DISASTER LAB 
Science 2 (PTTT-024)
Research
Teaching
People
Alumni
Contact person: Prof. Fausto Marincioni
RESEARCH
The main research lines of the Disaster Lab relate to disaster risk reduction. The methodological approaches are multidisciplinary, typically of geographic nature, integrating the research methods of the physical and the natural sciences with those of the socio-anthropological disciplines. Following are described a few thematic clusters.
Natural hazard, vulnerability and resilience
Historically, the most widespread approach to disaster management identifies the origin of disasters in the inadequacy of human-made infrastructures to withstand the stresses of extreme events. In this approach, prevention and mitigation activities aim at greater control of natural processes, along with the strengthening of anthropic infrastructures (built environment). The Disaster Lab pursues research on disaster risk reduction increasing the attention on the social dimensions of disasters, focusing on the factors that generate the intrinsic fragility of human communities and on the aspects that strengthen the ability to cope with the most critical situations.
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Risk perception
The basic assumption of this research cluster is that a specific population of Homo sapiens interacts with a limited number of terrestrial environments, the so-called "habitats", consisting of a well-defined number of species and elements that constitute the specific territory inhabited by that population. Over time, different human groups have developed their own methods to better interact with their habitat and with the inherent hazards. The collection of these methods is transmitted within the group and handed down from one generation to the next through cultural mechanisms. Studying these cultural traits helps to predict the behavioral and organizational patterns that different communities might assume while facing hazards and disasters.
Climate change adaptation
Increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather and climate events makes it necessary to develop research programmes on possible adaptation strategies to changes of the Earth's climate. In this context, the Disaster Lab, alongside research of a purely physical nature, is developing studies to evaluate the impact of climate change and the consequent adaptation of communities, both by supporting local authorities and by involving local populations.
Emergency prevention and management (civil protection activities)
This research topic concerns with more applied aspects of emergency prevention and management. The assumption is that in an emergency the needs are determined both by the hazard that acts on the system, and by the response organisation that the system implements. These needs can be managed through adequate preparation and planning. The Disaster Lab offers its skills to civil authorities for the development of emergency plans with a multi-hazards approach aimed at reducing local risks.
Application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to disaster risk reduction
Geographic information systems (GIS) represent a powerful tool for all those phenomena having a specific geographical dimension, though they might be extremely different from each other. This also applies to disaster risk reduction. Ideally, GIS is used as a decision support system that involves the integration of spatial data aimed at problem solving. The Disaster Lab uses GIS in studies on risk prediction and prevention, on land planning and, more recently, on the monitoring of the Covid-19 emergency.
TEACHING
The main teaching activities of the DLab faculties are concentrated on the spatial dimension of risk and disasters.
Courses taught by the DLab faculties
PhD projects (ongoing and completed)
Bachelor and Master of Science theses
PEOPLE
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Fausto Marincioni |
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Professor of Environmental Geography at the Università Politecnica delle Marche in Ancona where he teaches and carries out research on Disaster Risk Reduction. He holds a PhD in Geography from the University of Massachusetts (USA) and is associate editor of the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. Previously, he worked with the United States of America Geological Survey (USGS) at the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Research Center, and taught Human and Environmental Geography at Long Island University (LIU Post) in New York.
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Eleonora Gioia |
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Adjunct Professor and Research Fellow at the Università Politecnica delle Marche. She holds a PhD in Civil and Environmental Protection at UNIVPM, for which completion she collaborated with the Civil Protection of the Marche Region and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) in Golden Colorado. She worked on the European project “Landslide”, with the University of Camerino, to develop landslide forecasting models, and on the projects LIFE “PRIMES” and "RESPONSe” (Interreg Italy-Croatia), with UNIVPM. She is currently working on the analysis of the perception and responses to climate change.
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Noemi Marchetti |
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Doctoral candidate at the Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, in the Civil and Environmental Protection Curriculum. She is working with the Disaster Lab carrying out research on pandemic emergency planning. Previously, she worked on mitigation and adaptation analyses to climate change in the Adriatic Region within the the EU funded project "RESPONSe” (Interreg Italy-Croatia). With her Master of Science thesis she participated to the organisational and regulatory updating project of the emergency plan of the Municipality of Pescara (Abruzzo, Italy).
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Lorenzo Biagini
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Doctoral student at the Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, in the Civil and Environmental Protection Curriculum. Lorenzo's research is focused on the management models of maxi-emergencies, and in particular he will investigate Search and Rescue (SAR) procedures during emergencies at sea. His main hypothesis is that the current response model for maritime emergencies presents critical issues related to the complicated coordination of multi-agency resources in a complex intervention environment such as the open sea. Lorenzo brings in the doctoral project his experience as a professional Firefighter to the Livorno Fire Brigade.
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Giuseppe Lelow |
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Doctoral student at the Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, in the Civil and Environmental Protection Curriculum. Giuseppe's research concerns the relationship between emergency management and Information Technology (IT). In particular, he focuses on the potential and challenges associated with Big Data available, inter alia, from crowdsourcing (e.g. social media, emergency calls to the Single European Number 1-1-2, etc.). Among the research goal is the optimization of data gather and management during an emergency to enhance decision-making and improve rescuers' response capacity.
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Paolo Garbati |
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Doctoral student at the at the Università Politecnica delle Marche, Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, in the Civil and Environmental Protection Curriculum. Paolo's research is aimed at analyzing the adaptation status of the European civil airports to climate changes related risks. His attention is particularly directed to rare but highly intense atmospheric phenomena (microbursts, downbursts, etc.) which have also been recorded in Europe over the past years. Paolo's professional experience, over 35 years of service in the Air Force, will be a very important assett in carrying out this research, helping him better to define guidelines for greater safety in flight.
ALUMNI
Those who got a real life ... but are not forgotten!
Cristina Casareale
Alessandra Colocci
Teresa Carone
Michele Marconi
Fulvio Toseroni
Beatrice Gatto
Giandiego Carastro
Janaka Jayawardana
Michele Magni
Raffaele Chitarroni
Antonia Fratino
Paola Graciotti
Federica Appiotti