News
The Rockmech research group of the Politecnico di Torino operates in the field of rock mechanics and rock engineering, with the aim of developing knowledge and innovative solutions for the study and design of underground infrastructures and natural environments.
The group’s activities cover a wide range of scientific and applied topics, including the geomechanical characterization of rock materials through laboratory and in situ testing, the development of advanced numerical models, and the analysis of slope stability and landslide phenomena. Particular attention is also devoted to the geotechnical monitoring using innovative techniques such as ground-based radar interferometry and advanced sensing systems.
A central research area is tunnelling and microtunnelling, focusing on the design, construction, and behaviour of shallow and deep tunnels. In this context, the group is also recognized for developing sustainable solutions related to energy geostructures, where underground infrastructures such as tunnels and retaining structures are used for geothermal energy production and exchange.
The team is actively involved in numerous national and international research projects, often in collaboration with academic and industrial partners, contributing to the development of innovative technologies for infrastructure resilience and the energy transition. Recent research lines include the energy use of existing tunnels, the adaptation of infrastructure to climate change, and the mitigation of natural hazards in alpine environments. Composed of faculty members, researchers, and PhD students, the Rockmech Polito group represents an internationally recognized reference in the field of rock mechanics and geotechnical engineering, integrating fundamental research, advanced experimentation, and engineering applications aimed at sustainability and safety.
NEWS
Maria Romana Alvi awarded PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering
Congratulations to Maria Romana Alvi, who completed her PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering with a Thesis titled: "Enhancing energy geostructures by heat storage materials and integration with solar energy".
The work, carried out under the supervision of Prof. Marco Barla and Dr. Alessandra Insana focused on the optimisation of energy geostructure efficiency through the integration of Phase Change Materials (PCM), combining advanced numerical modelling with experimental validation.
Amirreza Pourfatollah awarded PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering
Congratulations to Amirreza Pourfatollah, who completed his PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering with a thesis titled “Climate Change Impacts on Landslide Susceptibility in the Alpine Region Using a Machine Learning Approach”.
The work, carried out under the supervision of Prof. Marco Barla, Prof. Valerio De Biagi, and Dr. Alessandra Insana, focused on the development of a data-driven approach to assess landslide susceptibility across complex alpine terrain, integrating geospatial analysis with machine learning algorithms.
Il progetto Tun.Re.Fit. premiato agli ITA Awards 2025
Un tunnel che produce energia e migliora la sicurezza stradale: è l’innovazione del Politecnico premiata agli ITA Awards 2025. Il progetto Tun.Re.Fit., sviluppato dal team del Dipartimento di Ingegneria Strutturale, Edile e Geotecnica-DISEG (Marco Barla, Simone De Feudis e Alessandra Insana), ha ottenuto il secondo posto nella categoria Technical Innovation of the Year.
L'articolo di Poliflash: https://www.polito.it/ateneo/comunicazione-e-ufficio-stampa/poliflash/il-progetto-tunrefit-premiato-agli-ita-awards-2025
Il video che descrive l'innovazione: https://youtu.be/z5ve0IVz_kU