Dr. Salvatore G.P. Virdis

1. Ph.D. in Science and Technologies Applied to the Environment, University of Siena, Italy, 2006.
   Thesis: Land subsidence monitoring in relation to industrial exploitation of groundwater in coastal plains, utilizing SAR interferometry, GPS, and high precision leveling measurements.
2. Master DESS in Remote Sensing: Methods, Applications, and Environment, Université Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC), Paris VI, France, 2004.
3. M.Sc. in Geological Science (Specialization in Applied Geology), Five-Year Degree, obtained cum laude at the University of Siena, Italy, 2002.

My recent and current research focuses on applying Geo-Information, Earth Observation Science and Environmental Modelling to assess and evaluate climate and anthropogenic changes, as well as their impacts on natural and human environments across historical, current, and future time scales. Moreover, I am also keen on exploring the dynamics of
physical landscapes while considering the social and human dimensions of
geographical issues.
My research agenda can be encapsulated in the following research questions:
1.    To what extent are the individual and combined effects of land use/cover changes and climate change exacerbating the impacts on both the natural and built environments?
2.    How are emerging data-driven methods enhancing the understanding of environmental changes, particularly in regions with limited data availability, such as Southeast Asia?
For my research, I integrate a range of field-based Earth Observation techniques with advanced geospatial and environmental modeling approaches.

1. AT76.03     Remote Sensing
2. AT6.9042     Remote Sensing of Water
3. AT76.13     Remote Sensing Data Analysis
4. AT76.9046     Satellite Microwave Remote Sensing
5. AT76.9037     Principles and Application of InSAR
6. AT76.9044     Introduction to Python in Environmental Data Analysis
7. IN84.02        Remote Sensing and GIS for Disaster Mitigation
8. AT76.9037     Research Methodology in Geoinformatics (discontinued)

1. Chaiyana , Khiripet N., Ninsawat S., Siriwan W., Shanmugam M.S., Virdis S.G.P.*. 2023 “Mapping and Predicting Cassava Mosaic Disease Outbreaks Using Earth Observation and Meteorological Data-driven Approaches”, Computers and Electronics in Agriculture. In Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsase.2024.101231 
2. Virdis, S.G.P.*, Kongwarakom, S., Juneng, L., Padedda, B.M., Shrestha, S., 2024. “Historical and projected response of Southeast Asian lakes surface water temperature to warming climate”, Environmental Research, 118412. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2024.118412 
3. Shanmugam, M., Lim, S., Hosan, M.L., Shrestha, S., Babel, M.S., Virdis, S.G.P., 2023. “Lapse rate-adjusted bias correction for CMIP6 GCM precipitation data: An application to the Monsoon Asia Region”, Environ. Monit. Assess., 196(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-023-12187-5 
4. Pradipta, A.G., Loc, H.H., Park, E., Prihanantya, A.S., Nurhady, S., Setyawan, C., Mohanasundaram, S. Virdis, S.G. P., Shrestha, S., 2023. “Mapping the vulnerability of irrigation sand traps in a tropical volcanic basin, Indonesia”, Scientific Reports, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-45036-z 
5. Kyaw, Y., Nguyen, T.P.L., Winijkul, E., Xue, W., Virdis, S.G.P., 2023. “The Effect of Climate Variability on Cultivated Crops’ Yield and Farm Income in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand”, Climate, 11(10). https://doi.org/10.3390/cli11100204  
6. Nguyen, Q., Shrestha, S., Ghimire, S., Mohana Sundaram, S., Xue, W., Virdis, S.G.P., Maharjan, M., 2023. “Application of machine learning models in assessing the hydrological changes under climate change in the transboundary 3S River Basin”, Journal of Water and Climate Change, 14(8), 2902-2918. https://doi.org/10.2166/wcc.2023.313 
7. Bhandari, R., Xue, W., Virdis, S.G.P., Winijkul, E., Nguyen, T.P.L., Joshi, S., 2023. Monitoring and Assessing Urbanization Progress in Thailand between 2000 and 2020 Using SDG Indicator 11.3.1”, Sustainability, 15(12), 9794. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15129794 
8. Nguyen, T.P.L., Virdis, S.G.P., Vu, T.B. “Matter of climate change’ or ‘Matter of rapid urbanization’? Public concerns for present and future urban water resources in Ho Chi Minh City metropolitan area, Vietnam”, Applied Geography, 2023, 153, 102906. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeog.2023.102906 
9. Sokneth, L., Mohanasundaram, S., Shrestha, S., Babel, M.S., & Virdis, S.G.P. (2022). “Evaluating aquifer stress and resilience with GRACE information at different spatial scales in Cambodia”, Hydrogeology Journal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-022-02570-w 
10. Virdis S.G.P., Xue W., Winjikul E., Nitivattananon V., Punpukdee P.. “Remote sensing of tropical riverine water quality using Sentinel-2 MSI and field observations”, Ecological indicators, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2022.109472 
11. Nontikansak, P., Shrestha, S., Shanmugam, M.S., Loc, H.H., Virdis, S.G.P., 2022. “Rainfall extremes under climate change in the Pasak River Basin, Thailand”, Journal of Water and Climate Change. https://doi.org/10.2166/wcc.2022.232 
12. Nguyen, T. P. L., Virdis, S. G. P., & Winjikul, E. (2022). “Inequality of Low Air Quality-Related Health Impacts Among Socioeconomic Groups in the World of Work”, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(19), 12980. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912980 
13. Upakankaew, K., Ninsawat, S., Virdis, S.G.P., Sasaki, N., 2022. “Discrimination of Mangrove Stages Using Multitemporal Sentinel-1 C-Band Backscatter and Sentinel-2 Data—A Case Study in Samut Songkhram Province”, Thailand. Forests 13, 1433. https://doi.org/10.3390/f13091433 
14. Muenratch, P., Nguyen, T.P.L., Shrestha, S., Chatterjee, J.S., Virdis, S.G.P., 2022. “Governance and policy responses to anthropogenic and climate pressures on groundwater resources in the Greater Mekong Subregion urbanizing cities”, Journal of Groundwater for Sustainable Development. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsd.2022.100791  
15. Pinsri, P., Shrestha, S., KC, S., Mohanasundaram, S., Virdis, S.G.P., Nguyen, T.P.L., Chaowiwat, W.. 2022. “Assessing climate change, land use change, and abstraction scenarios impacts on groundwater resources in Tak Special Economic Zone, Thailand”, Environmental Research, 211, 113026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2022.113026

