Viviana PAPPALARDO
Keywords
Sustainable Spatial Planning
Risk assessment and urban resilience
nature-based solutions and green infrastructure planning and policy
Spatial equity and environmental justice
urban systems modeling
Her research primarily investigates spatial and urban planning instruments and territorial governance policies aimed at integrating ecosystem services and green infrastructure into the sustainable regeneration of the built environment. Her current work explores issues of spatial justice within the context of the risk society, with particular attention to equitable accessibility to urban functions and to the benefits derived from climate risk mitigation and adaptation strategies. In both her research and teaching activities, she actively promotes the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for territorial analyses, as well as the integration of modeling tools to support evidence-based and publicly oriented decision-making processes.
Current Position
Fixed-term Researcher and assistant professor at the Department of CIVIL ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE (DICAR), scientific-disciplinary sector 08/CEAR 12 (A-urban and regional planning). Assistant Professor in ‘Ecosystem Services for Territorial and Urban Planning’ (Environmental Sustainability, Territory and Ecological Transition (L-21), Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment), and ‘Town and Country Planning’ (Civil Engineering of Water and Transport (LM-23 R), Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture).
In December 2023, obtained the National Scientific Qualification (Abilitazione Scientifica Nazionale) for the role of Associate Professor in the Sector 08/F1 "Urban and Territorial Planning and Design".
Research Experience
Research fellow from July 2018 to December 2024 (6 years) in the scientific sector ICAR/20 - Urban and Regional Planning with the research program "Planning for urban and territorial adaptigation actions to climate change in Mediterranean Countries" at the Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture – University of Catania, under the scientific supervision of Prof. Paolo La Greca.
Education
- January 2012: Graduated in Building Engineering and Architecture at the University of Catania, cum laude
- July 2012: Obtained professional qualification as an Engineer and registered with the Order of Engineers of the Province of Catania
- Academic Year 2013-2014: Admitted to the Ph.D. program in "Evaluation and Mitigation of Urban and Land Risks" (29th cycle), curriculum "Planning and design for territory and environment" at the University of Catania
- April 2017: Obtained Ph.D. degree, cum laude
International Visiting Experience
- 2014: Selected Visiting Ph.D. student at the University of Salzburg to participate in the Summer School "The Salzburg Summer School on Allotment Gardens in European Cities"
- 2016: Visiting Ph.D. student with the research group "Environmental Risk Lab" (Prof. Eoin O'Neill) at the UCD Environmental Policy Department, University College Dublin, Ireland. Conducted analysis of policy tools for water resource risk management and best practices in planning and design of sustainable urban drainage solutions for flood risk mitigation.
Teaching Experience
Continuous Collaborations
Since 2014, collaboration with the chairs of Urban and Territorial Planning and Laboratory of Geographic Information Systems for Urban and Territorial Planning (Professors: Prof. Paolo La Greca and Prof. Daniele La Rosa), Master's degree program in Building Engineering-Architecture. This collaboration continued during academic years 2014-2015, 2015-2016, 2016-2017, 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2021-2022, 2022-2023, and 2023-2024.
Tutoring and Teaching Contracts
Since 2016, undertaken tutoring and teaching assignments at Italian and international universities.
- 2016-2017: Qualified tutoring contracts to support teaching activities through GIS use in the courses of Descriptive Geometry and Fundamentals of Urban Planning, Master's degree program in Architecture, for the Special Teaching Structure of Architecture, Syracuse campus, University of Catania
- November 2019: Visiting teacher at the Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Egypt, in the Master Programme SECCM-Smart Environmental Management of Climate Change, covering part of the teaching of "Environment Risk Assessment and Management" (6 ECTS)
- September 2022: Adjunct professor for the course History of Territory and Territorial Planning - module Territorial and Urban Planning (77 hours), Bachelor's degree in Planning and Environmental Sustainability of Territory and Landscape (L-21; SSD ICAR 21), Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Catania
- September 2023: Adjunct professor for the course of Territorial Planning Laboratory (60 hours), Master's degree in Architecture (SSD ICAR 20), Kore University of Enna
- 2023-2024: Invited to deliver seminar cycles within the Ph.D. program "Evaluation and mitigation of urban and Land risks" - Sector: Engineering and Architecture, University of Catania
- 2024: Invited to deliver a lecture within the EUNICE Certificate Programme on "Sustainability Management", organized by the University of Catania
Research Laboratory Activities
During the research fellowship period (2018-2024), actively collaborated with the technical-scientific staff of the Laboratory for Territorial and Environmental Planning "Giovanni Campo" (LaPTA), active at the Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture – University of Catania. Within the group, engaged in study, research and third mission activities in the field of urban, territorial and environmental planning through agreements with local authorities and national and European research projects.
