Marco Barla

Marco Barla is a Full Professor of Geotechnical Engineering at the Department of Structural, Building and Geotechnical Engineering (DISEG) at the Polytechnic of Turin, where he also leads a research group focused on energy geostructures, tunneling, slope stability, and numerical modeling. He serves as Editor-in-Chief of the ASCE International Journal of Geomechanics and holds leadership roles in international organizations such as the International Society for Energy Geostructures (President, 2025–2029) and ELGIP (Past President). He is actively involved in multiple EU and national research projects, including GEOREFIT, REGENERATE, and FOLIAGE.

Research Interests:

• Thermoactive geostructures for shallow geothermal energy
• Tunnel design and construction under challenging conditions
• Real-time detection of debris flows and snow avalanches using fiber optics
• Numerical modeling of geotechnical systems
• Energy retrofitting of existing underground infrastructure

His recent publications (2024–2025) demonstrate a strong focus on sustainable urban development through geothermal energy integration, particularly in tunnels and buildings. Key themes include energy geostructures, thermal storage, landslide monitoring, and climate resilience, reflecting his commitment to SDGs 7, 9, 11, and 13. He frequently publishes in top venues such as Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, Geothermics, and Landslides.

Scientific Awards:

• Telford Premium, Institution of Civil Engineers (2016)
• IACMAG Excellent Contributions Award (2011)
• Best Paper, 11th ISRM Congress (2007)
• Iacmag Award (2005)
• Top 5 Project Nominee, European Geothermal Innovation Award (2018)

Advising and Grants: He supervises multiple PhD students in civil and environmental engineering and has led over 70 research projects, securing more than 2 M€ in funding from national and international sources. His projects span fundamental research (e.g., PRIN, H2020) and applied consulting (e.g., tunnel safety, landslide risk, structural monitoring). He is the scientific responsible for numerous contracts with public and private entities, including Autostrade per l’Italia and regional governments.

Labs and Teams: He leads the Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering research group at Politecnico di Torino (www.rockmech.polito.it), which conducts laboratory testing, field monitoring, and numerical simulations. The team is active in international collaborations and coordinates the COST Action FOLIAGE, dedicated to scaling up energy geostructure deployment.