Giovanni SCHEMBRA

[Last update: 22/09/2026]

Full Professor of Telecommunications
DIEEI – University of Catania

Giovanni Schembra is Full Professor of Telecommunications at the DIEEI – Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering of the University of Catania, Italy, where he is a member of the Telecommunications Group.

His research activity focuses on the development of next-generation communication networks and systems, with particular emphasis on the integration of telecommunications, Artificial Intelligence, autonomous systems, and quantum technologies.

Research and Development Laboratories

He coordinates three research and development laboratories at DIEEI:

• AMIP Lab, devoted to the development of technologies based on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for video surveillance, environmental monitoring, and remote sensing, with particular emphasis on the use of Artificial Intelligence for the automatic analysis of images and data collected by aerial platforms.
• 5G&B Lab, focused on the research and experimentation of 5G, 6G, and Future Networks, including softwarized networks, Edge and Far-Edge Computing, Network Intelligence, resource orchestration, and next-generation radio architectures.
• Quantum Internet Lab, devoted to the research and experimentation of technologies for the Quantum Internet, with particular emphasis on the transmission of quantum information over local and wide-area networks and the development of quantum links between drones and ground stations, as well as between mobile platforms and terrestrial infrastructures.

Research Project Coordination

He coordinates the research activities of AI-PHOQUS, a project devoted to the development of next-generation infrastructures and technologies for quantum networks and quantum links, both at local and wide-area scales. The project also includes the experimentation of quantum links involving drones and ground robots, aimed at investigating new architectures for distributed quantum networks.

He is the Scientific Coordinator of the 5G-MIRAGE project, aimed at deploying an indoor/outdoor 5G network at the University of Catania, to support the experimentation of advanced services and applications based on 5G connectivity.

Institutional Roles

He is Chair of the Master's Degree Programme in Communications Engineering (LM-27) at the University of Catania.

He also serves as the University’s UAS Operator Delegate to the Italian Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC), with responsibilities related to the University's activities involving Unmanned Aircraft Systems.

Education and Academic Career

Born in Catania, Italy, in 1968, he received his Master’s Degree in Electronic Engineering from the University of Catania in October 1991.

Since 1995, he has been conducting teaching and research activities within the Telecommunications Group of the DIEEI at the University of Catania. He has been Full Professor of Telecommunications since October 2024.

Research Interests

His main research interests include:

5G, 6G and Future Networks; Softwarized Networks; Network Intelligence; O-RAN; Edge and Far-Edge Computing; Tactile Internet; Quantum Internet and Quantum Networking; Flying Ad Hoc Networks (FANETs); UAV-based communication systems; Image Processing and Computer Vision; Artificial Intelligence applied to communication networks and systems; automatic recognition of wildlife and plant species from aerial imagery.

He is co-author of more than 230 scientific publications in international journals and proceedings of international scientific conferences.

[Last update: 22/09/2026]

@Google Scholar
@IEEE Xplore
@DBLP

Publications on International Journals in the period (2020 - Today)

[R81]     Caruso A., Grasso C., Raftopoulos R., Schembra G., “FALCON: Fanet-Aware Learning and digital twin CONtrol framework, “Computer Communications, vol. 251, June 2026.

[R80]     Caruso A., Grasso C., Raftopoulos R., Schembra G., “Autonomic reconfigurable 5G network slicing enabling immersive VR applications in 5G&B softwarized networks,” Elsevier Computer Networks, vol. 283, art. 112275, June 2026.

[R79]     Avanzato R.,  Beritelli F., Raftopoulos, R. Schembra G., "A deep reinforcement learning-based UAV-smallcell system for mobile terminals geolocalization in disaster scenarios," Computer Communications, 2025, 234, 108088.

[R78]     F. Busacca, S. Palazzo, R. Raftopoulos, G. Schembra, "MANTRA: A Distributed MAB-Based Multi-Agent Framework for Latency- and Energy-Aware Offloading in Vehicular Networks," IEEE Transactions on Network and Service Management, Volume 22, Issue 5, 2025.

