Events and News

Summer School 2026 – Geological Surveying and CARG Mapping

September 8 (online) and Finale Ligure (SV), September 20–26, 2026

The Summer School aims to promote methodologies and criteria for geological surveying and mapping, as well as the conceptual organization of data and digital archiving systems, in accordance with the standards of the CARG Program.

The Summer School includes: one day of synchronous online training, field survey activities carried out in small groups under expert supervision, lectures, and practical exercises.

The program is intended for Master’s graduates, PhD candidates, and PhD holders in Geological Sciences with experience in geological surveying who are interested in deepening their knowledge of field data collection methodologies and geological data archiving, in line with the standards established for the Geological Map of Italy – CARG Program.

Students close to completing their Master’s degree, whose thesis work involves geological field surveying, may also apply; their applications will be considered subject to availability of places.

The SNPA Guidelines 46 and 46bis on fill materials: regulatory, operational, and management perspectives

On July 2, an event organized by ISPRA entitled “SNPA Guidelines 46 and 46bis on Fill Materials: Regulatory, Operational, and Management Perspectives” will take place at the CNR Auditorium in Rome.

The conference is dedicated to the proper management of fill materials, a topic of growing importance in terms of environmental sustainability, land protection, and the proper planning of remediation and redevelopment activities.

Rome under Rome

The new Underground Cavities Map

The city of Rome preserves beneath its surface an extraordinarily complex heritage, the result of natural and human-made stratification developed over thousands of years. Ancient quarries, catacombs, hypogea, hydraulic tunnels, and numerous other underground structures form a structural component of the capital’s urban history, while also representing an element of major importance for territorial knowledge and the prevention of ground instability phenomena.

18th edition of National Mining Day

The initiative is promoted and coordinated by REMI, ISPRA, in cooperation with AIPAI, ANIM, ASSORISORSE, G&T, MASE and under the patronage of prestigious institutions such as European Route of Industrial Heritage ERIH, Consiglio Nazionale dei Geologi CNG, EuroGeoSurveys EGS, e AMODO Alleanza per la Mobilità dolce.

Changing Climate, Responding Territory: Hydrogeological Instability and Risk Management Strategies

On the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the approval of the Regional Law establishing the Regional Agency for Environmental Protection of Sardinia (ARPAS), the conference "Changing Climate, Responding Territory: Hydrogeological Instability and Risk Management Strategies" will be held in Cagliari on May 27th.

The initiative represents an important opportunity for scientific and institutional discussion on climate change and the new challenges posed by the increasing frequency of extreme weather events.

TEF – Taranto Eco Forum

Now in its fourth edition, the event has become a national benchmark for environmental sustainability and innovation. It is preparing to further expand both the quality and the scope of the debate, reaffirming a national, practical, and targeted approach aimed at ensuring the full accessibility of its content, in line with European projects and macro-trends.

Map of Underground Cavities of Rome 2026

The Map of Underground Cavities of Rome 2026 represents a significant update to the current knowledge framework regarding the distribution of underground voids within the urban territory of Rome. The cartography was produced by integrating data from scientific literature, historical cartographic archives, institutional databases, archaeological maps, and direct investigations, enabling the mapping of the main types of underground cavities (quarries, catacombs, hypogea, hydraulic tunnels, and other underground infrastructures) as well as the development of a density map of hypogeal systems.

Third National Day for the Prevention and Mitigation of Hydrogeological Risk

Forecasts and Experiences for Effective Governance of Land Protection Policies

Italy is characterized by an almost permanent emergency related to severe landslides and floods, exacerbated by the ongoing climate changes affecting the Mediterranean area. Effective prevention and mitigation measures for hydrogeological risk can be implemented through a broader understanding of risk forecasting models and new intervention techniques.

Science and technology, however, are only two of the fundamental pillars for effective land protection; a third pillar is represented by public prevention policies and by the ability of local administrations to manage, in a coordinated way, both countermeasures and mitigation works. Despite the availability of considerable financial resources to address land instability issues, the weak link risks being the difficulty local authorities face in managing construction sites and intervention projects.

