Maria Lia Napoli

Maria Lia Napoli is a Fixed-term Assistant Professor in the Department of Structural, Geotechnical and Building Engineering (DISEG) at Politecnico di Torino, Italy. She is actively engaged in teaching and research in geotechnical engineering, with a focus on rock mechanics, slope stability, rockfall risk assessment, and the behavior of complex geological formations.

Research Interests: Her research spans critical areas in geotechnical and environmental engineering, including rockfall source area characterization using the Susceptibility Index to Failure (SIF), coastal cliff stability, tunnelling in heterogeneous rock masses, and numerical modeling of geotechnical structures. She specializes in block-in-matrix formations, landslide risk analysis, and sustainability in geotechnical design.

Recent Publications Trends: Her recent publications (2023–2025) demonstrate a strong focus on quantitative and numerical approaches to geohazard assessment. Key themes include the development and validation of the SIF and SAI indices for rockfall prediction, 3D slope stability analysis, failure mechanisms in coastal cliffs, and tunnelling in complex geotechnical environments. These works reflect interdisciplinary integration of field data, laboratory testing, and advanced simulation techniques.

• Promising Young Investigator Contest (ePIC) conferred by IACMAG 2020, Italy (2021)
• Riconoscimento per la pubblicazione 'A semi-quantitative approach to assess the propensity of rockfall source areas to instability based on the Susceptibility Index to Failure (SIF): the case study of Capo Calavà (Italy)' presented at VIII Convegno Nazionale dei Ricercatori di Ingegneria Geotecnica, Palermo, 5-7 July 2023, conferred by GNIG, Italy (2023)

Teaching and Supervision: She has served as a teaching assistant and course collaborator in several undergraduate and graduate programs, including Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, and Building Engineering. She contributes to courses such as Geotechnics, Analysis and Design of Geotechnical Structures, Rock Mechanics, and Geotechnical Engineering for Sustainability. While no direct advisees are listed, her role in teaching and PhD-level instruction indicates active mentorship involvement.

Research Projects: She leads research projects funded by commercial contracts, including a 2023–2026 study on understanding kinematic trends and a 2025 consulting project on slope support structures for a B&B in Camaiore. These reflect applied research with real-world geotechnical challenges.