GIANCARLO CIOTOLI

Giancarlo Ciotoli, Ph.D., Senior Researcher at the Institute of Environmental Geology and Geoengineering of the National Research Council of Italy where he is also responsible of the Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry and Geochemical Mapping (GASLAB) and of the Laboratory of Natural Radioactivity of the CNR-IGAG at Montelibretti - Area della Ricerca Roma 1. He is also co-responsible of the Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry at the Earth Science Department of the Rome University Sapienza

Nuovo SSD: GEOS-01/C

Key Words: Geochemistry of Deep Fluids, High Performance Computing and Modelling (GIS, Spatial Analysis and Geostatistics), Risk Assessment

The research activities concerned the study of the gas (fluids) migration processes from shallow and deep geological sources to the surface environment, and their interactions with geosphere, biosphere and atmosphere, as well as with human activity. The research was carried out in different fields of Geosciences:
• Geochemical risk: ionizing radiation (indoor and outdoor radon), non-volcanic emissions of CO2 and CH4 and their effects on the composition of the lower atmosphere and human health
• Seismic risk: study of concentrations and isotopic composition of endogenous gases for the study of active faults, and for applications in support of seismic microzonation activities.
• Georesources: study and quantification of global CH4 emissions of geologic origin, including CH4 leakage from abandoned (exploratory/production) oil wells, study of outgassing in geothermal areas, research on geologically derived H2 (white hydrogen).
• Geospatial Analysis and Artificial Intelligence Applications: study of relationships between proxy variables for thematic mapping related to geochemical risk (indoor radon), and assessment of seismically induced landslides and cosquake shaking, and natural and anthropogenic sinkhole risk.
The research activity, mainly carried out in the framework of international projects, has enabled the acquisition of experience and competence to independently determine original and significant advancements in the area of environmental risks (natural and anthropic), with particular reference to the application of innovative and low-cost monitoring techniques and strategies integrated in Web-GIS platforms.
The over 25 years of experience in the field of High-Performance Computing (Geostatistics, Geospatial Analysis, Machine Learning, and Modelling) and its applications in the GIS environment, contributed to a robust scientific production linked to the study and the evaluation of geochemical, environmental and anthropic risks, especially in urban areas.

From 1998 to 2003 was professor of Environmental Geochemistry at Calabria University, and from 2000 to 2013 was professor of Geostatistics and GIS at the Rome University Sapienza. He was lecturer of the courses "Applications of Statistics and Geostatistical Techniques for Analyzing Environmental Data" and "Analysis of Environmental Data Using GIS" for the Doctoral Program in Environmental Sciences at the University Ca 'Foscari of Venice, and of the course of Geostatistics for the PhD school in Geodynamics at the University of ROMA TRE. He was also lecturer of the course "Geospatial Analysis" for doctoral school and master's degree at the Universities of Urbino, Naples, Venice and Ferrara, and at research institutions such as ISPRA, and Istituto Zooprofilattico di Lazio e Toscana.
He is consultant of the Lazio Region for the activities concerning the areas with CO2 dangerous emissions and the sinkhole risk. He was also scientific coordinator of the following projects: “Assessment of areas with anomalous concentrations of CO2 in the Isola Sacra (Fiumicino) (Lazio)”; “Study on the distribution of cancer in dogs in areas with high potential for radon”. (Institute Zooprofilattico of Lazio and Tuscany); “Study of the processes of migration and accumulation of radon in the workplace (INAIL)”. He is currently responsible for the CNR-IGAG of the LIFE project “Radon rEal time monitoring system and Proactive Indoor Remediation” - RESPIRE. LIFE16 ENV / IT / 000553, which involves the participation of Universities, European Research Centres and Enterprises.

