Alessandro Lambertini has been an Associate Professor in Geomatics Engineering at the Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering (DICAM), University of Bologna, since September 2026.
His research focuses on the development and integration of geomatics techniques for surveying, modelling and monitoring natural and built environments. His interests include multi-sensor and multi-platform geospatial data acquisition and fusion, photogrammetry, LiDAR, GNSS, satellite remote sensing, GIS, 3D modelling and Digital Twins. His main application fields include coastal and subsidence monitoring, landslides, marine habitats, precision agriculture, cultural heritage and immersive visualization through AR, VR and XR technologies.
Education and qualifications
In 2014, he obtained the qualification to practise as a professional engineer.
In 2017, he received a PhD in Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering from the University of Bologna, with a dissertation on the innovative use and integration of remotely sensed geospatial data for 3D city modelling and GIS applications.
Since 2021, he has held the Italian National Scientific Qualification for the position of Associate Professor in sector 08/A4 – Geomatics.
Academic career
After completing his PhD, he continued his work at the same Department as a Research Fellow and Postdoctoral Researcher from 2017 to 2022.
From September 2023 to August 2026, he was a Senior Assistant Professor at DICAM. Since 1 September 2026, he has been an Associate Professor at the University of Bologna.
Teaching activities
He regularly teaches at Bachelor’s, Master’s and doctoral levels at the University of Bologna. His teaching covers Geomatics Engineering, GIS, remote sensing, 3D surveying and modelling, offshore monitoring and the application of geomatics technologies to cultural heritage.
Alongside university teaching, he provides training in QGIS, Open Data and territorial monitoring. Since 2012, he has supervised or co-supervised more than forty Bachelor’s and Master’s theses and has contributed to the supervision of doctoral research on ground-deformation monitoring and underwater photogrammetry.
Scientific activities
He has participated in numerous national and European research projects addressing environmental monitoring, territorial resilience, marine ecosystems, cultural heritage and the integration of geomatics technologies.
He participates in LIFE NatuReef, Space It Up! and AQUAGREEN. He contributed to PRIN 2022 MANATEE, devoted to mapping and monitoring marine habitats through integrated geomatics technologies, as well as to the earlier SHELTER, SUSHI DROP, GAMHer, LIFE AGROWETLANDS II, ChoT, SUBCOAST and ENERGYCITY projects.
Since 2012, he has collaborated with ARPAE Emilia-Romagna on subsidence and vertical ground-motion monitoring through the integration of InSAR, GNSS and GIS data. Since 2016, he has participated in the Unibo@CriBo collaboration, focusing on UAV mission planning and the processing of airborne sensor data.
His fieldwork includes surveys conducted using UAVs, UUVs/ROVs, USVs, laser scanners, GNSS and optical, thermal and acoustic sensors. Applications have covered coastlines, landslides and rock masses, underwater habitats, agricultural crops, historic buildings and infrastructure, including the Garisenda Tower, the Campanile di Val Montanaia and the Battiferro historic hydraulic structure.
He serves as a peer reviewer for international journals in geomatics, remote sensing and geographic information science.
Institutional and academic responsibilities
Since 2024, he has been a member of the DICAM Executive Board and the Department’s Third Mission and Communication Commission.
Since 2025, he has contributed to DICAM activities concerning digital communication and online visibility.
From 2022 to 2025, he served on the admission committee for the limited-access degree programme in Construction and Land Management Techniques.
Membership of scientific associations and editorial bodies
He is a member of the Italian Society of Photogrammetry and Surveying, the Italian Association of University Professors of Surveying and Mapping, and the International Association of Geodesy.
He participates in ISPRS Working Group II/7 – Underwater Data Acquisition and Processing. Since 2021, he has been a member of the Topical Advisory Panel of Sustainability and is Guest Editor of the Remote Sensing Special Issue Laser Scanning in Environmental and Engineering Applications.
He has also served on the Scientific Board of the National PhD Programme in Earth Observation, coordinated by Sapienza University of Rome.
Awards and honours
In 2023, he received a Remote Sensing Editor’s Choice Award for his work on the integration of geomatics and geomechanical data at the Campanile di Val Montanaia.
In 2022, he received the Best Poster Award at the conference Il ruolo del monitoraggio nello studio e nella gestione del rischio idrogeologico per la tutela del territorio montano.
In 2020, he received a Journal of Marine Science and Engineering Editor’s Choice Award for a study on the rapid monitoring of shoreline changes using UAV photogrammetry and ground surveys.
In 2016, he was awarded a Marco Polo Mobility Grant for a research period at the University of Coimbra.
In 2014, he received the Best Paper Award at the RSCy2014 conference.
Other activities
He is actively involved in science communication, student orientation and training for students, professionals and the wider public. Since 2015, he has organized initiatives at the University of Bologna related to Geography Awareness Week, OpenStreetMap and Mapathons.
He has participated in several editions of the European Researchers’ Night, technology-transfer events and public initiatives addressing Digital Twins, 3D surveying, environmental monitoring, cultural heritage and marine technologies.
He holds EASA certificates for UAV operations in the Open A1/A3 and A2 categories and has delivered professional training on remotely piloted aircraft systems, QGIS and Open Data.
