by, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gafur MUKA

Abstract

The chrome mine in Bulqiza has been exploited since 1948. (more…)

https://doi.org/10.58944/xbdw8881

by, Prof. Dr. Mimoza DURRESI

Abstract

The Covid 19 challenge, the increased aging population, and the modern (more…)

https://doi.org/10.58944/rycc2468

by, Dr. Gentian KAPRATA Abstract Albania of the fourth decade of transition presents a series of problems related to the urban and territorial development. This paper analyzes the initial causes of urban and territorial problems, which are correlated to the savage communist past and beginnings of the political and economic transition of the country. At the end of the communist regime, Albania was one of the countries of the socialist camp with the highest level of implementation of the ideology, principles and practices of Stalinist socialism, which made the Albanian political transition very difficult. Lack of democratic heritage, high level of indoctrination of society and especially the ruling elite of the transition, were the main reasons for this delay. The economic transition of the country also presented a strong challenge. The central planning economy, in the last years of its implementation, would fail in many respects. This would bring, not only an extreme poverty of Albanian families in the moments of transition, but also a real lack of economic activities, which in a private management could bring more employment to the population in the future. This general context of the transition would reflect the same difficulties in the transition of territorial governance, as an integral part of the transition as a whole. The liberal and democratization reforms pursued in the early years would include land ownership, buildings, housing, urban planning and development processes. As a consequent, the country has experienced a high decline in the resident population, as a result of foreign emigration. But what influenced the strong changes of the urban, territorial and spatial dimension of the country, was internal migration. This massive internal migration would reshape the territorial model of population distribution across national territory, the spatial structure of the inhabited centers and the urban quality of life in Albanian cities. There are four most important preconditions that would produce this massive internal migration, which originate from the savage communist past and the political and economic transition reforms: the inability of the territorial government to understand its new role in urban and territorial issues; the decline of basic public services (education, health) as a result of the departure of ‘nominees’ from the party-state in cities different from those of their origin; loss of employment of citizens in state-owned, bankrupt, closed or in the process of privatization enterprises; free movement of citizens and freedom to choose residence. Two would be the main financiers of this construction development that shaped the urban and territorial model of the country, which originate from the political and economic transition reforms: income provided by interaction in the free market of real estate from citizens who had privatized state-owned housing in their use; remittances provided in emigration, after allowing the free movement of citizens outside the national territory. Keywords: concentration of power, political transition, economic transition, territorial governance, urban development, internal migration, forced residency, voluntary residency, liberal reform. How to cite: Kaprata, G. (2022). Albania’s urban and territorial dimension was a product of the savage communist past and the difficult transition of the country. Ingenious, 2(1), 56–75.

https://doi.org/10.58944/ykgm4856

by, Msc. Roland PLAKA Abstract Context: Digital data is being stored in large quan- tities in Cloud, requiring data backup and recovery services. Due to many factors such as disasters and other disruptive events, the risk of data loss is huge. Therefore, backup and data recovery are essential and effective in improvement of system availability and maintaining Business Continuity. Nevertheless, the process to achieve the goal of business uninterrupted faces many challenges regarding data security, integrity and failure prediction. Objective: This paper has the following goals: analyzing systematically the current published research and presenting the most common factors leading to the need of Disaster Recovery and backup plan; investigating and identifying the adopted solutions and techniques to prevent data loss; and lastly, investigating the influence Data Recovery and Backup has in terms of business continuity and identifying the privacy and security issues regarding disaster recovery process. Method: A systematic mapping study was conducted, in which 45 papers, dated from 2010 to 2020 were evaluated. Results: A set of 45 papers is selected from an initial search of 250 papers, including 10 papers from snowball sampling, following the references from some paper of interest. These results are categorized based on the relevant research questions, such as causes of disasters, data loss, business continuity, and security and privacy issues. Conclusion: An overview of the topic is presented by investigating and identifying the following features: challenges, issues, solutions, techniques, factors, and effects regarding the backup and recovery process. Keywords: Cloud Computing, Backup, Data Recovery, Disaster Recovery, Data loss, Business Continuity, Data Security, Data Privacy. How to cite: Plaka, R. (2022). Backup & Data Recovery in Cloud Computing: A Systematic Mapping Study. Ingenious, 2(1), 94–113.

