Curriculum Vitae of Valentina Dentoni

(Updated March 2026)

Full Professor in the Scientific Disciplinary Sector SSD ING-IND/28 (Engineering and Safety of Excavation Works), at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Architecture (DICAAR), Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, University of Cagliari.

Contact details: Tel.: +39 070 6755529 – E-mail: vdentoni@unica.it

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Education and Academic Qualifications

Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering (Structural Engineering track), graduated with highest honors and distinction (registered with the Order of Engineers of the Province of Cagliari), 1993.

Recipient of a CEE–COMETT MEDITERRANEO Research Grant from the University of Cagliari. Research activity carried out at the Dublin Institute of Technology, Technological University Dublin, Ireland, from March to September 1994. Research project: Application of glued laminated timber technology in construction.

Winner of a Public Competition at the Municipality of Cagliari for a fixed-term position as Technical Officer (8th functional level), 1996–1998. Position: Technical Officer, Public Buildings Division.

PhD in Geoengineering (XIV cycle), Department of Geoengineering and Environmental Technologies (DIGITA), University of Cagliari, 1998–2001. Research project: Noise as a hygienic and accident risk factor in ornamental stone extraction activities.

Research Fellow, University of Cagliari, 2001–2004. Research project: Occupational safety and hygiene and environmental protection in geoengineering.

Assistant Professor (Researcher) in SSD ING-IND/28 (Engineering and Safety of Excavation Works), University of Cagliari (Department of Civil, Environmental Engineering and Architecture, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture), from 2005 to 2012.

Associate Professor in SSD ING-IND/28, University of Cagliari, from 2012 to 2023.

National Scientific Qualification (ASN) for Full Professor in SSD ING-IND/28, obtained in 2018.

Full Professor in SSD ING-IND/28, University of Cagliari, from 2023 to present.

Professional Certifications and Specialized Training

Professional qualification to serve as Safety Coordinator for temporary and mobile construction sites (Construction Sites Directive), 120-hour course organized by the Industrial Association of the Province of Cagliari.

Qualification in Fire Prevention, for inclusion in the registers of the Ministry of the Interior, pursuant to Law No. 818 of 7 December 1984 (100-hour course organized by the Order of Engineers of the Province of Cagliari).

Certified Environmental Acoustics Technician (TCA). Registered in the National Register of Certified Acoustics Technicians (ENTECA) since 10 December 2018.

Language Skills

Cambridge CAE – Certificate of Advanced English, corresponding to CEFR level C1.

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SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITY

Since 1998, continuous research activity in occupational health and safety and environmental impact assessment, with particular reference to excavation works (civil and mining), environmental restoration, and mining and mineral processing industries.
Specific research topics include: visual impact assessment of open-pit excavations; particulate matter emissions (PM10 and PM2.5) from extensive diffuse sources, particularly mining waste dumps and tailings ponds (industrial wind erosion); determination of emission factors (EF) for granular materials through numerical modeling and experimental measurements in environmental wind tunnels; estimation of dust emissions from stockpiles using CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) modeling; assessment of acoustic impact and noise exposure risk in excavation sites; assessment of occupational exposure to mechanical vibrations transmitted by construction machinery and hand-held vibrating tools (WBV and HAV).

Publications related to research activities are available at: https://iris.unica.it

Participation in Funded Research Projects

National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) – Mission 4: Education and Research, Component 2: From research to enterprise, Investment 1.3. EU funding – NextGenerationEU.
Project: MultiRisk sciEnce for resilienT commUnities undeR a changiNg climate (RETURN).
MUR Project Code: PE00000005 – CUP: F53C22000730002.
SPOKE TS3: Communities' Resilience to Risks.
Role: Specialist support to research activities (July–December 2025).
Reported activity period (8 months): July 2025 – February 2026.
Research outputs: 1 article in an indexed international journal.

National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) – Mission 4, Component 2, Investment 1.5. EU funding – NextGenerationEU.
Project: e.INS – Ecosystem of Innovation for Next Generation Sardinia.
MUR Project Code: ECS00000038 – CUP: F53C22000430001.
SPOKE 09: Environmental Heritage Staff.
WP2: Restoration and remediation of polluted mine sites.
Role: Researcher and critical mass member; Task 2.1 Leader: Definition of tools for identifying impacts induced by tailings ponds (November 2022 – October 2025).
Reported activity period (36 months): March 2023 – February 2026.
Research outputs: 2 articles in indexed international journals.

RE.MINE Project (Restoration and remediation of abandoned mine sites), funded by Fondazione di Sardegna (CUP: F72F16003160002 – 2016).
Research leader for Action 2 (Analysis of Visual Impacts) and Action 3 (Analysis of fine dust emissions and atmospheric dispersion).
Activity period: 2016–2018.
Research outputs: 3 articles in indexed international journals; 2 papers in international conference proceedings.

Main National and International Research Collaborations

• University of Basel, Department of Environmental Science (Switzerland): research on particulate matter emissions from industrial granular stockpiles; PhD program of Alessio Lai.
• Trinity College Dublin, Department of Civil, Structural & Environmental Engineering (Ireland): research on industrial wind erosion; PhD program of Ouiza Bouarour.
• Trinity College Dublin, Centre for the Environment (Ireland): research on geogenic radon exposure and risk mapping; PhD program of Mirsina Mousavi Aghdam.
• University of Nottingham (UK): research on fine dust impacts from excavation activities and mine waste facilities; PhD program of Letizia Piras.
• Polish Geological Institute – National Research Institute: visual impact assessment of open-pit mining in the Polish Carpathians.
• National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Environmental Geology and Geoengineering (IGAG): research on noise generated by high-pressure waterjet excavation technologies.
• Collaboration with INAIL, DIGITA and CPT of the Province of Cagliari: research on WBV and HAV vibrations in tunnel excavation sites, for the INAIL Vibration Database.
• Experimental research within the CESA project (Center of Excellence for Environmental Sustainability): industrial wind erosion of granular materials.
• Postgraduate research funded by the CEE–COMETT MEDITERRANEO grant at the Dublin Institute of Technology.

