Angela Candela

Angela Candela is an Associate Professor of Engineering at the University of Palermo, specializing in Hydraulic Engineering within the Department of Civil, Environmental and Materials Engineering (DICAM). She holds regular office hours on Mondays and Thursdays from 11:00 to 13:00 at the DICAM Hydraulic Section on the 2nd floor. Her academic journey began with honors in Civil Engineering with a focus on Hydraulics from the University of Palermo in 1998, followed by a PhD in Hydraulic Engineering from a consortium program involving the Universities of Naples, Palermo, and Rome "La Sapienza" in 2002, where she was a visiting scientist at the University of Lancaster in 2000-2001 collaborating with Professor Keith Beven's research group.

Dr. Candela's research primarily focuses on hydrological modeling and flood risk management, with specific interests in:

• Assessment and mitigation of hydraulic risk
• Mapping of hydraulic risk
• Analysis of model uncertainty
• Study of hydrological response in natural basins
• Frequency analysis of flood discharges
• Surface water quality assessment

Her work combines theoretical modeling with practical applications to address water management challenges, particularly in Mediterranean environments, resulting in approximately 60 national and international scientific publications.

Analysis of Dr. Candela's recent publication trends reveals a strong evolution from theoretical hydrological modeling toward practical urban flood management solutions. Her research increasingly incorporates advanced statistical methods like copula-based bivariate analysis, with growing emphasis on sustainable urban drainage solutions, microplastic pollution detection, cost-benefit analysis of flood mitigation measures, and integration of climate change considerations into hydrological modeling - particularly relevant to the Sicilian context.

Dr. Candela has directed and participated in numerous significant research initiatives:

• Scientific Director of Research Project funded by Research Fund (FFR) 2012/13 "Definition of flood scenarios through innovative methodologies for hydrometric monitoring"
• Participant in COST Action ES0901 - EUROPEAN PROCEDURES FOR FLOOD FREQUENCY ESTIMATION (FLOODFREQ) – 2009-2013
• Participant in regional projects "HYDROENERGY" and "SESAMO Integrated information system" – 2011-2013
• Participant in MIUR-funded project "MITO - Multimedia Information for Territorial Objects" – 2013-2015

She has supervised numerous undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral theses while teaching the Land Hydraulic Protection course, serving as a reviewer for several ISI journals in hydrology and land management fields.

Dr. Candela maintains an active research profile with continued publication output through 2024, demonstrating sustained engagement with evolving challenges in water resources management and flood risk assessment in Mediterranean environments.