https://doi.org/10.58944/pwhk4843

by, Dr. Erdet KËLLIÇI Abstract Technology has become a mandatory tool for each of us, making everyone dependent on electronic devices and software applications to stay connected and use services. Producers, integrators and public institutions are aiming to introduce technology on a wide scale regarding country population, trying to make most of the populations part of this community. Albania has started the process of shifting form standard workflow of having service at a fix location to online services in both public and private sector. AKSHI with e-Albania platform is promoting online services to most of services offered by government institution. Still there is a gap in the targeted population to use the services due to their capabilities to use information technologies and lack of suitable devices to do so. Albanian Central Election Commission introduced for the first time in elections history countrywide electronic identification using biometric technology and piloting electronic voting. This paper aims to show the result obtained when sensitive services like election are fully supported by technology including everyone that can vote without having a targeted population. The trust of the voters, institutions, organizations and stack holders toward technology in the voting process is analyzed based on real data and facts to support the outcome of this paper. Keywords: electronic voting, integrity, elections, technology, biometric identification, cyber security. How to cite: Këlliçi, E. (2022). Increasing public trust through technology, eVoting Case Albania. Ingenious, 2(1), 84–93.

https://doi.org/10.58944/wdbh7774

by, Dr. Gentian KAPRATA, Dr. Otjela LUBONJA Abstract Since the early 1990s, Albania has entered the path of transition from a monist country of Stalinist socialism and a central planning economy to a country of liberal democracy and a free market economy. This journey has produced, in addition to economic and political freedoms for citizens and everything positive that comes from them, also negative phenomena for society. One of the most evident is the significant decline of the resident population in the country. As we will see in this paper, the population decline during the transition years has come as a result of the two most important contributing components to the country’s demographic level: (i) external migration; and (ii) lowering the birth rate. While external migration is directly reflected in the decline of the country’s resident population, the decline in fertility has an indirect impact because together with the death rate they shape the level of natural population growth. Both of these together, external migration and the level of natural population growth, directly shape the demographic level of the country. This paper observes these two important indicators in a historical dynamic, starting from the 15th century, a time when we can find published information and statistics. In this time context, the paper analyzed the statistics collected in relation to these two demographic indicators, and found that there is a very clear link between the increase in external migration and the decrease in the Synthetic Fertility Index (ISF) with political and economic crises. which the Albanian society has faced during the period under observation. Every time a political instability has been presented, starting from the second half of the 15th century until today, so many times Albanians have left the country. Likewise, the difficult economic situation (i) between the years 1960-1990 of the last century, as a result of the central planning economy, and (ii) the difference between the high economic expectations of the citizens and the actual economic reality in the country along years of transition, have resulted in a steady decline in ISF. Keywords: External Migration, Natural Population Growth, Synthetic Fertilization Index (ISF), Demographic Dynamics, Population and Housing Census.   How to cite: Kaprata, G., & Lubonja, O. (2022). Political destability and economic crisis have produced population losses in Albania. Ingenious, 2(1), 37–55.

https://doi.org/10.58944/tuno3617

by, Prof. Dr. Angjelin SHTJEFNI, MSc. Hasimin KEÇI Abstract Nowadays the issue of energy is becoming more and more discussed in the public. In the academic system this topic is getting more and attention than before. And this the right thing. In the Republic of Albania, we are passing through an energetical crisis. We produce the electrical energy using water resources. This indicates that we depend on a lot of form weather conditions. During the end of fall and during the winter we produce electrical energy more than we need and we sell it with lower prices, from the other side during the spring and summer, due to the drought, we cannot produce the necessary electrical energy that we need. As a result, to fulfill the needs of the country, we are obliged to buy the electrical energy that we need with a higher price than we sell it. And we are now talking about the best case: the case that we have a good situation of rainfalls. But do we have other opportunities to produce electrical energy form other sources? Of course, we have. Due to its geographical position and climate, Albania has a lot of opportunities to produce the energy that it needs using other renewable energy sources as: sun, wind, and geothermal sources. In this study I am going to give a panorama of our needs for energy. In this study I am going to present where can we produce energy from these sources. I am also going to present also other opportunities of building new plants to produce energy using water and how can we produce more energy combining two sources like for example water and sun. Generally to heat buildings we use conventional sources of energy (coal, gas or diesel). Instead of these sources, we can use renewable sources of energy. I am going to compare the costs for the heating of different buildings using diesel from one side and solar panels and geothermal sources from the other side. How to cite: Shtjefni, A., & Keçi, H. (2022). Production of electrical energy from renewable sources of energy in Albania. Ingenious, 2(1), 114–126.

