Nico Pietroni

Nico Pietroni is a Professor at the School of Computer Science at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), where he conducts research at the intersection of geometry processing, digital fabrication, and architectural geometry. His work bridges theoretical foundations in computational geometry with practical applications in industrial production pipelines, and he is affiliated with the Visualisation Institute (VI) Research Network at UTS.

His primary research interests include geometry processing, mesh parametrisation, digital fabrication, architectural geometry, and computational design. He has pioneered techniques such as FlexMaps for computational design of flat flexible shells and Metamolds for computational design of silicone molds. His research focuses on developing concepts and practical algorithms for the creation and manipulation of digital shape representations, with applications spanning entertainment industry, digital fabrication, and architectural geometry.

His recent publications demonstrate a strong trend toward computational methods for digital fabrication and architectural applications. His work spans from garment design and alteration to architectural structures like grid shells and bending-reinforced structures. He has developed innovative approaches for surface approximation, mesh processing, and computational design that address practical challenges in manufacturing and construction, with particular emphasis on reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining design integrity.

• Wynne Prize finalist for "Bending the Light" artwork, exhibited at the Art Gallery of New South Wales

Professor Pietroni has supervised numerous research students working on projects related to geometry processing, digital fabrication, and computational design. His funded research includes projects such as "Digital Optimization of Personalised Spacesuit" and "CRC-P Shoulder Replacement Implant Design for Additive Manufacturing," demonstrating the practical applications of his work across diverse fields from space research to medical technology. He has secured multiple research grants totaling significant funding for computational design research.

He has developed several influential software projects including MeshLab (an open-source system for 3D mesh processing that won the SGP Software Award in 2017), HexaLab (an online viewer for hexahedral meshes), and QuadMixer (for layout-preserving blending of quadrilateral meshes). His work has been widely adopted by both academic researchers and industry practitioners in fields ranging from entertainment to architecture to medical technology.