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
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
