Il hydrogeological instability it is also fought with research, satellites and drones. 94% of Italian municipalities are at risk and as many as 8 million people live in areas classified as highly dangerous. Investments to deal with the phenomenon are never enough to guarantee peace of mind for people. To better keep the situation of the entire peninsula under control, Carlo Doglioni, President of theNational Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) and Paul Minciacchi, Chief Executive Officer of e-GEOS (Telespazio company and the Italian Space Agency) have signed a letter of intent to collaborate on experiments, technologies and territorial monitoring. The two organizations have undertaken to create technological products that use radar, optical instruments, multispectral equipment from satellites, aircraft and drones. In many areas of Italy there are already tools that detect landslides, mudslides, floods and this data will be integrated with the new equipment.
Hydrogeological instability affects all Italian regions
The collaboration between INGV and e-GEOS will focus in particular on the study of the atmosphere, on the effects on the ground, on land and coastal instability, as well as on specific topics in which innovation tout court and space technologies will walk together. The first joint operation is the establishment of a permanent working table, made up of representatives of both parties to evaluate and coordinate the thematic areas on which to concentrate work in the coming weeks. The two bodies have already collaborated for the creation of Emergency services in EU-Copernicus system. More recently, they have jointly produced algorithms and systems to support ASI Earth observation missions. Environmental and geophysical issues occupy a central place in the activities of the two institutions. For Italy, the combination of environment and disaster is now a constant emergency with damage to people and things. By 2026 thanks to the funds of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) 15 billion euros will be spent.
8 million Italians are in areas at risk
The letter signed by the two Presidents strengthens the possible participation in both national and European tenders and projects. “The study of the Earth can no longer disregard satellite observations”, said the president of INGV Doglioni. “The new agreement with e-GEOS adds strong value to the technological innovation and space technology development activities”. Also important in this respect is iThe work of the Space Earth Observation Center (COS), space research and surveillance facility. But the territories are the ones most exposed to risks of all kinds with high levels of danger to people. The latest ranking compiled by Ispra with tells us so Emilia Romagna with almost 3 million inhabitants at risk, Toscana over 1 million, Campania 580 thousand, Veneto almost 575 thousand, Lombardia 475 thousand, Liguria 366 thousand. But politics also has its responsibilities in dealing with emergencies. It became clear with the latest tragedy of Marche in September, where the instability mission unit set up by Matteo Renzi. It had been liquidated by the governments of Giuseppe Conte and Italy faced with the umpteenth tragedy found itself exposed to men, means and money. With new technologies and funds from the PNRR we should finally move on.