[R77]     Charpentier Vincent., Landi Giada., Giannopoulou Eleni, Brenes Juan, Frizzell Ronan, Iordache Marius, Patachia Cristian, Demestichas Panagiotis, Baldoni Gabriele, Caruso Andrea, Grasso Christian, Schembra Giovanni, "VITAL-5G platform to advance 5G standalone integration with vertical industries," EURASIP JOURNAL ON WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS AND NETWORKING, vol. 2025, 27, ISSN: 1687-1499, doi: 10.1186/s13638-025-02456-x [R76]        "Giorgia Maria Cappello, Gabriella Colajanni, Patrizia Daniele, Laura Galluccio, Christian Grasso, Giovanni Schembra, Laura Rosa Maria Scrimali (2024). An Enhanced Multi-UAVs’ Provider Framework for Delivering 5G Services Using a Game Theoretic Approach. In: Ilias S. Kotsireas Anna Nagurney Panos M. Pardalos Stefan Wolfgang Pickl Chrysafis Vogiatzis. Dynamics of Disasters (Springer Optimization and Its Applications). p. 55-85, Springer, doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-74006-0_3"

[R76]     "Giorgia Maria Cappello, Gabriella Colajanni, Patrizia Daniele, Laura Galluccio, Christian Grasso, Giovanni Schembra, Laura Rosa Maria Scrimali (2024). An Enhanced Multi-UAVs’ Provider Framework for Delivering 5G Services Using a Game Theoretic Approach. In: Ilias S. Kotsireas Anna Nagurney Panos M. Pardalos Stefan Wolfgang Pickl Chrysafis Vogiatzis. Dynamics of Disasters (Springer Optimization and Its Applications). p. 55-85, Springer, doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-74006-0_3"

[R75]     G. Maier, A. Albanese, M. Ciavotta, N. Ciulli, S. Giordano, E. Giusti, A. Salvatore, G. Schembra, "WatchEDGE: Smart networking for distributed AI-based environmental control," Computer Networks, Volume 243, April 2024.

[R74]     G. Faraci, S. A. Rizzo, G. Schembra, "Green edge intelligence for smart management of a FANET in disaster-recovery scenarios," IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology, 72(3), pp. 3819-3831, March 2023.

[R73]     F. Busacca, C. Grasso, S. Palazzo and G. Schembra, "A Smart Road Side Unit in a Microeolic Box to Provide Edge Computing for Vehicular Applications," in IEEE Transactions on Green Communications and Networking, Volume 7, Issue 1, Pages 194 - 2101 March 2023.

[R72]     C. Grasso, R. Raftopoulos, G. Schembra, S. Serrano, "H-HOME: A learning framework of federated FANETs to provide edge computing to future delay-constrained IoT systems," (2022) Computer Networks, Volume 219, 24 December 2022.

[R71]     G. M. Cappello, G. Colajanni, P. Daniele, L. Galluccio, C. Grasso, G. Schembra, L. Scrimali, "Optimizing FANET Lifetime for 5G Softwarized Network Provisioning," IEEE Transactions on Network and Service Management, 2022, Volume 19, Issue 4, Pages 4629 - 46491 December 2022.

[R70]     C. Grasso, R. Raftopoulos, G. Schembra, "Smart Zero-Touch Management of UAV-Based Edge Network," in IEEE Transactions on Network and Service Management, vol. 19, no. 4, pp. 4350-4368, Dec. 2022.

[R69]     C. Grasso, R. Raftopoulos, G. Schembra, "Slicing a FANET for heterogeneous delay-constrained applications," Computer Communications, Volume 195, Pages 362 - 3751 November 2022.

[R68]     G. Colajanni, P. Daniele, L. Galluccio, C. Grasso and G. Schembra, "Service-Chain Placement Optimization in 5G FANET-Based Network Edge," in IEEE Communications Magazine, Volume 60, Issue 11, Pages 60 - 651 November 2022.