The Third National Day for the Prevention and Mitigation of Hydrogeological Risk therefore aims to identify, through the participation of numerous institutional stakeholders and experts, a better governance model for policies aimed at safeguarding the country’s environmental and urban heritage.

Nature Restoration Regulation: what prospects for the Italian landscape from the National Nature Restoration Plan?

Through contributions from experts directly involved in drafting the national plans, the meeting aims to explore in depth the content, objectives, and implications of the regulatory articles concerning urban, riverine, terrestrial, forest, and agricultural ecosystems, analyzing their methodologies, strategies, and possible implementation measures within the Italian context.

The discussion will provide an opportunity to examine the relationships between ecological restoration and landscape design, fostering a critical and interdisciplinary reflection on the role of research in shaping paradigms of care, coevolution, and resilience, while promoting dialogue among public policies, scientific knowledge, and design practices.

Italian port infrastructure and its monitoring: ISPRA’s two new geodatabases – Maritime Works Layout and Port Transformation Areas

On April 29, 2026, at 9:00 AM, the Conference Hall of ISPRA will host the conference:
“Italian Port Infrastructure and Its Monitoring: ISPRA’s Two New GeoDBs – Maritime Works Layout and Port Transformation Areas.”

Based on high-resolution data layers covering the entire national coastal system, ISPRA presents and releases two new databases:

Maritime Works Layout (AOM), including the digitization and characterization of all structures classified as port infrastructure, with details on their type, function, and usage conditions, their evolution over time, ISTAT references, affiliation with relevant territorial authorities or administrations, and declared or estimated berthing capacity;

Port Transformation Areas (ATP), including the digitization and characterization of polygons related to obstruction (seabed occupation), excavation (coastal land occupation), and alteration (modification of natural conditions within basins) for all coastal port infrastructures, compared to pre-development conditions (ante operam).

Workshop “Photographic Monitoring of Landslides”

The workshop will present new technologies for landslide monitoring, with a focus on photomonitoring and on the results of experimental activities carried out by Sapienza University of Rome across 13 landslide sites throughout the country, within the framework of the GeoSciences IR project, funded by the PNRR MUR and coordinated by ISPRA.

ISPRA meets with a Chinese delegation from the Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Center

On April 20, at the headquarters of ECCO—an independent Italian think tank on climate and energy transition—ISPRA met with a Chinese delegation from the Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Center (LCRC), an institute of the Chinese Ministry of Natural Resources that focuses on land reclamation, redevelopment, and soil management.

Stories in Stone: A Geological Journey Through the Basilicas of Rome

As part of the Festival of Science di Rome, ISPRA is organizing, on April 18, the geological walk “Stories in Stone: A Geological Journey Through the Basilicas of Rome.”

Rebuilt after the devastating fire of 1823, the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls represents an important example of the restoration of early Christian architecture, while preserving its connection to its ancient origins. One of the building’s distinctive features is the extensive use of ornamental stones sourced from various areas of the Mediterranean.

The guided tour will offer participants the opportunity to closely observe these lithological varieties, appreciating not only their quality and aesthetic value, but also their historical significance—providing a unique chance to discover how architectural beauty intertwines with history and geology.

The Geothematic Cartography of the CARG Program

ISPRA and the Italian Military Geographic Institute are organizing the conference “The Geothematic Cartography of the CARG Program” scheduled for April 16, 2026, at the headquarters of the Italian Military Geographic Institute in Florence.

The event represents an important opportunity for scientific and technical discussion on the results and developments of the CARG Program (Geological Map of Italy), with particular focus on the production of geothematic cartography, including geomorphological, hazard, hydrogeological, and geomineral mapping. Throughout the day, experts from ISPRA, universities, research institutions, and public bodies will present thematic map sheets currently under development within the CARG framework, illustrating methodologies, expected results, and future perspectives. Significant attention will also be given to the collaboration between ISPRA and the Italian Military Geographic Institute, as well as to new frontiers in digital cartography.

The day will open with institutional greetings from high-level representatives of the Italian Military Geographic Institute and ISPRA. A visit to the Italian Military Geographic Institute is scheduled at the end of the event.

