Kevin Nieto Pedraza

About

I am a Civil Engineer and currently a Ph.D. Candidate at the Department of Architecture and Technology at NTNU. My research is part of the POTENT project Digital Technologies for Insights into Port-City Energy Interactions where I explore how data-driven and digital approaches can help understand and optimize energy flows between ports and cities to support their transition toward decarbonization and sustainability.

I hold a Master’s degree in Management of Built Environment from Politecnico di Milano and a Master’s degree in Design and Management of Technological Projects from Universidad de La Rioja, Spain. I also hold a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), where I developed a strong foundation in construction management and infrastructure systems.

Before joining NTNU, I worked in the construction and facility management sectors, collaborating with companies such as JLL/Tétris, ISS Facility Services, and AT&T. Through these experiences, I gained expertise in project management, tendering, and data analysis within complex, multidisciplinary environments.

I am passionate about leveraging technology to enhance the efficiency, resilience, and sustainability of urban systems particularly in the interface between industrial and urban areas such as port cities.

Research

My research investigates how digital technologies can provide insights into the energy interactions between ports and cities. The aim is to develop data-driven methods to map, analyze, and optimize energy flows in port-related districts, evaluating the impacts of interventions such as shore power, electrification, and thermal networks.

The project combines spatial analysis (GIS), data modeling, and scenario planning with participatory approaches involving municipalities, port authorities, and industry stakeholders. The ultimate goal is to generate practical tools and frameworks to support evidence-based decision-making for sustainable, energy-efficient, and resilient port cities.

POTENT (Ports as Energy Transition Hubs)

The project develops data-driven tools and methods to understand, model, and optimize energy flows across port-city systems, supporting decarbonization, electrification, and the integration of renewable energy solutions.

Publications

2026

Nieto, Kevin Pedraza; Gaitani, Niki; Madsen, Henrik. (2026) Designing a Local Digital Twin for Port-City Energy Systems: Coupling Urban Building Energy Modeling with a Lightweight Onshore Power Supply Port Module and Urban Electrification Hooks. International Conference on the European Energy Market
Academic article

Journal publications

Nieto, Kevin Pedraza; Gaitani, Niki; Madsen, Henrik. (2026) Designing a Local Digital Twin for Port-City Energy Systems: Coupling Urban Building Energy Modeling with a Lightweight Onshore Power Supply Port Module and Urban Electrification Hooks. International Conference on the European Energy Market
Academic article

Språkvelger

Kevin Nieto Pedraza