The exploitation and conservation of the environment are key elements in the sustainable development of our society. Climate change, together with changed economic conditions, call for tough provisions regarding the conservation and administration of our natural and built heritage, entailing complex interactions that can only be resolved by the adoption of an innovative, highly interdisciplinary approach.

In the last few decades the problems associated with the administration and conservation of built heritage have become a crucial element of national economies, with buildings and infrastructure assets generally amounting to approximately two-thirds of a country’s capital. Conserving the value and usefulness of these assets is therefore vital for the wellbeing of the country.

Consequently, the intelligent exploitation of the environment, in terms of both resources and conservation, is fundamental to development and has a significant impact on the administration of water resources, controlling natural hazards and territorial planning.

This research axis aims to:

• associate various features of the life cycle of the built environment, ranging from purely mechanical and physical aspects to those regarding energy or the economy, while also considering issues related to health and the environment;
• meet the global needs imposed by the administration of the natural and built heritage; for example, considering all the phases of the infrastructure or building: design, construction, maintenance and demolition recycling. In order to do this, control must be maintained over numerous demands and needs that must be answered in a systematic manner, identifying appropriate instruments and implementing them in the optimal order. The entire process is based on the qualitative and quantitative inspection and monitoring of various resources (air, water, soil etc.);
• involve the various people operating in the territory, at both the institutional and the professional levels, in the interaction with environmental themes, adopting a new approach dictated by sustainability and the related economic, ecological and social implications;
• develop and strengthen the synergies found in SUPSI units, in the safety, conservation, diagnostic, monitoring, data management and healthcare sectors.

Research axis Leader

Ezio Cadoni

Working group

Department for Environment Constructions and Design
Christian Ambrosi
Massimiliano Cannata
Luigi Coppola
Francesco Frontini
Tiziano Teruzzi
Mauro Tonolla

Department of Business Economics, Health and Social Care
Mariangela Ardia
Federico Corboud
Ruth Hersche

Department of Education and Learning
Luca Reggiani

Department of Innovative Technologies
Daniele Puccinelli
Andrea Rizzoli
Andrea Salvadè

University Directorship SUPSI
Riccardo Cappelletti

Fernfachhochschule Schweiz
Beatrice Paoli