[rev04]  Guest Editors' Introduction: Special Section on Smart Management of Future Softwarized Networks," in IEEE Transactions on Network and Service Management, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 1942-1950, Sept. 2022, doi: 10.1109/TNSM.2022.3156117.

[R67]     F. Busacca, G. Faraci, C. Grasso, S. Palazzo, G. Schembra, "Designing a multi-layer edge-computing platform for energy-efficient and delay-aware offloading in vehicular networks," Elsevier Computer Networks, Volume 198, October 2021.

[rev03]  Guest Editors Introduction: Special Issue on Advanced Management of Softwarized Networks," in IEEE Transactions on Network and Service Management, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 20-29, March 2021, doi: 10.1109/TNSM.2021.3058871.

[R65]     "C. Grasso, K. Eswar K.N., P. Nagaradjane, M. Ramesh, G. Schembra, "Designing the Tactile Support Engine to assist time-critical applications at the edge of a 5G network," Computer Communications, Volume 166,  Pages 226-233, January 2021."

[R64]     G. Faraci, C. Grasso and G. Schembra, "Design of a 5G Network Slice Extension With MEC UAVs Managed With Reinforcement Learning," in IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications, vol. 38, no. 10, pp. 2356-2371, Oct. 2020, doi: 10.1109/JSAC.2020.3000416.

[R63]     G. Faraci, C. Grasso, G. Schembra, "Fog in the Clouds: UAVs to Provide Edge Computing to IoT Devices," ACM Transactions on Internet Technology, Vol. 20, No. 3, August 2020.

[R62]     G. Faraci, A. Raciti, S. A. Rizzo, G. Schembra, “Green wireless power transfer system for a drone fleet managed by reinforcement learning in smart industry,” Elsevier Applied Energy, Vol. 259, 1 February 2020.

 

Publications on Conference Proceedings in the period (2020 - Today)

[C153]      A. Caruso, C. Grasso and G. Schembra, "Closing the Loop: Link-Aware Dataset Generation and Edge Learning in UAV-Based Inference Aerial Platforms," 2026 IEEE 12th International Conference on Network Softwarization (NetSoft), Berlin, Germany, 2026, pp. 490-496, doi: 10.1109/NetSoft70012.2026.11603504.

[C152]      Andrea Caruso, Christian Grasso, Donata Condorelli, Giuseppe Antonio Malfa, Rosaria Acquaviva, Giovanni Schembra, "Edge to Far-Edge Image Processing for UAV-Based Officinal Plant Classification," Proc. of the 7th International Conference on Communications, Signal Processing, and their Applications (ICCSPA’26), Alcalá de Henares, Spain, June 15-18, 2026.

[C151]      A. Caruso, C. Grasso and G. Schembra, "Edge-Based Adaptive Services for Interactive and UAV-Based Systems in Softwarized 5G/6G Networks," 2026 IFIP Networking Conference (IFIP Networking), Lugano, Switzerland, May 24-27, 2026, pp. 1-4, doi: 10.23919/IFIPNetworking70592.2026.11579071.

[C150]      Andrea Caruso, Christian Grasso, Donata Condorelli, Giuseppe Antonio Malfa, Rosaria Acquaviva, Giovanni Schembra, "GRASS: Ground-level Recognition of Aromatic Species Spectrum at the Network Far-Edge Onboard UAVs," Proc. of the Borde Workshop, co-located with IFIP Networking 2026, Lugano, Switzerland, May 24-27, 2026.

[C149]      S. Ahmad, R. Raftopoulos and G. Schembra, "Energy-Efficient O-RAN Control with Multi-Agent Multi-Armed Bandits," NOMS 2026-2026 IEEE Network Operations and Management Symposium, Rome, Italy, May 18-22, 2026, pp. 1-5, doi: 10.1109/NOMS69089.2026.11668143.

