Gouqi Island, Zhoushan, China As I approach the conclusion of this academic journey, I reflect on the countless individuals whose support and guidance have made this dissertation possible. First and foremost, I extend my deepest gratitude to my parents, whose unconditional love and unwavering support have sustained me through every challenge and triumph. Their quiet strength and steadfast belief in my abilities have been the foundation upon which I've built my academic pursuits. I am profoundly grateful to my supervisor, Professor Zhonggai Zhao, for accepting me as his student during both my master's and doctoral studies, providing me the opportunity to develop as a researcher under his mentorship. My sincere appreciation goes to Professors Massimiliano Barolo, Pierantonio Facco, and Fabrizio Bezzo from the Computer-Aided Process Engineering Laboratory (CAPE-Lab) at the University of Padova. Their intellectual guidance, academic rigor, and patient mentorship during my research ...