SPECIAL SESSION #23
Advancing Marine State Observation: Traditional Technologies, Innovations, and Project Initiatives
ORGANIZED BY
Marco Picone
Marco Picone
Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research
Francesca Giannoni
Francesca Giannoni
Liguria Regional Agency for Environmental Protection (ARPAL)
Carlo Lo Re
Carlo Lo Re
Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research
Rosella Bertolotto
Rosella Bertolotto
Liguria Regional Agency for Environmental Protection (ARPAL)
Antonio Iengo
Antonio Iengo
Liguria Regional Agency for Environmental Protection (ARPAL)
ABSTRACT
The observation of the physical state plays a fundamental role in understanding marine dynamics, assessing climate change impacts, and supporting sustainable marine management. Accurate monitoring of parameters such as waves, tides, sea level, and temperature is essential for applications ranging from coastal risk assessment to maritime safety and ecosystem protection. This special session will explore the evolution of ocean state observation, highlighting both traditional technologies—such as wave buoys, tide gauges, and ship-based surveys—and emerging innovations, including autonomous platforms, smart sensor networks, HF radar, and AI-driven data processing.
A key focus will be placed on project initiatives that integrate multiple observation sources to enhance the spatial and temporal resolution of marine monitoring and improve data accessibility for scientific and operational applications.
The session will foster dialogue among researchers and institutions to exchange insights on challenges and best practices in ocean monitoring. Topics will include advancements in real-time data transmission, sensor calibration, integration with remote sensing, and the use of machine learning for data assimilation and forecasting.
ABOUT THE ORGANIZERS
Marco Picone, is a Technologist at ISPRA with over a decade of experience in monitoring, analysis, modeling, and dissemination of marine environmental data, focusing on waves, tides, and sea temperatures. He oversees the management and validation of in-situ marine monitoring networks, particularly the National Wave Network. His research activities concern the development of statistical models for oceanographic data, climate studies, and extreme event analysis. He contributes in national and international research projects on marine monitoring, open data, and climate change indicators.
Marco has authored numerous scientific publications in international journals and contributes to national and EU environmental reporting. His collaborations extend across leading research institutions in Italy and abroad, strengthening knowledge-sharing in oceanography and marine data analysis.
Francesca Giannoni, is the head of Meteo Hydro Climate Operational Unit of ARPAL. She has a degree in Civil Engineering and PhD in Methods and Technology for environmental monitoring. Expert in developing and management of hydrological chain for floods and water resource management; management of short-term meteorological and sea modelling; responsible of the regional observing network (on land, radar, wave buoy); data processing and archiving, use and interpretation of data from remote sensors. Anchored to the research field through collaborations in European projects, supervisor of theses and internship. Participate to numerous national technical tables on environmental issues including the regional table for the Development of regional Sustainable Strategies.
Carlo Lo Re, earned a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Palermo University and pursued Ph.D. studies from 2006 to 2008, focusing on coastal engineering, specifically the numerical modeling of the swash zone and run-up. He successfully obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Palermo with a dissertation on Shoreline Oscillation in the Swash Zone. Following his Ph.D., he secured a postdoctoral position at the Department of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering at Palermo University, where he played a key role in redesigning and enhancing the university’s large wave flumes. These improvements enabled the development of physical models closely resembling real-world prototypes, and the flumes remain operational in the department's coastal laboratory. Currently, he is a researcher and technologist at ISPRA (Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research), where he contributes to managing the Italian offshore wave-buoy network (ROCA) and oversees the development of a new offshore monitoring system. His technical activities at ISPRA include wave numerical modeling, integrated wave measurement systems, and climate change analysis. His research also encompasses the spectral analysis of medicanes and meteo-tsunamis in the Mediterranean Sea. He has authored several papers in the field of coastal and ocean engineering.
Rosella Bertolotto, after a degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology (CTF) and a short period in the Pharmaceutical Industry, I turned to the environmental protection public sector when it started to gain importance in Italy. In Arpal for many years, I had the opportunity to deal with very different subjects, ranging from environmental analyses to water and sea monitoring. Today I direct the Department of the State of the Environment and Protection from Natural Risks (SATURN), which deals with environmental monitoring in all its forms: air, water, soil, environmental modelling and weather forecasting.
Antonio Iengo, meteorologist at Weather and Hydrological Centre of ARPAL in Genoa, Degree in Oceanography and Meteorology and received a 2nd level University Master degree in Monitoring and Management of Marine Coastal Areas.
He worked also for National Institute of Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics in Rome and Institute for Coastal Marine Environment of National Research Council in Naples.
Expert in severe convection forecast tecnique, nowcasting activities during extreme weather events and marine weather forecasts.
Author of several of scientific articles in national and international journals about severe weather event analysis and radar meteorology.