[C148]      M. Figaro, F. Rossato, A. Bonora, M. Giordani, G. Schembra and M. Zorzi, "Experimental Evaluation of a UAV-Mounted LEO Satellite Backhaul for Emergency Connectivity," 2026 International Conference on Computing, Networking and Communications (ICNC), Maui, HI, USA, February 16-19, 2026, pp. 1-6, doi: 10.1109/ICNC68183.2026.11416931.

[C147]      F. Busacca, S. Palazzo, R. Raftopoulos, D. Riccobene, A. Scarvaglieri and G. Schembra, "A Low-Complexity O-RAN xApp Based on Multi-Armed Bandit to Optimize Traffic Steering Decisions," IEEE INFOCOM 2026 - IEEE Conference on Computer Communications, Tokyo, Japan, 2026, pp. 1-6, doi: 10.1109/INFOCOM59046.2026.11571767.

[C146]      G. Davoli et al., "Demonstration of Dynamic Service-Chain Deployment in a Multi-Layer FANET Edge-Computing Architecture," 2025 16th International Conference on Network of the Future (NoF), Montreal, QC, Canada, 2025, pp. 120-122, doi: 10.1109/NoF66640.2025.11223296.

[C145]      A. Caruso, P. P. Papa, G. Schembra and M. Salfi, "VR Gaming approach to language comprehension in children with Autism," IEEE ICEC 2025, Tokyo, Japan, August 27-30, 2025.

[C144]      Andrea Caruso; Publio Elon Correa da Silva; Christian Grasso; Giovanni Schembra, “DT-Based Cloud Gaming in Softwarized Networks to Enable Players in Developing Countries,” IEEE ISCC 2025, Bologna, Italy, July 2-5, 2025.

[C143]      Caruso Andrea, Grasso Christian, Schembra Giovanni (2025), “360° VR Cloud Gaming Over 5G&B Softwarized Networks, “ in Proceedings of the 11th IEEE International Conference on Network Softwarization, NetSoft 2025. p. 433-438, Budapest, doi: 10.1109/NetSoft64993.2025.11080595

[C142]      "Caruso A., Galluccio L., Grasso C., Ignaccolo M., Inturri G., Leonardi P., Schembra G., Torrisi V. (2025). Advancing Urban Traffic Monitoring in Smart Cities: A Field Experiment with UAV-Based System for Transport Planning and Intelligent Traffic Management. In: 2025 Integrated Communications, Navigation and Surveillance Conference, ICNS 2025. doi: 10.1109/ICNS65417.2025.10976747

[C141]      G. Davoli, C. Grasso, A. Caruso, W. Cerroni, G. Colajanni, L. Galluccio, G. Schembra, "A Marketplace Approach for Service-Chain Deployment in a Multi-Layer FANET Edge-Computing Architecture," in Proc. of ICNS 2025, Brussels, Belgium, April 8-10, 2025.

[C140]      A. Caruso, G. Schembra and C. Grasso, J. Brenes, P. Giardina, G. Landi, L. Lossi, G. Scivoletto, "Adaptive 360° Video Streaming over a Federated 6G Network: Experimenting In-Network Computing for Enhanced User Experience," 20th International Conference on Network and Service Management (CNSM 2024), Prague, Czech Republic, 28 - 31 October 2024. [C139] A. Caruso, C. Grasso, R. Raftopoulos, G. Schembra, "IDLE: A Digital Twin Framework for 6G Network Intelligence," IEEE CAMAD 2024, Athens, Greece, October 21-23, 2024.

[C138]      A. Caruso, P. Giardina, C. Grasso, G. Landi, G. Schembra, "Experimenting over a Federated 6G Network Infrastructure: Adaptive 360° Video Streaming," IEEE CAMAD 2024, Athens, Greece, October 21-23, 2024.

[C137]      A. Caruso, G. Schembra, "A VR 360°-Video Encoding Framework with Differentiated Tile Compression Based on Digital-Twin Technology," Proc. of MIPR 2024, San Jose, CA, USA, Aug 7, 2024 - Aug 9, 2024.

