Claudia Giardino

Claudia Giardino is a Director of Research Activity at the CNR-IREA (National Research Council of Italy, Institute for Electromagnetic Sensing of the Environment) in Milan. Her primary research focuses on quantitative optical remote sensing, particularly in aquatic environments (Case-2 waters) and terrestrial ecosystems. She leads research initiatives on radiometric calibration/validation, bio-optical modeling, and field spectroscopy.

Giardino holds a PhD in Geodetic and Topographic Sciences from the Politecnico di Milano (2001) and has been affiliated with CNR-IREA since 2001. Her work spans international collaborations, including ESA projects (Envisat-1-MERIS) and leadership in the GEO 'Remote Sensing of Near-Coastal and Inland Waters' group since 2007. She directs the Eugenio Zilioli Experimental Station in Sirmione.

Her research emphasizes environmental applications, such as water quality assessment in lakes (e.g., Lake Garda, Himalayan lakes), coastal zones, and vegetated landscapes. Key methodologies include satellite data analysis (MERIS, Hyperion), field radiometry, and semi-analytical models.

Giardino has coordinated national and international projects, including the MELINOS initiative. Her contributions include over 100 peer-reviewed publications and technical reports, focusing on remote sensing algorithms, validation protocols, and environmental monitoring systems.