Remote Sensing

Professional profile

Remote sensing | GIS | Plant Ecology | Historical Landscape

Biologist, technologist, specialized in plant ecology and geomatics, with particular focus on the analysis of remote sensing data at different spatial and spectral scales.

Her activities within the CNR ISPC concern the study of archaeological areas from an environmental perspective through the assessment of changes over time for the reconstruction of historical land and maritime routes and for the study of natural and anthropogenic disturbances.

In particular, her work focuses on the integration, within a GIS environment, of remote sensing data, environmental data, and historical data for the mapping of historical/archaeological landscapes: thus, non-invasive applications for the protection, management and valorization of areas of cultural interest.

In collaboration with researchers from Mohamed V University of Rabat and Cadi Ayyad University of Marrakech, she conducts research on the “study of Phoenician navigation and trade along the Atlantic coast of Morocco,” with the aim of expanding understanding of the economic and cultural dynamics of antiquity, redefining the extent of Phoenician expansion, and enhancing the Atlantic as a historical space of exchange.

CNR Disciplinary Fields and Research Management Sectors

• VAL Enhancement and promotion of research results and technicalscientific support to institutions
• SH7_6 Environmental and climate change; hazard, risks or disaster; societal impact and policy
• PE10_14 Earth observation from space/remote sensing

Groups & Labs CNR ISPC

Archaeology and Environment Research Group →
Remote Sensing e Spatial Data Science Lab →

Publications

CNR IRIS platform →
ORCID →

Highlight

A. Allegrini (2025). Studio di habitat dunali in aree costiere della regione Lazio con evidenze storico/archeologiche. Report. Protocollo CNR-ISPC 427715 del 31/10/2025.

A. Allegrini, M. El Mhassani (2024). Historical and environmental analysis by remote sensing techniques of Phoenician settlements along the Atlantic coast of Morocco. In: Mediterraneo Punico: Supplementi alla Rivista di Studi Fenici (CNR Edizioni). Pp: 53-68. ISBN 978 88 8080 721 6 (print edition); ISBN 978 88 8080 722 3 (electronic edition); ISNN 2612-3495.

A. Allegrini, F. Papi, S. Giorgi (2023). Ipotesi sul percorso di Annibale verso il Mar Adriatico dopo la battaglia del Trasimeno. In: Supplementi alla Rivista di Studi Fenici (CNR Edizioni). Pp: 145-157. ISBN 978 88 8080 608 0 (print edition); ISBN 978 88 8080 609 7 (electronic edition); ISNN 2612-3495.

Professional profile

Archaeologist | Remote Sensing Specialist | GIS expert | Software developer

Archaeologist and technologist at CNR ISPC, he conducts research with advanced expertise in remote sensing, geospatial analytics, and non-invasive methods for cultural heritage research, protection, and management.

His work focuses on integrating multi-sensor datasets including satellite EO (e.g., Sentinel/Landsat), SAR, climate/environmental products, LiDAR (ALS and UAV), drone photogrammetry, thermal/multispectral imagery, and near-surface geophysics to support archaeological prospection, mapping, and especially multi-temporal monitoring of archaeological sites and historical landscapes.

He designs reproducible, automated workflows in Python, Google Earth Engine, and GIS environments (e.g., QGIS), with strong emphasis on point-cloud quality control and georeferencing assessment, multi-date co-registration, extraction of structural/morphometric metrics, change detection, scenario modelling, and the development of risk indices addressing erosion, coastal dynamics, wildfire exposure, vegetation stress, and anthropogenic pressure.

He routinely applies machine learning and quantitative statistics (classification, 3D segmentation, time-series analysis, robust validation) to convert complex observations into actionable indicators for heritage management and preventive conservation.

CNR Disciplinary Fields and Research Management Sectors

• SH6_1 Archaeological methods and theory, history of archaeology
• IR - Management of research infrastructures, laboratories and facilities, digital technologies for research
• PE10_14 Earth observations from space/remote sensing

Groups & Labs CNR ISPC

Remote Sensing e Spatial Data Science Lab →

Publications

CNR IRIS platform →
ORCID →

Highlight

Abate, N., Roubis, D., Aggeli, A. et al., An Open-Source Machine Learning–Based Methodological Approach for Processing High-Resolution UAS LiDAR Data in Archaeological Contexts: A Case Study from Epirus, Greece. J Archaeol Method Theory 32, 38 (2025). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10816-025-09706-8

