Masini Nicola | Cultural Heritage | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Masini Nicola | Cultural Heritage | Best Researcher Award

Research Director | Istituto di Scienze del patrimonio Culturale | Italy

Dr. Nicola Masini (b. 1965, Calvello, Italy) is Research Director at the Institute of Heritage Science (CNR-ISPC) and Professor at the University of Basilicata. A leading figure in archaeogeophysics, remote sensing, and cultural heritage conservation, he has authored over 440 scientific works, including 131 articles in international journals, 68 book chapters, and 18 volumes, achieving an H-index of 41 (Google Scholar) and more than 5,800 citations. His research spans non-invasive diagnostics, architectural restoration, and the application of Earth Observation and geophysical technologies to archaeological and monumental contexts. He directs the CNR International Mission ITACA in Peru and Bolivia, fostering interdisciplinary research on Andean civilizations and coordinating over 25 national and international projects, including Horizon 2020 and Interreg initiatives. Masini’s scientific leadership has led to the discovery of major archaeological sites in South America—such as buried pyramids near the Río Nasca and Moche temples in Peru—illustrating his impact on both heritage science and cultural diplomacy. A co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of Heritage (MDPI), he also serves on the editorial boards of Remote Sensing, Journal of Geophysics and Engineering, and Sustainability, and as Associate Editor of Geoscientific Instrumentation, Methods and Data Systems. He has been invited as keynote lecturer in over forty international venues and collaborates with leading institutions in Europe, China, and Latin America. His awards include the Gold Medal of the Italian Civil Protection (2010) and the CAS President’s International Fellowship (2016). Through his interdisciplinary approach, Nicola Masini has contributed substantially to the advancement of digital and scientific methodologies for heritage preservation, strengthening global collaboration between science, technology, and culture in service of sustainable conservation and the protection of humanity’s shared past.

Profiles: Google Scholar | Scopus | ORCID

Featured Publications

Luo, L., Wang, X., Guo, H., Lasaponara, R., Zong, X., Masini, N., Wang, G., Shi, P., et al. (2019). Airborne and spaceborne remote sensing for archaeological and cultural heritage applications: A review of the century (1907–2017). Remote Sensing of Environment, 232, 111280. Cited by 335 .

Lasaponara, R., & Masini, N. (2007). Detection of archaeological crop marks by using satellite QuickBird multispectral imagery. Journal of Archaeological Science, 34(2), 214–221.  Cited by 289 .

Lasaponara, R., & Masini, N. (2012). Satellite remote sensing: A new tool for archaeology (Remote Sensing and Digital Image Processing, Vol. 16). Dordrecht: Springer. Cited by 241.

Lasaponara, R., & Masini, N. (2011). Satellite remote sensing in archaeology: Past, present and future perspectives. Journal of Archaeological Science, 38(9), 1995–2002. Cited by 207 .

Chen, F., Lasaponara, R., & Masini, N. (2017). An overview of satellite synthetic aperture radar remote sensing in archaeology: From site detection to monitoring. Journal of Cultural Heritage, 23, 5–11. Cited by 170 .

Luo, L., Wang, X., Guo, H., Lasaponara, R., Shi, P., Bachagha, N., Li, L., Yao, Y., et al. (2018). Google Earth as a powerful tool for archaeological and cultural heritage applications: A review. Remote Sensing, 10(10), 1558. Cited by 125 .

Nicola Masini’s pioneering research in archaeogeophysics and remote sensing has transformed the documentation, preservation, and management of cultural heritage worldwide. By integrating advanced Earth observation technologies with heritage science, his work bridges scientific innovation and cultural sustainability, safeguarding humanity’s past while informing future strategies for global conservation and sustainable development.