Research Project Coordination

Project: Progetto DPC/ReLUIS 2024-2026: WP5.4: Rapid, low impact and integrated retrofitting schemes for bridges
Period: Apr 2024 – present
Role: Task Coordinator
Budget: €75,000
Funding: Italian Civil Protection Department (DPC)
Description:
The investigation of damage mechanisms in existing bridge structures commonly found throughout Italy and comparison with past damage observations. The objective is to investigate the level of inter- and intra-structure correlation between these typologies to facilitate the more refined regional assessment and prioritisation of required interventions.

Project: EFEHR - European Facilities for Earthquake Hazard and Risk
Period: Jul 2024 – present
Role: Local Coordinator
Funding: European Plate Observing System - European Research Infrastructure Consortium (EPOS-ERIC)
Description:
This project facilitates the EUCENTRE’s involvement in advancing earthquake hazard and risk assessment in the European-Mediterranean area as part of the EFEHR consortium’s overall efforts.

Project: Built Environment Data Thematic Core Service
Period: Oct 2022 – present
Role: Coordinator
Funding: Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR)
Description:
The development of a new candidate thematic core service as part of EPOS (European Plate Observing System) related to the built environment. This comprises the development of databases and computational tools that facilitate the collaboration and sharing of data and knowledge according to the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) principles related to buildings and urban infrastructure.

Project: Progetto Dipartimenti di Eccellenza 2023-2027
Period: Jan 2023 – Dec 2027
Role: Coordinator (Line R1)
Budget: €6,650,000
Funding: Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR)
Description:
The development of a risk-based approach for the sustainable design of structures and infrastructures with particular regard to those of protection from natural disasters and the sustainable development of the nation.

Project: ERIES: Engineering Research Infrastructures for European Synergies
Webpage: www.eries.eu
Period: Jun 2022 – May 2026
Role: Project Coordinator
Budget: €11,616,118.24
Funding: European Commission Horizon Europe
Description:
ERIES provides transnational access to advanced experimental facilities in the fields of structural, seismic, wind and geotechnical engineering, with new and unique infrastructures available for the first time. It allows users to advance frontier knowledge and conduct curiosity-driven research towards the reduction of losses and disruption due to these hazards, the management of their associated risk, and the development of innovative solutions to address them that will contribute to a greener and more sustainable society. The project comprises 13 partners from 8 different countries across Europe and North America, including: IUSS Pavia (Italy, Coordinator), Eucentre Foundation (Italy); University of Patras (Greece); Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece); Laboratório Nacional de Engenharia Civil (LNEC), Lisbon (Portugal); Centre de recherche (CEA) Paris-Saclay (France); University of Bristol (United Kingdom); Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Seismology (IZIIS), Skopje (N. Macedonia); University of Genova (Italy); Western University (Canada); Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), Eindhoven (Netherlands); Centre Scientifique et Technique du Bâtiment (CSTB) Nantes (France); European Laboratory for Structural Assessment, Ispra (Italy).

Project: ROSSINI: Progettazione, realizzazione e sperimentazione di un sistema prototipale di navigazione risk-aware per la gestione e mitigazione del RischiO SiSmico in industrie a rischio di INcidente rIlevante
Webpage: www.progetto-rossini.it
Period: Jun 2020 – Nov 2022
Role: Principal Investigator and Coordinator
Budget: €333,300
Funding: Italian National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work (INAIL)
Description:
ROSSINI places itself within the overall field of seismic risk-aware navigation systems. It describes the use of a sensor array for the integrated risk-aware navigation in industrial plants at risk of NaTech accidents, using an industrial plant facility in Italy as its pilot study. The integration of structural and environmental risks estimated and measured in different ways via a sensor array network is presented as part of an integrated risk identification and evaluation (RIE) module. This module is used to combine and map the possible risks spatially within an industrial plant’s layout and shown how this information can then be used to not only compute the safest path to safety for a worker located within such a plant but also how mobile communications can be used to aid and guide them in different scenarios.

Project: Progetto Dipartimenti di Eccellenza 2018-2022
Period: Jan 2019 – Jun 2022
Role: Deputy Coordinator (Line 3)
Budget: €8,205,100
Funding: Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR)
Description:
The research activities associated with Line 3 envisaged a complete review of available seismic design and assessment methods currently employed. It focussed on issues related to problems with current code-based approaches and aimed to incorporate avant-garde approaches such as risk-based and loss-driven approaches in order to promote and more optimal use of available resources in the future with the overall goal of reducing seismic risk.

