.
D.
Molteni, M. Nicoli, “A Novel Uplink Receiver for GSM/EDGE Systems with
Orthogonal Sub Channel Feature,” IEEE Proc. Asilomar, Nov. 2009.
E37.
D.
Fontanella,
E38.
P.
Castiglione,
E39.
P.
Castiglione,
Others:
E1.
M. Nicoli and V. Rampa, “Bayesian Algorithms
for Indoor Radio Localization”, ERCIM News, European Research Consortium
for Informatics and Mathematics, Vol. 71, pp. 50-51, Ottobre 2007. (pdf)
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