Organization and Participation in International Conferences

Member of the International Organising Committee of the SWEMP conferences (International Symposium on Environmental Issues and Waste Management in Energy and Mineral Industries).

Participation and presentation of research papers at MPES and SWEMP international conferences (2004–2008).

Academic Affiliations and Professional Consultancy

Associate researcher at the CNR Institute of Environmental Geology and Geoengineering (IGAG) from 2005 to 2016.

Since 1997, professional consultancy in occupational health and safety and environmental impact assessment within civil and mining engineering projects, under agreements with CINIGEO.

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TEACHING ACTIVITY

University Teaching Assignments

Course leader for Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs at the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, University of Cagliari, including:

• Occupational Safety and Environmental Protection I (2005–2010)
• Occupational Safety and Environmental Protection II (2008–2009)
• Occupational Health and Safety (2011–present)
• Safety and Organization of Construction Site Work (2012–present)
• Laboratory of Safety and Organization of Construction Site Work (2012–2021)

Additional teaching in teacher qualification programs (TFA) and professional training courses for Prevention and Protection Service staff.

Supplementary Teaching Activities, Student Support, Master’s Theses and PhD Supervision

From Academic Year 1998–99 to Academic Year 2011–12, supplementary teaching activities at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Cagliari within the courses Occupational Safety and Environmental Protection I (SLDA I) and Occupational Safety and Environmental Protection II (SLDA II), taught by Prof. Giorgio Massacci.

Supervisor of over 25 Master’s theses (mainly within the Master’s Degree in Environmental and Land Engineering) and coordinator of internship activities for several degree programs of the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture of Cagliari (internship field: Occupational Health and Safety).

Supervisor for the following PhD programs in Earth and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (STTA) at the University of Cagliari:

• Particulate matter emissions from tailings pond surfaces exposed to wind erosion. PhD Candidate: Francesco Pinna (XXXIII cycle).
• Modelling of geogenic Radon in Sardinia and health risk assessment in public buildings and workplaces. PhD Candidate: Mirsina Mousavi Agdam. UNICA scholarship reserved for international PhD students (XXXIII cycle).
• Industrial wind erosion: assessment of Particulate Matter (PM) emission factors from stockpiles of granular materials. PhD Candidate: Ouiza Bouarour. UNICA scholarship reserved for international PhD students (XXXVI cycle).
• Definition of an integrated methodology for the estimation of site-specific emission factors from granular material surfaces exposed to wind erosion. PhD Candidate: Alessio Lai (XXXVIII cycle).

Reviewer of numerous PhD theses in the fields of Occupational Health and Safety and Environmental Impact Assessment (PhD Boards based at the Universities of Bologna, Rome Sapienza, Rome Tre, and the Polytechnic University of Turin).

Training Activities Outside the University

Since 1997, teaching activities within training courses on occupational health and safety organized by public bodies, professional associations, and professional orders, including: the Industrial Association of the Province of Cagliari, the Industrial Association of the Province of Oristano, the Order of Architects of the Province of Cagliari, the Order of Geologists of the Sardinia Region, the Board of Agricultural and Industrial Surveyors of the Province of Cagliari, the Cagliari Building School, and the Joint Territorial Committee of the Province of Cagliari.

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MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES AND PARTICIPATION IN COMMITTEES

Since Academic Year 2021–22, Coordinator of the Professional Bachelor’s Degree in Techniques for Building and Territory (LP01). In this role, participation in numerous orientation events and technical roundtables with stakeholders (Regional School Office, Higher Technical Institutes, Professional Orders and Boards, Industrial Associations, National Association of Building Constructors, and Small Business Associations).

From September 2021 until ministerial accreditation, member of the Steering Committee responsible for the design of the Professional Bachelor’s Degree LP01 (strategic objective of UNICA). Served as Internship Coordinator for the same degree program, involving more than 50 companies, professional firms, and public bodies in signing internship agreements with the University of Cagliari to host LP01 students for the completion of their training pathway.

Between 2015 and 2021, member of several committees of the Degree Program in Environmental and Land Engineering (IAT): Self-Assessment and European Accreditation Committee (CAV), Joint Faculty-Student Committee (CPDS), and Internship Committee. Currently member of the Internship Committee of the IAT Degree Program.

In 2017, member of the CPDS and participant in evaluation visits by the External Evaluation Committees (CEV), aimed at the accreditation of the University of Cagliari.

Since 2017, Associate Member of the State Examination Board for qualification as Professional Engineer (Civil-Environmental Section, Geoengineering track).

From 2009 to 2018, member of the Scientific and Technical Committee (CTS) of the University Language Center (CLA) of the University of Cagliari (UNICA), as Representative of the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture.

Since its establishment (XXIX cycle), member of the Academic Board of the PhD Program in Earth and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (STTA), accredited by the Ministry at the University of Cagliari.

Member of numerous selection committees (PhD admission and final examinations, public competitions for managerial positions at UNICA, recruitment procedures for research fellows and scholarship holders, etc.).