Ongoing

1. “Assessment of Environmental Inequalities of Air Pollution of Vulnerable Socioeconomic Groups in the World of Work in Bangkok City, Thailand” funded by Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI). Budget: 400,000 SEK. Period: 2021-2022. Role: Co-PI.
2. “Application of Big Earth Data in Support of the Sustainable Development Goals in Thailand”, funded by the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT). Budget 10,758,131 THB, Period: 2021-2023. Role: Co-PI.
3. “Climate Change Risk Assessment for Southeast Asian Lakes (CCRASEAL)” funded by Asia-Pacific Network for Gobal Change research (APN). Budget: 87,000 USD. Period 2020-2022, Role PI.
4. “Assessment of Groundwater Sustainability in the Special Economic Zone of Thailand for Operational Groundwater Management” funded by Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI). Budget: 52,300 USD. Period 2020-2022. Role Co-Pi.
5. “Integrated Assessment of SDGs Using Big Earth Observation Data for Bangkok Metropolitan Region (BMR)” funded by the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT). Budget 2,195,000 THB. Period: 2020-2022. Role: Co-PI.

Completed

1. “Water harvesting and Agricultural techniques in Dry lands: an Integrated and Sustainable model in MAghreb Regions WADIS-MAR” (ENPI/2011/280-008) large scale EU funded project. Budget 3.5 Million Euros. Period: 2012-2014. Role Co-PI.
2. “Integrated Multidisciplinary Approach to flood Risk Analysis IMARA”. EU funded project. Period: 2010. Role: Co-PI.
3. “Multitemporal approach for an integrated study of Sardinia Region coastal zone changes AMSICORA”. Funded by Regione Autonoma della Sardegna. Budget: 75,000 Euro. Period: 2009-2011. Role: PI.
4. “Geomatics for the management of mineral resource” Capacity building project funded by Ithe talian Ministry of Education, University and Research. Budget: 13,800 Euro. Period: 2009-2010. Role: Co-PI
5. L`Aquila town earthquake ground displacements measurements by means of field survey, GPS data collection and post-processing, DInSAR analysis. Post-earthquake disaster and civil protection-oriented project funded with core-funds from the University of Siena. Period: 2009. Role: Co-PI.

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