[C136]      A. Caruso, G. Schembra, “Impact of User’s Movements in an Immersive 360° Video Streaming with Differentiated Compression,” Proc. of IEEE MWSCAS 2024, Springfield (MO), USA, August 11-14, 2024.

[C135]      A. Caruso, C. Grasso, R. Raftopoulos, G. Schembra, “An Adaptive Closed-Loop Encoding VNF for Virtual Reality Applications,” Proceedings of IEEE Netsoft 2024, Saint Louis (MA), USA, June 24-28, 2024.

[C134]      F. Busacca, S. Palazzo, R. Raftopoulos, G. Schembra, "MARBLE: Multi-Player Multi-Armed Bandit for Lightweight and Efficient Job Offloading in UAV-Based Mobile Networks," Proceedings of IEEE International Conference on Communications 2024 (ICC 2024), Denver, CO, USA, 9–13 June 2024.

[C133]      F. Busacca, S. Palazzo, R. Raftopoulos, G. Schembra, "MAD-FELLOWS: a Multi Armed banDit Framework for Energy-efficient, Low-Latency job Offloading in robotic netWorkS," Proceedings of IEEE INFOCOM WKSHPS: NetRobiCS 2024: The 17th International Workshop on Networked Robotics and Communication Systems, Vancouver, Canada, 20–23 May 2024.

[C132]      R. Raftopoulos, S. D'Oro, T. Melodia, G. Schembra, “DRL-based Latency-Aware Network Slicing in O-RAN with Time-Varying SLAs,” Proceedings of International Conference on Computing, Networking and Communications 2024 (ICNC 2024), Big Island, Hawaii, USA, February 19-22, 2024.

[C131]      G. M. Cappello, G. Colajanni, P. Daniele, L. Galluccio, C. Grasso, G. Schembra. L. Scrimali, "Using FANETs for 6G Cloud-Native Slice Provisioning: A Marketplace Approach," IEEE MOBISLICE 2023, co-located with NFV-SDN 2023, Dresden, Germany, November 07-09, 2023.

[C130]      G. M. Cappello, G. Colajanni, P. Daniele, L. Galluccio, C. Grasso, G. Schembra. L. Scrimali, "ODEL: an On-Demand Edge-Learning framework exploiting Flying Ad-hoc NETworks (FANETs)," ACM International Workshop on Recent Trends of Internet of Softwarized Things (IoST-5G&B), co-located with Mobihoc 2023, Washington DC, USA, October 23-26, 2023.

[C129]      R. Raftopoulos, G. Schembra, "Multi-Armed Bandit for Contention Window Optimization," ACM European Wireless 2023, Rome, Italy, October 02-04, 2023.

[C128]      F. Busacca, S. Palazzo; R. Raftopoulos, G. Schembra, "MANTRA: an Edge-Computing Framework based on Multi-Armed Bandit for Latency- and Energy-aware Job Offloading in Vehicular Networks," IEEE NetSoft 2023, Madrid, Spain, June 19-23, 2023.

[C127]      Grasso C., Raftopoulos R., Schembra G., “OSCAR: a Contention Window Optimization approach using Deep Reinforcement Learning”, IEEE 2023 IEEE International Conference on Communications (ICC), Rome, Italy, May 28 - June 01, 2023

[C126]      Cappello, G.M. et al. (2022). “A Multi-UAVs’ Provider Model for the Provision of 5G Service Chains: A Game Theoretic Approach”. In: Simos, D.E., Rasskazova, V.A., Archetti, F., Kotsireas, I.S., Pardalos, P.M. (eds) Learning and Intelligent Optimization. LION 2022. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 13621. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-24866-5_32

[rev-c-01]           NFV-SDN Doctoral Symposium, "2022 IEEE Conference on Network Function Virtualization and Software Defined Networks, NFV-SDN 2022 - Proceedings"

[C125]      Grasso C., Raftopoulos R., Schembra G., "Multi-Agent Deep Reinforcement Learning in Flying Ad-Hoc Networks for Delay-Constrained Applications," Procedia Computer Science, Volume 203, 2022, Pages 69-78.

