Marilena Cardu

Marilena Cardu is an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental, Land, and Infrastructure Engineering (DIATI) at the Polytechnic University of Turin. She is actively involved in teaching, research, and supervision within the fields of excavation engineering, rock blasting, tunneling, and sustainable mining. She serves as a course instructor for key programs including Civil and Environmental Engineering and Georesources and Geoenergy Engineering.

• Academic Rank: Associate Professor
• Institution: Polytechnic University of Turin
• Department: DIATI (Environmental, Land, and Infrastructure Engineering)
• Email: marilena.cardu@polito.it

Her research interests center on excavation engineering and safety, with strong interdisciplinary engagement in geotechnics, environmental engineering, and mineral resource management. She specializes in rock blasting, demolition techniques, TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) performance, and mining safety. Her work aligns with UN SDGs such as Industry and Innovation, Sustainable Cities, and Responsible Production.

The recent publications reflect a strong trend in tunneling technology, rock fragmentation, blast safety, and sustainable resource development. Her work combines experimental, numerical, and field-based approaches, often applied to real-world industrial and infrastructure challenges.

Scientific Projects and Responsibilities:

• Scientific Director for collaborative research in excavation engineering (2023–2026)
• Scientific Manager for gas network compliance testing (2022–2025)
• Lead on multiple commercial consultancy projects in rock characterization, blast design, and vibration monitoring

She supervises PhD students such as Nestor David Mejia Almeida and Oveis Farzay, focusing on TBM modeling and geomechanics. She is a key member of the Geomechanics and Geotechnologies Laboratory at DIATI, contributing to both academic and applied research in underground construction and mining safety.