Current research
Slope instability and spatial-temporal
evolution of mass movements:
- Influence of environmental factors (geological, geomorfological, seismic,
climatic and human) on triggering and activity of landslides; hazard assessment;
- In situ investigations; topographic, inclinometric and piezometric monitoring.
Potential exploitation of
satellite-borne remote sensing in slope instability investigations:
- Applicability of SAR interferometry (Synthetic Aperture Radar) to monitoring
of mass movements and unstable slopes;
- Integration of in-situ data with remotely sensed information to identify features
and parameters useful for the recognition and characterisation of landslides
and for the assessment of slope instability evolution.
Coordinator and principal
investigator of scientific projects
- Principal Investigator
for IRPI -Bari (Principal Contractor) of the European Commission project Lewis:
Landslide Early Warning Integrated System (V Framework Programme, 2002-2005)
- Coordinator of the European Space Agency (ESA) project focused on the exploitation
of remotely sensed data acquired during the ENVISAT mission: Monitoring ground
displacements caused by slope movements and earthquake-related deformations
with the aid of Envisat data (Envisat AO, 2000-2004)
- Coordinator of the ASI project (Italian Space Agency): Synthetic Aperture
Radar (SAR) sensing of changes in soil moisture and precursory slope movements
(2000-2003)
- Principal Investigator of the ASI project: Evolution of landslide areas in
the Apennines: monitoring and relative hazard assessment with the aid of remotely
sensed data (1999-2001)
- Principal Investigator of CERIST-CNR projects focused on slope instability
problems (1996-2001)
Consultant work for the
National Department for Civil Protection (Rome)
- Over 30 consultant reports
from site visits in the municipalities exposed to hydrogeological risks conducted
on behalf of Gruppo Nazionale per la Difesa dalle Catastrofi Idrologiche (GNDCI
- National Group for the Protection from Hydrogeological Disasters)
- Member of the GNDCI technical-scientific committee established for the assessment
of hydrogeological hazards in the Puglia region