[C124]      Grasso C., Raftopoulos R., Schembra G., "Comparison of Deep Reinforcement Learning Approaches for FANET Optimization," 2022 61st FITCE International Congress Future Telecommunications: Infrastructure and Sustainability (FITCE), 2022, pp. 1-6.

[C123]      Grasso C., Raftopoulos R., Schembra G., "A FANET to Provide Blockchain On Demand at the Extreme Edge of a 6G Network," 2022 61st FITCE International Congress Future Telecommunications: Infrastructure and Sustainability (FITCE), 2022, pp. 1-6

[C122]      Grasso C., Raftopoulos R., Schembra G., "Tailoring FANET-Based 6G Network Slices in Remote Areas for Low-Latency Applications" (2022) 2022 IFIP Networking Conference

[C121]      Galluccio L., Grasso C., Maier G., Raftopoulos R., Savi M., Schembra G., Troia S., "Reinforcement Learning for Resource Planning in Drone-Based Softwarized Networks," 2022 20th Mediterranean Communication and Computer Networking Conference (MedComNet), 2022, pp. 200-207.

[C120]      C. Grasso, R. Raftopoulos and G. Schembra, "Deep Q-Learning for Horizontal Job Offloading in a Fleet of MEC UAVs in 5G Environments," Proc. of IEEE Netsoft 2021, online, 28 June–2 July 2021.

[C119]      "G. Colajanni, P. Daniele, C. Grasso and G. Schembra, ""Network Functions Virtualization Management and Orchestration: an Optimization Approach,"" AIRO International Conference on Optimization and Decision Science (ODS) 2020, Online, November 19, 2020."

[C118]      C. Grasso and G. Schembra, "Decision Making Optimization for Job Offloading in Vehicular Edge Computing Networks," 2020 AEIT International Conference of Electrical and Electronic Technologies for Automotive (AEIT AUTOMOTIVE), Torino, Italy, November 18-20, 2020, pp. 1-6.

[C117]      G. Faraci, S. A. Rizzo and G. Schembra, "Unmanned aerial vehicles and wind generation serving isolated areas," 2020 International Symposium on Power Electronics, Electrical Drives, Automation and Motion (SPEEDAM), Sorrento, Italy, June 24-26, 2020, pp. 138-143, doi: 10.1109/SPEEDAM48782.2020.9161947.

[C116]      F. Busacca, C. Cirino, G. Faraci, C. Grasso, S. Palazzo and G. Schembra, "Multi-Layer Offloading at the Edge for Vehicular Networks," 2020 Mediterranean Communication and Computer Networking Conference (MedComNet), Arona, Italy, June 17-19, 2020, pp. 1-8, doi: 10.1109/MedComNet49392.2020.9191474.

[Last update: 22/09/2026]

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

1. 5G/6G Management and Orchestration and Network Softwarization and Network Slices
2. Flying AdHoc Network (FANET) Management and Orchestration
3. Processing of Aerial Images by Drones
4. Quantum Internet
5. Videosurveillance in Smart Cities and Rural Areas
6. O-RAN

[Last update: 22/09/2026]

RESEARCH PROJECTS

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AI-PHOQUS (Link)

AI-PHOQUS costituirà un nuovo contesto multidisciplinare di collaborazione di soggetti pubblici e privati, integrando progressivamente l'AI e le QT basate su atomi e fotoni con la filiera della fotonica, della fabbricazione e delle reti avanzate. La combinazione di QT, fotonica ed AI, nel contesto di reti avanzate ibride – classiche e quantistiche – ha un potenziale enorme e pervasivo in ambiti sia scientifici che industriali. Il contesto scientifico ed infrastrutturale di AI-PHOQUS costituirà un esempio unico sia nello scenario italiano che europeo ed un volano straordinario per l'economia e lo sviluppo tecnologico nel nostro Paese, soprattutto al Sud.