ISPRA participates in the Rome Science Festival 2026

Soil Health by 2050: Strategic and Practical Implications of the European Soil Monitoring Directive

The conference aims to explore the strategic and operational implications of the European Soil Monitoring Directive, with a view to achieving the “healthy soils” objective by 2050. Particular attention will be given to measurement systems and soil health indicators, as well as their integration with the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the European CRCF Regulation on carbon credits.

The event will also examine the role of public research and environmental agencies, presenting regional experiences and case studies aimed at promoting innovation transfer and technical-professional advisory services.

Reading the Territory, Interpreting the Landscape, Designing the Future

The landscape is not merely the sum of a territory’s geophysical and climatic characteristics; rather, it is the result of the interaction between human beings and the environment. A dynamic synthesis of nature and culture, and of the ways in which communities have inhabited and transformed the land, the landscape is the outcome of a stratification of relationships that defines the identity of a place. It is the visible form of the environment in its historical evolution: a space that is not only physical, but also a reflection of our aesthetic perception and a guardian of our emotional connections.

Hydrogeological Map of Italy at the 1:500,000 Scale (CII500K)

On the occasion of World Water Day, ISPRA highlights the strategic role of hydrogeological knowledge in the protection and sustainable management of water resources.

In Italy, more than 80% of the water intended for human consumption comes from groundwater. This figure underscores the importance of having reliable knowledge tools to understand, manage, and protect a resource that is fundamental for the country.

The Hydrogeological Map of Italy at the 1:500,000 scale (CII500K) represents a national-scale synthesis product aimed at describing the main hydrogeological complexes and the dynamics of groundwater. The map provides an organic and homogeneous overview of the territory, useful for analyzing available resources at the national level.

VISIONS FROM THE SKY: Growing and Learning with CLMS

The meeting “VISIONS FROM THE SKY: Growing and Learning with CLMS,” which will take place at ISPRA headquarters in Rome and in hybrid format, represents the final event of the first phase of the CLMS National Collaboration Programme.

The event provides an opportunity to present the experiences and activities launched under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on 9 October 2024 between ISPRA and the European Environment Agency (EEA). This agreement has seen ISPRA play a leading role through its strategic function as National Focal Point and coordinator of the Eionet network, strengthening Italy’s collaboration with the Copernicus Land Monitoring Service (CLMS).

The initiative is part of the collaboration programmes promoted by the European Commission to integrate Copernicus services—including those related to the atmosphere (CAMS) and climate change (C3S)—with national technical excellence.

Pillars of the Initiative

Over the past year and a half, the programme has pursued three ambitious objectives:

• Information Synergy: strengthening information exchange and the development of shared monitoring products.
• Data Integration: promoting coherence between national thematic services (based on in situ data, remote sensing, and modelling) and European standards.
• Local Innovation: developing new monitoring tools based on Copernicus products to address the specific needs of the Italian territory.

Geopolitics and Rare Earths. Politics, Economics and Finance Reflect on the Future: Between Risks and Opportuniti

On Tuesday, 17 March 2026, the conference “Geopolitics and Rare Earths. Politics, Economics and Finance Reflect on the Future: Between Risks and Opportunities” will take place in Milan, at the Auditorium Giorgio Squinzi of Assolombarda. The event will examine the topic from multiple perspectives: political and international relations, economic and diplomatic dynamics, industrial production, investments and financial markets, with the aim of formulating appeals and proposals addressed to the government and institutions.

From Emergency to Prevention: Territorial Safety as a National Mission

The Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry on Hydrogeological and Seismic Risk in the Italian Territory is organizing the conference “From Emergency to Prevention: Territorial Safety as a National Mission” on 12 March.

During the panel “Fragile Italy: Data, Knowledge and New Monitoring Tools. Vulnerability, Interventions and Prevention,” ISPRA President Maria Alessandra Gallone will speak.

