WORK IN PROGRESS
SMSL develops research across the following interconnected thematic areas:
Soil health assessment and monitoring Development of concepts, methods, indicators, and protocols for the assessment of soil ecosystem health, with particular attention to Mediterranean environments and their specific ecological and management challenges.
Soil variability and landscape analysis Study of soil spatial variability and its relationships with biophysical and anthropogenic territorial factors, integrating classical pedological survey methods with geoinformatic and remote sensing approaches.
Sustainable soil and land management Research into agricultural, pastoral, and forestry management practices that protect and improve soil health, including soil restoration techniques for degraded and contaminated soils.
Ecosystem services Development of methods and tools for the assessment of soil-generated ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration, water regulation, biodiversity support, and food provisioning.
Precision agriculture and territorial evaluation Application of geospatial data and modelling tools to support precision farming and evidence-based land evaluation.
Soil databases and information systems Development of soil databases, territorial information systems, and digital tools to support scientific publication, policy design, and land management decision-making.
The Unit actively promotes interdisciplinary collaboration — through joint research projects, co-supervised theses at both Master’s and doctoral level, interdisciplinary seminars, field excursions, and shared scientific publications — as well as engagement with Italian and international research networks aligned with its scientific objectives.