Local Planning Projects
As research fellow, was a member of working groups for the drafting of territorial studies preparatory to the development of territorial and urban plans, within the framework of the following scientific agreements:
- Municipality of Avola (SR), Urban Planning Department (July 2013 – January 2018)
- Municipality of Acireale (CT), Urban Planning Department (July 2020 – ongoing)
- Municipality of Rosolini (CT), Urban Planning Department (July 2017 – ongoing)
Regional Planning
For LaPTA (2021-2022), conducted research activities within the Agreement "Research contracts between DRU, DARCH and DICAR for the drafting of Analyses and studies for the development of the PTR" through which the Regional Department of Urban Planning (DRU) of the Sicilian Region commissioned the Department of Architecture of the University of Palermo (Scientific Director Prof. Maurizio Carta) and the Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture of the University of Catania (Scientific Director Prof. Paolo La Greca) to develop applied research, in terms of analyses and studies for the drafting of the Regional Territorial Plan (PTR), pursuant to Regional Law 19/2020 and subsequent amendments, with specific reference to GIS processing, necessary for the production of: "Draft Regional Structural Framework"; "Summary map of regional sectoral planning frameworks"; "Regional Strategies Framework".
Research Projects
Participated in research group activities characterized by national or international collaborations, including:
- AdapTM Project: "Climate Change Management through Mitigation and Adaptation", funded through competitive calls within the Erasmus+ KA2 Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices program
- ADDRESS Project: "Advance Design for Demand Responsive transport and Services of general interest in inner areas for the Sustainable territorial re-equilibrium" – Line 2 – Interdepartmental project - PIA.CE.RI. Research Plan 2020-2022 (University of Catania)
- PRIN 2017: Project of significant national interest "Regional policies, institutions and cohesion in Southern Italy", funded through competitive calls by MUR
- MARE Project: "Marine Coastal and Delta Sustainability for Southeast Asia", funded through competitive calls within the Erasmus+ KA2 Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices program
- GIFLUID Project: "Green Infrastructures to mitigate flood risks in Urban and sub-urban areas and to improve the quality of rainwater discharges", funded within the INTERREG V-A Italy-Malta 2014-2020 Program
- URGENT Project: "Urban Resilience and Adaptation for India and Mongolia: curricula, capacity, ICT and stakeholder collaboration to support green & blue infrastructure and nature-based solutions"
- MAP4ACCESSIBILITY Project: "Civic engagement of HEI students in the co-creation of a Pan-European mapping app for socially inclusive HEI institutions and accessible European cities", funded through competitive calls within the Erasmus+ KA2 Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices program
- PRIN 2022 - NatSolis: Project of significant national interest "Nature for sustainable cities: planning cost-effective and just solutions for urban issues", funded through competitive calls by MUR. Partnership composed of: University of Catania, University of Naples Federico II, and University of Salerno
- DOMANI Project: "Microcredential for Ukraine and Mongolia", funded through competitive calls within the ERASMUS+ program, Capacity Building in the field of Higher Education, 2024-2026
Also carries out professional activities in the field of territorial planning and urban planning.
Professional Associations and Networks
- Member of the Italian National Institute of Urban Planning (INU)
- Since 2020, member of the regional board of INU Sicily, where, since March 2025, holds the position of Secretary
- Since 2022, member of the Board of Directors of the Provincial Center for Urban Studies of Catania (CePSU), holding the role of Secretary
Participates in the activities of the YESS-Young Ecosystem Services Specialists research network, affiliated with the global-scale ESP-Ecosystem Services Partnership network. The group is mainly oriented towards cooperation, scientific dissemination, exchange of ideas, and identifying under-researched areas to improve training and skills acquisition opportunities in relation to planning and best practices based on the model of environmental goods and services.
Recently, with a group of young researchers, she has started her collaboration in the "ERC - Italian network of early-career researchers on ecosystem services in spatial planning and land management" network, founded as an informal scientific community to promote the integration of ecosystem services in urban planning with an interdisciplinary perspective.
Publications and Editorial Activities
Author of more than 45 publications, including articles in international scientific journals, national journals, contributions in volumes/book chapters, editorial work, and prefaces.
Editorial Roles
- Topical Advisory Panel Member for the 'Sustainable Urban and Rural Development' section of the journal "Sustainability"
- Guest editor of the special issue "Frontiers in Ecosystem Services: Planning the Changing Urban Landscapes" in the journal "Sustainability"
- Member of the Editorial Board of Social-Ecological Urban Systems (specialty section of Frontiers in Environmental Science) in the journal "Frontiers in Environmental Science"
- Guest editor for the Special Issue "Interrelations in the Urban-Rural transect: planning sustainable transformations for the human wellbeing" in the journal "Land"
Language and Technical Skills
- English: Reading and writing at C1-Advanced level, speaking at B2 level (Cambridge FCE certificate)
- Technical Certification: European Computer Driving License GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM (ArcGIS) since 2015