The New Structural Map of the Italian Seas Is Now Online

A fundamental tool for deepening knowledge of our country’s seabed, the result of years of joint work between public research institutions and Italian universities

Providing an integrated representation of the main tectonic units and geological structures present in the Italian seas—from abyssal depths to submerged ridges—offering an updated and comprehensive picture of the geological framework of submerged areas: this is the objective of the new Structural Map of the Italian Seas, now available online, a key tool for understanding the geological structures that characterize the seabed of our country. The map was produced by the Department for the Geological Survey of Italy of the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), in collaboration with the Institute of Marine Sciences of the National Research Council (CNR-ISMAR), the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), the National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics (OGS), and the Universities of Genoa, Palermo, Roma Tre, and Trieste. The map is the result of years of joint research carried out by public research institutions and Italian universities.

On February 27, a new Copernicus Land Monitoring Service training course will take place: Bio-geophysical Variables at the European scale

The Copernicus Land Monitoring Service (CLMS) is launching a new training course focused on Bio-geophysical Variables products at the European scale, with particular emphasis on HR-VPP, Water Bodies, Snow, and the EU-Hydro dataset.

When the land disappears: the future we will not see

The Upper Valdarno, an area that includes territories within fifteen municipalities across the provinces of Arezzo and Florence, has experienced significant land consumption over the past 20 years, both permanent and reversible.

The workshop will provide an opportunity to discuss land consumption, the recent flooding events that reflect the ongoing effects of climate change, and territorial restoration projects.

Lotti 2026: One Hundred Years of Geological Research in Umbria

One hundred years after the publication of Geological Description of Umbria by Bernardino Lotti, the conference “Lotti 2026: One Hundred Years of Geological Research in Umbria”, to be held in Spoleto from 18 to 20 February 2026, aims to retrace the evolution of geological knowledge of the Umbria–Marche region and to highlight the most recent developments as well as the issues that require further investigation. Umbria, in fact, has been and continues to be a natural laboratory for geology, and from here research has originated that has developed topics of general interest, including at a global scale.

The Hydrogeological Map of Italy at the 1:500,000 scale has won the “Elio Botti – Come Acqua Saliente” Award

The seminar “Water Well Design” was held on February 18 in Padua. During the event, the awards of the 21st edition of the “Elio Botti – Come Acqua Saliente” Prize were presented.

For the third time, ISPRA has won this prestigious award, which recognizes projects and activities focused on groundwater. The prize is supported by leading scientific and technical institutions, including the Università degli Studi di Padova, Gruppo Italiano della IAH, Ordine dei Geologi del Veneto, Parco Regionale del Delta del Po, Confindustria Veneto, ANIPA and AIGA.

Following the two awards received during the 18th edition, ISPRA has now received, in collaboration with Università degli Studi di Milano (Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra “Ardito Desio”), ISTAT e CMCC, the “Jury’s Special Mention” for the project CII500K — la nuova Carta Idrogeologica d’Italia alla scala 1:500.000.

ISPRA Participation in the Workshop “SiCon – Contaminated Sites 2026”

ISPRA actively participated in the 17th edition of the workshop “SiCon – Contaminated Sites 2026: Experiences in Remediation Interventions,” held at the Faculty of Civil and Industrial Engineering of Sapienza University of Rome, from February 11 to 13, 2026.

The event, a national reference point for professionals in the remediation sector, involved researchers, institutions, environmental agencies, and companies, with over 300 scientific contributions presented across plenary, special, and technical sessions. The workshop represented an important opportunity for exchange and discussion with academia, environmental agencies, institutions, and industry professionals.

R3 Materials -> Next Materials

Institutions, Research, and Businesses Discuss Critical Raw Materials
Relevance, Regeneration, Recycling
Will these new buzzwords inspire the governance of critical and strategic raw materials in global supply chains marked by technological, energy, and industrial transformations? And how can they be reconciled with imports and domestic mining activities?

TAIEX-EIR multi-country Flagship workshop on the Soil Monitoring Law

The "TAIEX-EIR multi-country Flagship workshop on the Soil Monitoring Law," organized by the European Commission on the Soil Monitoring Directive, will be held on January 27 in Brussels.

The evolution of geological and mining cartography

On Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at 4:00 PM, Diego Pieruccioni (ISPRA) will participate in the webinar "The Evolution of Geological and Mining Cartography."

The webinar is jointly organized by the History of Geosciences Section and the Strategic Raw Materials and Mineral Deposits Development Section of the Italian Geological Society.