The initiative focuses on risk scenarios in south-eastern Sicily and the strengthening of cooperation between INGV and local institutions.
The 7 April, from 18 pm, at the prestigious “Fallen of Nassirya” Hall of the Senate of the Republic, on the initiative of the Senator Salvatore Sallemi, will be held la Press conference to present the volume of proceedings of the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) Seminar held in Ragusa last summer.
The initiative represents an important opportunity to learn more about the natural and anthropogenic risk scenarios of the Iblean territory, in south-eastern Sicily, and consolidates an excellent institutional cooperation between the INGV and the Free Municipal Consortium of Ragusa (formerly Regional Province).
This volume collects the results of a workshop during which INGV researchers, in collaboration with local experts, outlined the main critical issues in an area characterized by high geological and environmental complexity.
The Senator will speak at the press conference Salvatore Sallemi, the owner of the initiative, the President of the INGV, Fabio Florindo, the President of the Free Municipal Consortium of Ragusa, Maria Rita Annunziata Schembari, the Prefect and Vice President of the European Environment Agency (EEA), Stephen Laporta, the INGV Research Director, Massimo Chiappini, the President of the National Institute of Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics (OGS), Nicola Casagli, Professor Emeritus of the University of Padua and Member of the Major Risks Commission, Joseph Maschio, the Research Director of the Institute for Membrane Technology of the National Research Council (CNR - ITM), Lidietta GiornoThe President of the Mediterranean Conference - COMEN, will lead and coordinate the presentation. Francesco Venerating Mantegna.
“The collaboration between the INGV and the Free Municipal Consortium of Ragusa is a virtuous example of strong synergy between local institutions and the scientific community - declares the Senator Salvatore Sallemi - I hope that this model will also extend to the remaining coastal areas of the Sicilian Region."
Among the most significant results of the path undertaken, it is worth highlighting the establishment of a permanent technical-scientific table between INGV and the Free Municipal Consortium of Ragusa, aimed at strengthening collaboration between the Institute's researchers and the most qualified scholars in the area, with the aim of transforming scientific analysis into useful tools for planning and prevention.
“The signing of the agreement between our Institute and the Free Municipal Consortium of Ragusa - declares Fabio Florindo, President of the INGV - represents an important opportunity to strengthen and make increasingly effective the techniques for observing geophysical phenomena".
The main priority remains the prevention of natural hazards, through the development of innovative and integrated monitoring of critical environmental parameters. In this context, a proposal was put forward for the Environmental Observation System (SOA), a regional environmental monitoring infrastructure designed to address the urgent climate and geological risks affecting Sicily. The SOA promotes a shift from reactive emergency management to a proactive scientific model based on three main high-tech networks: the OS-IS® network, which uses ground-based sensors and machine learning techniques to monitor wave motion and coastal impact; the Smart Rainfall System (SRS), which leverages satellite signal interference to provide real-time, high-resolution mapping of extreme precipitation; and the BlueBox system, a portable laboratory for monitoring marine health parameters using vessels already operating in the area of interest. By integrating artificial intelligence and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, the SOA aims to provide decision makers with precise data to prioritize infrastructure investments and mitigate damage caused by landslides and coastal erosion.
The studies conducted so far have highlighted a priority criticality represented by salt intrusionLaboratory analyses, in fact, confirm the advance of the salt wedge in coastal aquifers, a phenomenon caused by excessive water withdrawal for irrigation in greenhouse areas, accompanied by significant water pollution.
"Scientific research is called upon to provide concrete answers - explains Massimo Chiappini, Research Director of INGV – Our mission is twofold: on the one hand, to increase knowledge and awareness of risks, on the other, to provide useful tools to institutions and citizens, so that they can adopt effective prevention and adaptation measures.. Investing in these stocks means reducing vulnerability and building resilience. "
In this context, the Senate presentation represents a significant demonstration of the effectiveness of institutional cooperation, aimed at enabling a more effective transition from the study phase to the definition of concrete project proposals for the protection and management of the territory.
The press conference will be streamed live on Senate WebTV and on Senate YouTube channel.
Useful links:
National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV)
Senate of the Republic
Free Municipal Consortium of Ragusa
