The laboratory is a research structure equipped with land surveying technology such as topographic and GIS-type GNSS, SAPRs (Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems) equipped with LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensors, multispectral and optical cameras, and instruments for topographic surveying. This equipment is complemented by computing resources. The survey of streams and catchment areas is conducted with high precision using digital photogrammetry from the ground and from SAPRs, and through laser scanning surveys. Mathematical models are used to study erosion phenomena, transport, debris flow and sediment connectivity, as well as the effects of climate on glacier equilibrium. These are complemented by ecological connectivity models, constructed by spatializing environmental data and simulating scenarios in man-made terrain, and structural landscape models.

Contact: Federico Cazorzi, Sara Cucchiaro

Environmental Remote Sensing is a Laboratory facility operating in the field of remote sensing and geoinformation. Main fields of application are natural resources, environmental and territorial security, spatial analysis of satellite and aerial images, development of geodatabases and thematic maps, modeling of environmental processes and study of land use and land cover changes. The laboratory lists drones (also for teaching purposes) equipped for photogrammetric, multispectral and LiDAR surveys, topographic and educational GNSS, hardware and software tools for the processing and analysis of the remotely sensed images.

Contact: Maurizia Sigura

The multimedia laboratory (DAD Lab) was designed during the COVID-19 emergency, with the aim of sustaining student laboratory activities as fundamental tool to achieve educational goals and skills. The multimedia laboratory is an infrastructure of hardware and software useful for distance learning of science disciplines in general, with special emphasis on those related to Life and Earth Sciences. The laboratory blends interactive multimedia techniques to provide distance learning tools that explore most of the hierarchical scales of life (from the cell to the ecological scale).

The lab, for example, was used to create the videos of the Plant Biology Laboratory YouTube channel that counts more than 20,000 views.

Contact: Francesco Boscutti

The laboratory is equipped for physical, chemical and biological analyses of soils. It provides bench and field equipment for the analysis of organic matter (TOC analyser), pH, redox and ions in solution using ion-specific probes, gas chromatography, spectrophotometry (e.g. nitrate analysis, reduced iron analysis), mercury in solid samples using AMA, etc. The methods applied for the study of soil biology range from the analysis of soil microbial biomass to the quantification of ATP or specific enzymatic activities. The laboratory also offers instruments and methods specifically developed by the group for field measurements, such as the SPS colorimetric method for field sulphide assessment.

Main techniques and equipment are described on the ESF Soil Uniud Lab website.

Contact: Marco Contin, Elisa Pellegrini

The laboratory allows the study at high-resolution of the rhizosphere, but also of plants (physiology), non-vegetated soils and soil processes due to the presence of pedofauna. Chemical imaging involves the use of planar optodes and the so-called DET/DGT, i.e. diffusive equilibrium/gradients in thin films. Planar optodes are used for spatial (2D) and temporal monitoring of oxygen and pH, while DET/DGTs allow to capture the spatial (2D) distribution of many nutrients and metals. Microsensors (and micro-optodes) allow to measure temporal dynamics in a single point or spatial dynamics by the developing of profiles (1D), thanks to special micromanipulators. Microsensors measure mostly gases, such as oxygen, hydrogen and sulphides. Both techniques have a high spatial and temporal resolution, on average around 10-40 µm and 5-10 seconds.

Contact: Elisa Pellegrini

The laboratories are dedicated to the study of plant physiology and the biochemical characterization of plant tissues and cells. In particular, the physiological responses to abiotic stress and the functional traits in relation to plant communities are studied. To achieve this goal, there are instruments and protocols available for the separation of cells and cellular endo-membranes through differential centrifugation, in vitro cell culture growth, analytical and preparative gel electrophoresis of plant proteins and nucleotides, hydraulic measurements, and spectrofluorimetric and spectrophotometric determination of enzymatic activities, carbohydrates, and secondary metabolites with antimicrobial activity. Finally, the projects involved in the repopulation of natural environments with native species at risk of extinction include the use of seed dehydration chambers at low temperature and humidity, and laminar flow hoods for in vitro germination tests.

Contact: Enrico Braidot, Marco Zancani, Valentino Casolo, Elisa Petrussa