He was involved in more than 15 EU research projects regarding different environmental topics, as well as radon risk and CO2 capture and storage. The experience gained in international projects is also characterized by an important synergy between research activities and training activities, highlighting the centrality of joint work between Research, University and Enterprise. Author of over 150 publications in national and international journals and conference proceedings, and of one textbook in Italian regarding the statistical and geostatistical applications for the analysis of environmental and geological data.
Following the earthquake in Central Italy on 24 August 2016, he participated in the activities coordinated by the National Civil Protection at the DICOMAC in Rieti, within the Center of Competence for Seismic Microzonation and its Applications.

• National Scientific Qualification as Associated Professor in GEOCHIMICA, MINERALOGIA, PETROLOGIA, VULCANOLOGIA, GEORISORSE ED APPLICAZIONI (from 10/01/2020 to 10/01/2029).
• Member of the European Radon Association (ERA)
• Consultant of the Lazio Region for the activities concerning the Determination N. A00271 of 19/01/2012 "Areas of dangerous emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the territories of the Municipalities of Castel Gandolfo, Ciampino, Marino and Rome (Municipalities X, XI, XII).
• Member of the technical-scientific commission of the Lazio Region on the risk of gas emissions in Lazio.
• Member of the ISPRA technical-scientific commission for the census of underground cavities in Rome and sinkhole risk in urban areas

Bibliometric Indexes
Scopus ID: 6602848066; 2115 citations; h-index:25;
Google Scholar: 3211 citations; h-index 30
Orcid ID:0000-0002-9496-3021; Researcher ID: N-7348-2014
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Giancarlo_Ciotoli/citations?sorting...
http://scholar.google.it/citations?hl=it&user=bELxHj8AAAAJ&view_op=list_...
http://www.igag.cnr.it/index.php/it/personale/114

2025
Mori F., Naso G., Mendicelli A., Ciotoli G., Varone C., Moscatelli M. (2025). Characterizing uncertainty and variability in shear wave velocity profiles from the Italian seismic microzonation studies. ENGEO, 320, 107997, doi: 10.1016/j.enggeo.2025.107997
Eleonora Benà, Giancarlo Ciotoli, Peter Bossew, Luca Verdi, Claudio Mazzoli, Raffaele Sassi (2025). From collective to individual radon risk exposure: An insight into the current European regulation. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL, vol. 196, p. 1-12, ISSN: 1873-6750, doi:
10.1016/j.envint.2025.109264
Baumann S., Petermann E. Cinelli G., Dehandschutter B., Celikovic I., Lindner-Leschinski E., Bossew P., Ciotoli G., Gruber V Radon hazard mapping: usability of environmental predictors including atmospheric radon and radon flux and knowledge transfer between regions (Belgium and Germany), Environ Earth Sci, 84, 196 (2025), doi: 10.1007/s12665-025-12126-2

2024
Benà E, Ciotoli G, Petermann E, Bossew P, Ruggiero L, Verdi L, Huber P, Mori F, Mazzoli C, Sassi R (2024). A new perspective in radon risk assessment: mapping the geological hazard as a first step to define the collective radon risk exposure. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT, vol. 912, p. 1-12, ISSN: 1879-1026, doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169569
Puzzilli LM, Ruscito V, Madonna S, Gentili F, Ruggiero L, Ciotoli G, Nisio S (2024). Natural sinkhole monitoring and characterization: the case of Latera sinkhole (Latium, Central Italy). GEOSCIENCES, vol. 14, p. 1-25, ISSN: 2076-
3263, doi: 10.3390/geosciences14010018
Di Salvo C, Ciotoli G, Mancini M, Nisio S, Stigliano F (2024). Analysis of Geological Multi-Hazards in an Urban District. GEOSCIENCES, vol. 14, p. 1-
26, ISSN: 2076-3263, doi: 10.3390/geosciences14020027
Manuela Portaro M., Rocchetti I., Tuccimei P., Galli Gianfranco, Soligo Michele, Ciotoli G., Longoni C., Vasquez D., Sola F. (2024). Indoor Radon Surveying and Mitigation in the Case-Study of Celleno Town (Central Italy) Located in a Medium Geogenic Radon Potential Area. ATMOSPHERE, vol. 15, p. 1-11,
ISSN: 2073-4433, doi: 10.3390/atmos15040425
Etiope G., Ciotoli G., Bena E., Mazzoli C., Rockmann T., Sivan M., Squartini A., Laemmel T., Szidat S., Haghipour N., Sassi R. (2024). Surprising concentrations of hydrogen and non-geological methane and carbon dioxide in the soil. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT, vol. 948, p. 1-10, ISSN: 1879-
1026, doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174890
Petrescu A. M. R., Peters G. P., Engelen R., Houweling S., Brunner D., Tsuruta A., Matthews B., Patra P. K., Belikov D., Thompson R. L., Hoglund-Isaksson L., Zhang W., Segers A. J., Etiope G., Ciotoli [...] 24). Comparison of observation- and inventory-based methane emissions for eight large global emitters. EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE DATA, vol. 16, p. 4325-4350, ISSN: 1866-3508, doi: 10.5194/essd-16-4325-2024
Preziosi E., Frollini E., Ghergo S., Parrone D., Ruggiero L., Sciarra A., Ciotoli G. (2024). A comprehensive monitoring approach for a naturally anoxic aquifer beneath a controlled landfill. CHEMOSPHERE, vol. 362, ISSN: 0045-6535, doi:
10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142657