Abate, N., Frisetti, A., Marazzi, F., Masini, N., Lasaponara, R., Multitemporal–Multispectral UAS Surveys for Archaeological Research: The Case Study of San Vincenzo Al Volturno (Molise, Italy). Remote Sens. 2021, 13, 2719. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13142719

Abate, N., Elfadaly, A., Masini, N.; Lasaponara, R., Multitemporal 2016-2018 Sentinel-2 Data Enhancement for Landscape Archaeology: The Case Study of the Foggia Province, Southern Italy. Remote Sens. 2020, 12, 1309. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/rs12081309

Professional profile

Remote Sensing Specialist | Architectural Conservation Scientist

I am a Research Director at the National Research Council of Italy (CNR ISPC), with a background in civil engineering and over thirty years of experience in cultural heritage science, archaeology, and architectural conservation. My research focuses on the development and application of innovative, non-invasive methodologies for the study, preservation, and management of cultural heritage, adopting an interdisciplinary approach that integrates Earth Observation sciences, geophysics, and architectural analysis.

My core expertise lies in archaeogeophysics, remote sensing (satellite, airborne, and UAV-based), GIS, and spatial modelling. I have contributed to advancing methodologies for the detection, mapping, and monitoring of archaeological sites and cultural landscapes, including the identification of proxy indicators of buried structures, multitemporal analysis, and predictive modelling for preventive archaeology. My work also addresses the use of multispectral and radar data to detect archaeological features, monitor looting activities, and analyze long-term landscape transformations.

A key component of my research concerns the conservation and diagnosis of built heritage. I focus on the integration of non-invasive diagnostic techniques, such as infrared thermography, ground-penetrating radar, and other geophysical and material analysis methods, to assess the state of conservation of monuments and support restoration planning. My research also explores historical construction techniques and structural behavior, with particular attention to seismic vulnerability and resilience of architectural heritage.

I have extensive experience in the coordination of international and interdisciplinary research projects, including Horizon 2020, Interreg, and ERDF-funded initiatives. Since 2008, I am the Director of the ITACA Mission in South America, an international research program dedicated to archaeogeophysical investigations and heritage conservation in countries such as Peru and Bolivia. Within this framework, I investigate the relationship between ancient societies—particularly Andean civilizations—and their environments, focusing on settlement dynamics, resource management, and adaptation strategies to environmental and climatic changes.

Between 2012 and 2019, I was actively involved in scientific cooperation with Chinese research institutions, including the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Henan Academy of Sciences. This collaboration included visiting professorships and joint research projects focused on the application of remote sensing, archaeogeophysics, and Earth Observation technologies for cultural heritage management and archaeological prospection, particularly in regions associated with the Silk Road.

My research interests also extend to the development of digital infrastructures and smart platforms for cultural heritage, including remote sensing-based monitoring systems, digital twins, and integrated tools for data management and decision-making. I am particularly interested in the role of advanced technologies in supporting sustainable heritage management, risk assessment, and the valorization of archaeological and historical sites.

In addition to research, I am actively involved in teaching and academic service. I contribute to postgraduate and doctoral programs in heritage science and architectural restoration, and I am co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of the international journal Heritage. I have authored more than 400 scientific publications and have delivered numerous keynote and invited lectures worldwide

Overall, my work aims to bridge technological innovation and cultural heritage studies, promoting non-invasive, scalable, and multidisciplinary approaches for the understanding, protection, and enhancement of cultural heritage across different environmental and cultural contexts.

CNR Disciplinary Fields and Research Management Sectors

• SH8_1 Science and Technologies for Cultural Heritage
• PE10_14 Earth observations from space/remote sensing
• SH8_6 Architecture, design, craft, heritage, knowledge, conservation, creative industries

Groups & Labs CNR ISPC

Remote Sensing e Spatial Data Science Lab →
Heritage Conservation Lab →

Publications

CNR IRIS platform →
ORCID →

Highlight

Masini, N., Romano, G., Sieczkowska, D., Capozzoli, L., Spizzichino, D., Gabellone, F., Bastante, J., Scavone, M., Sileo, M., Abate, N., Margottini, C., & Lasaponara, R. (2023). Non invasive subsurface imaging to investigate the site evolution of Machu Picchu. Sci Rep 13, 16035 (2023). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-43361-x

Masini, N., & Lasaponara, R. (2020). On the reuse of multiscale LiDAR data to investigate resilience in the Late Medieval period: The case study of Basilicata (Southern Italy). Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10816-020-09495-2

Masini, N., & Lasaponara, R. (2020). Satellite and close-range analysis for the surveillance and knowledge improvement of the Nasca geoglyphs. Remote Sensing of Environment, 236, 111447. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2019.111447