https://doi.org/10.58944/wuuc5475

by, MSc. Eriksen MERSINLLARI, Prof. Dr. Petraq PAPAJORGJI Abstract This study analyses the use of micro:bit to improve the coding performance and the analytical skills of kids in elementary school. A sample of 460 students ranging from 6th grade to 9th grade and 60 IT teachers were selected and analyzed. Both students’ skills and teachers’ abilities were the focus of the effort to point out the role of the method micro:bit was used to improve overall students’ coding abilities and academic performance. In the end, a web-based application is designed to allow students to get enrolled to attend specific coding courses and thus, improve their coding abilities. Keywords: component; micro:bit, coding skills, educational platforms, digital competencies How to cite: Mersinallari, E., & Papajorgji, P. (2022). The impact of micro:Bit Technology use on improving students’ coding skills. Ingenious, 2(1), 29–36.

https://doi.org/10.58944/wusw7877

by, PhD. Paola PATERNA, MSc. Carlo MAROCCHINI, MSc. Srey Mom VUTH, Prof. Dr. Andrea MICHELETTI, MSc. Carlo ROSA, Prof. Asoc. Dr. Alessandro TIERO, PhD. Silvana SUKAJ, Prof. Asoc. Dr. Donato ABRUZZESE Abstract In the past our safety “standard” were much lower than now. We felt comfortable driving cars without a seat belt, without exterior rear mirror, without ABS nor Air- Bag. Today our cars are equipped with sensors and controls much better than the airplanes that flew in second World War. Our continuous request of comfort goes hand in hand with the increasing safety for our life. Most of the machines and equipments around us enjoy of sophisticated control system, but civil structures not yet. Only few special bridges, mainly suspension or cable stay bridges, have some permanent tools to control them, and provide alert communication in case of suspect behaviour. “Normal”, simple bridges miss this type of controls. Buildings, monuments, schools, hospitals, strategic buildings (Civil protection, Municipality, Police Stations, TV stations, communication centers…), all miss monitoring system for structural safety. Most of “smart solutions” refer to domotic (house automation) aspect like temperature, heating/air conditioning, lights, burglar alarm. All of them miss structural health control, forgetting problem like earthquake, structure aging, material decay and so on.Increasing the structural safety control of the buildings with smart devices means to increase the global safety for the cities. The paper introduces some experiences of the authors in this field, and presents some possible scenario for the future. Keywords: Infrastructures, health structure monitoring, IoT for structures, monitoring network How to cite: Paterna, P., Marocchini, C., Vuth, S. M., Micheletti, A., Rosa, C., Tiero, A., Sukaj, S., & Abruzzese, D. (2022). The necessary permanent WIFI health monitoring of the structures as condition for the smart buildings in Smart Cities. Ingenious, 2(1), 15–28.

https://doi.org/10.58944/tkmr6264

By, Prof. Dr. Petraq PAPAJORGJI

EDITORIAL

Information technology is vital in our lives in many aspects; it helps enormously while dealing with the dynamism of daily things. There is no field in human activities where there is no role for information technology. Information Technology offers numerous tools to facilitate the development process and exchange of information. Both these processes are the objective of IT to make many tasks more accessible and easy to solve. Thus, the use of technology brings a plethora of various delivery methods. It has access to massive information, uses many tools to enhance learning, and provides excellent examples through simulations and models. Information Technology has had a significant impact on the engineering sector. These new technological innovations include the widespread adoption of 3D printing, robots, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Adopting these innovations has forever changed work processes, design, production, and testing in many engineering sectors. Nowadays is almost natural to sit in a car and enjoy the ride provided by a self-driving vehicle. Software systems/robots translate fluently from one language to another and make automatic summaries of scientific papers. Everything is getting more complex. Ordinary people believe that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Engineers believe that it doesn’t have enough features if it ain’t broke.