PITLAB – Hydraulics and Territorial Hydraulic Protection Laboratory

Main research projects and agreements/contracts
(Scientific Coordinator: Prof. Eng. Stefano Pagliara)

2001–2006
Research contract between the Arno River Basin Authority and the Department of Civil Engineering – University of Pisa, entitled “Mitigation of hydraulic risk in the Arno River Basin”.

November 2006 – January 2007
Research contract between the Municipal Administrations of Florence, Campi Bisenzio and Sesto Fiorentino, the Arno River Basin Authority, and the Department of Civil Engineering – University of Pisa, aimed at updating the knowledge framework concerning hydraulic hazard in the areas located on the right hydraulic bank of the Arno River, downstream of the city of Florence, within the territories of the municipalities of Sesto Fiorentino, Campi Bisenzio and Florence.

June 2007 – January 2008
Contract between ASA S.p.A. and the Department of Civil Engineering – University of Pisa, concerning the development and calibration of unsteady-flow mathematical models, the construction of 3D laboratory models, and the implementation and calibration of a hydrogeological model.

February 2011 – April 2011
Contract between Hepp Service S.r.l. and the Department of Civil Engineering – University of Pisa, concerning the assessment of discharges in an open channel used as tailrace for the Molise 80 power plant located on the Biferno River in the Municipality of Castropignano (CB), for the calculation of turbine efficiency.

December 2012 – December 2013
Research contract between the Municipality of Pisa and the Department of Energy, Systems, Territory and Construction Engineering – University of Pisa, aimed at in-depth analyses and new assessments of the knowledge framework related to Hydraulic Hazard.

September 2012 – February 2013
Scientific collaboration agreement between the Municipality of Cecina and the Department of Civil Engineering – University of Pisa, concerning activities related to the update of the Municipal Urban Plan (hydraulics and geology).

April 2013 – June 2013
Contract between Hepp Service S.r.l. and the Department of Energy, Systems, Territory and Construction Engineering – University of Pisa, concerning the assessment of discharges in an open channel used as tailrace for the Bivaro power plant located on the Biferno River in the Municipality of Oratino (CB), for the calculation of turbine efficiency.

July 2012 – October 2012
Scientific collaboration agreement between the Tuscany Region (Extraordinary Commissioner) and the Department of Civil Engineering – University of Pisa, concerning the analysis of the flood event of 7 November 2011 that affected Elba Island, including the update of rainfall probability curves.

July 2013 – December 2013
Contract between the Department of Energy, Systems, Territory and Construction Engineering – University of Pisa and SC Sembenelli Consulting S.r.l., concerning the study and construction of the physical model of the Zarema Dam (Ethiopia).

July 2016 – April 2017
Research agreement between the Department of Energy, Systems, Territory and Construction Engineering – University of Pisa and Ambiente SC, entitled “Classification of watercourses and determination of environmental flow requirements study in Lesotho”. The study included data analysis and processing, identification and simulation of different scenarios, and their evaluation and optimization.

December 2016 – April 2017
Research agreement between the Department of Energy, Systems, Territory and Construction Engineering – University of Pisa and Acquedotto del Fiora S.p.A., concerning a feasibility study and survey of part of the sewer system of Massa Marittima.

July 2018 – December 2020
University Research Project (University of Pisa, project code PRA_2018_35) entitled “Eco-sustainable approaches for water systems and territorial redevelopment in urban areas”. University of Pisa – Department of Energy, Systems, Territory and Construction Engineering.

2019–2021
PANACEA Project: analysis of hydrological aspects and low-impact techniques for river restoration and the reduction of macroplastics. Consorzio 4 Basso Valdarno.

2020–2022
Project for the ecological restoration of the Padule di Fucecchio. Tuscany Region.

Main national and international research projects

2002–2004
PRIN2001 research project: “Non-conventional low environmental impact hydraulic works”. Prof. Pagliara served as Principal Investigator of the project.

2004–2006
PRIN2003 research project: “Environmental rehabilitation works of watercourses, from laboratory scale to field scale”. Prof. Pagliara acted as Scientific Coordinator of the University of Pisa research unit.

25 April 2022 – 25 April 2025
PRIN – Projects of Relevant National Interest (Call 2020).
Project title: “Floods in Cities: New Insights for Integrating Pluvial Flooding into Flood Risk Management Plans (INSPIRING)” (project code 2020NTSFXF).
Principal Investigator: Prof. Giuseppe Tito Aronica (University of Messina).
The project involves five research units led by Prof. Giuseppe Tito Aronica (University of Messina), Prof. Francesco Napolitano (Sapienza University of Rome), Prof. Gianfranco Becciu (Politecnico di Milano), Prof. Giuseppe del Giudice (University of Naples Federico II), and Prof. Luca Cozzolino (University of Naples Parthenope).
Michele Palermo and Stefano Pagliara participate as members of the research unit led by Prof. Giuseppe del Giudice (University of Naples Federico II).

28 November 2022 – November 2024
Research project “M.Hy.Bridge (Modelling Hydraulic Risk at Bridges)”, funded by the FABRE Consortium.
The project focuses on the development of models for the assessment of hydraulic risk at existing bridges and for accurate safety evaluation.
Principal Investigator: Prof. Stefano Pagliara (University of Pisa).
Five research units are involved, coordinated by Prof. Stefano Pagliara (University of Pisa), Prof. Francesco Ballio (Politecnico di Milano), Prof. Giuseppe Tito Aronica (University of Messina), Prof. Armando Brath (University of Bologna), and Prof. Paolo Salandin (University of Padua).
Prof. Michele Palermo is a member of the University of Pisa research unit.

February 2024 – ongoing
Research project SAFE-LAND: “Mitigating the Risk of Flooding and Landslides via Artificial Intelligence with a View to Extreme Climate Events”, Project no. 101140345 — SAFE-LAND — UCPM-2023-KAPP.
Project Coordinator: Prof. Elisabetta Cattoni (eCampus Telematic University).
Michele Palermo and Stefano Pagliara are members of the University of Pisa research unit.
(Co-funded by the European Union)

February 2025 – ongoing
Research project IF Marittimo00267 – Management of water, waste, and sediments to reduce pollution outside ports (GRRInPort2).
Project Coordinator: Dr. Isabella Pecorini (University of Pisa).
Michele Palermo and Stefano Pagliara are members of the University of Pisa research unit.
(Co-funded by the European Union)