Agricultural engineering

The division focuses on hydraulic, hydrological, mechanical, technological, structural and territorial aspects related to agricultural and livestock systems, agro-industry, precision agriculture, as well as to rural areas and landscape, sustainable use of natural resources and environment protection.

Keywords: Buildings, CFD, Erosion, Food quality, GIS, Hydro-morphology, Irrigation, Landscape, Planning, PLF, Safety, Sensors, Tillage, Tractors, Water.

Main research fields

• Agricultural hydraulics and watershed protection

Sustainable agricultural water management, irrigation and drainage systems, precision irrigation, digital solutions for water management in agriculture, modelling of irrigation systems, nature-based solutions (NBS) for water treatment and retention, natural systems (constructed wetlands) for wastewater treatment and irrigational reuse, agricultural drainage water treatment, erosion and soil protection, hydrology of small catchments, rivers hydro-morphology, soil hydrology, bioengineering techniques.

• Agricultural mechanics

Experimental and numerical characterization of agricultural machineries, agro-industrial and food processes, biological and non-conventional materials. Development of testing procedures for agricultural machines safety and performance. Methods for reducing the impact of chemicals and physico-mechanical agents on workers. Multivariate statistics and soft-computing methods applied to complex data. Innovative physical techniques for food processes. Sensors and control systems to support agricultural and food processes.

• Rural buildings and agro-forest land planning

Sustainable design of farm and agro-industrial buildings, innovative and bio-based building materials, thermal/CFD analysis/simulations, environmental control, energy and water efficiency, renewable sources, nZEB, emission reduction. Precision Livestock Farming, structures and systems for animal welfare, productivity and monitoring. GIS, precision agriculture, multicriteria land suitability and landscape analysis, planning, design. Green systems/infrastructures, green/health/safety nexus.