The Italian Association of Applied and Environmental Geology awards Prof. Vincenzo Simeone for the best professional contribution in Applied Geology

“Vincenzo Cotecchia” Award. In Catania during the national conference AIGAA

July 2, 2026

The Italian Association of Applied and Environmental Geology (AIGAA) has awarded Professors Vincenzo Simeone, Full Professor of Geoengineering at the Polytechnic University of Bari, and Francesco Guadagno, University of Sannio, the “Vincenzo Cotecchia” prize for the best professional contribution in the field of Applied Geology. These are areas in which Professor Vincenzo Cotecchia, a pioneer and distinguished professor at Poliba, was for years an undisputed point of reference, both scientifically and professionally, at national and international level. The award was presented during the Association’s national conference held in Catania on 29–30 June.

The reasons for the award are linked to the challenges arising from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) and the works foreseen that have led the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport to revolutionize the design process.

In tale contesto, i proff. Vincenzo Simeone e Francesco Maria Guadagno dal 2021, in qualità di componenti esperti di Geologia Applicata del Comitato Speciale del Consiglio Superiore Lavori Pubblici, hanno seguito l’istruttoria di numerose grandi opere tra le quali: tratti di ferrovia dell’alta velocità; variante di Trento; autostrada Salerno Reggio Calabria; Porto di Trieste; Diga di Campo Lattaro (BN).

Their contributions have demonstrated the strategic importance of geological studies and applied geology in the design and in the Technical and Economic Feasibility Projects.

Their work made it possible to highlight, within the Higher Council for Public Works, that “the geological knowledge must play a central role in decision-making phases, actively guiding design choices, becoming true project geology”.

The main conclusions of their work were condensed in a paper entitled “The strategic importance of geological studies in the Technical-Economic Feasibility Project” of the new Public Contracts Code, published in the journal “Geologia Tecnica”.

More generally, the prestigious recognition aimed to underline the scientific contribution of the two professors, intended to demonstrate the strategic importance, in engineering and design terms, of Applied Geology studies for Technical and Economic Feasibility Projects (PFTE).

At the certificate award ceremony, the President of the Italian Association of Applied and Environmental Geology (AIGAA), Monica Papini (PoliMi), and the Vice-President, Pantaleone De Vita (UniNa-Federico II), participated.

The article The Italian Association of Applied and Environmental Geology awards Prof. Vincenzo Simeone for the best professional contribution in Applied Geology comes from Poliba Chronicle.