Project: INFRA-NAT – Increased Resilience of Critical Infrastructure under Natural and Human-induced Hazards
Webpage: www.infra-nat.eu
Period: Jan 2018 – Dec 2019
Role: Deputy Coordinator and Research Collaborator
Budget: €762,839.05
Funding: European Commission – Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG-ECHO)
Description:
The objective of the project was to assess the seismic vulnerability of roadway networks taking into account ageing and deterioration effects of their bridge structures. It focussed on the collection of structure data in Italy, Israel and North Macedonia with the aim of engaging local practitioners and authorities to encourage the adoption of such assessment and prioritisation methodologies.

Research Project Collaboration

Project: ERIES-ENFRAG: ENhancing state-dependent FRAGility through experimentally validated Energy-Based Approaches
Period: May 2023 – Jul 2024
Role: Research Collaborator
Funding: ERIES Transnational Access Joint Research Funding Mechanism Description:
ERIES-ENFRAG advances state-dependent earthquake fragility assessment methodologies. The project focuses on masonry infill walls experiencing cumulative states of damage due to combinations of in- plane (IP) and out-of-plane (OOP) actions, commonly quantified through two different peak-based engineering demand parameters (EDPs). ERIES-ENFRAG explores the experimental validation of hysteretic energy-based fragility assessment approaches, which are: 1) currently based only on analytical and/or numerical validations; 2) only considering one type of action/damage mechanism. ERIES-ENFRAG will pave the way for similar cumulative-damage tests for different structures/structural components while providing experimental data on the IP and OOP response of masonry infills. ERIES-ENFRAG aims at a robust consideration of damage-accumulation, particularly relevant in mainshock-aftershock conditions, and will also shed further light on the appropriateness of IP and OOP loading protocols used in experimental testing.

Project: ERIES-RESTORING: REtrofitting of STOne masonRy using INnovative Grid- based composites
Period: May 2023 – Jul 2024
Role: Research Collaborator
Funding: ERIES Transnational Access Joint Research Funding Mechanism Description:
The seismic retrofitting of existing masonry buildings has become a priority in seismically prone countries with significant cultural heritage. The proposed project aims to research the effectiveness of Composite Reinforced Mortars (CRM) in strengthening rubble stone masonry buildings. Full-scale tests will be conducted on piers with CRM applied to assess their behavior compared to non-retrofitted piers. The project will also investigate different aspect ratios and load rates. The data collected will contribute to future design guidelines for CRM as a strengthening solution, reducing vulnerability and losses after earthquakes.

Project: Progetto DPC/ReLUIS 2019-2021: WP5.1: Assessment of integrated seismic retrofitting schemes for buildings
Period: Jan 2020 – Jan 2022
Role: Research Collaborator
Budget: €75,000
Funding: Italian Civil Protection Department

Project: Progetto DPC/ReLUIS 2019-2021: WP5.4: Rapid, low impact and integrated retrofitting schemes for bridges
Period: Jan 2019 - Jan 2022
Role: Task Coordinator and Collaborator
Budget: €75,000
Funding: Italian Civil Protection Department

Project: Investigation of Seismic Deformation Demand, Capacity and Control in a Novel Self-Centring Steel Braced Frame
Period: Jan 2019 – Jun 2021
Role: Research Collaborator
Funding: SERA: Seismology and Earthquake Engineering Research Infrastructure Alliance for Europe (EU Horizon 2020)

Project: Joint Research: Comparison in Performance of Base-Isolated Structures between Japan and Italy @ Kobori Research Complex
Period: Nov 2019 – Dec 2019
Role: Lead Researcher
Budget: €6,850 (822,000 JPY)
Funding: Kobori Research Complex, Tokyo, Japan

Project: ReLUIS/DPC Line 7: Displacement-based seismic loss assessment
Period: May 2016 – Dec 2018
Role: Researcher Collaborator
Budget: €475,250.00
Funding: Italian Civil Protection Department

Project: Progetto Scuole
Period: May 2015 – Dec 2016
Role: Researcher Collaborator
Budget: €1,500,000
Funding: Centro Geomorfologia Integrata Per L’Area Del Mediterraneo

Project: DiSTEEL: Displacement-Based Seismic Design of Steel Moment Resisting Frame Structures
Period: Feb 2014 – May 2014
Role: Researcher Collaborator
Funding: European Commission Research Fund of Coal and Steel

Project: BRACED: Improved European design and assessment methods for concentrically-braced frames
Period: Sep 2012 - Aug 2013
Role: Researcher Collaborator
Funding: SERIES: Seismic Engineering Research Infrastructures for European Synergies (European Commission FP7)