Geotechnology

The wise production, transformation and use of geological resources and raw materials are increasingly stressing societies and the economy. Circular economy is a fundamental process of resources usage and a central question in all research that will be developed, e.g. the separation of plastics mixtures and separation of copper and plastics from electrical cable waste. Research will be developed to find and propose new solutions for sustainable exploitation of resources in extractive industry complemented by mineralogical, petrographic and geochemical characterization of raw materials and geological resources. Geological environment will be object of research, focused on: a) geotechnical characterization of rock masses, risk assessment of road slopes and landslides, definition of geomechanical quality of rock and rock foundations; b) preservation of heritage buildings related with the properties of stones, old construction techniques and image to maintain cultural identity and to value the memory of know-how in traditional local arts; c) modelling and visualization of the natural fracturing in building stones quarries and durability of porous granites under aggressive conditions; d) study, sensitization, information, training, monitoring and mapping of radon in buildings; e) research on hydromineral systems and associated conceptual models, origin of the mineral waters, recharge areas, residence times and the nature of the hydraulic circuits for its sustainability and protection; f) transference mechanisms of phosphorus, metals and pesticides among soils, sediments and water and their impacts on water quality in meso-scale hydrographic basins and identification of dominant processes of substances transportation to reduce the potential negative impacts of land use; g) determination of strontium and lead isotopic signatures of wine and vineyard soils and rocks-tracers of the provenience region.