2023

Title: A statistical approach for the use of environmental quality standards (EQS) in marine sediments in the environmental quality assessment of harbour areas
Authors: Ausili A., Bergamin L., Ciotoli G., Finoia M.G., Romano E.
Source: Journal of Soils and Sediments, 866, 161345, doi: 10.1007/s11368-023-03549-0, 2023, Online 24May2023

Title: The consolidated European synthesis of CH4 and N2O emissions for the European Union and United Kingdom: 1990–2019
Authors: Petrescu, A. M. R., Qiu, C., McGrath, M. J., Peylin, P., Peters, G. P., Ciais, P., Thompson, R. L., Tsuruta, A., Brunner, D., Kuhnert, M., Matthews, B., Palmer, P. I., Tarasova, O., Regnier, P., Lauerwald, R., Bastviken, D., Höglund-Isaksson, L., Winiwarter, W., Etiope, G., Aalto, T., Balsamo, G., Bastrikov, V., Berchet, A., Brockmann, P., Ciotoli, G., Conchedda, G., Crippa, M., Dentener, F., Groot Zwaaftink, C. D., Guizzardi, D., Günther, D., Haussaire, J.-M., Houweling, S., Janssens-Maenhout, G., Kouyate, M., Leip, A., Leppänen, A., Lugato, E., Maisonnier, M., Manning, A. J., Markkanen, T., McNorton, J., Muntean, M., Oreggioni, G. D., Patra, P. K., Perugini, L., Pison, I., Raivonen, M. T., Saunois, M., Segers, A. J., Smith, P., Solazzo, E., Tian, H., Tubiello, F. N., Vesala, T., van der Werf, G. R., Wilson, C., and Zaehle, S.
Source: Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 15, 1197–1268, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-1197-2023, 2023.

Title: Antarctic permafrost degassing in Taylor Valley by extensive soil gas investigation
Authors: Ruggiero L., A. Sciarra A., Mazzini A., Florindo F., Wilson G., Tartarello M.C., Mazzoli C., Anderson J.T.H., Romano V., Worthington R., Bigi S., Sassi R., Ciotoli G.
Source: Science of The Total Environment, 866, 161345, doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.161345

2022
Title: Evaluation of tectonically enhanced radon in fault zones by quantification of the radon activity index.
Authors: Benà E., Ciotoli G., Ruggiero L., Coletti C., Bossew P., Massironi M., Mazzoli C., Mair V., Morelli C., Galgaro A., Morozzi P., Tositti L., Sassi R.
Source: Scientific Reports, 12, 21586 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-26124-y

Title: Overview of Radon Flux Characteristics, Measurements, Models and Its Potential Use for the Estimation of Radon Priority Areas
Authors: Igor Čeliković, Gordana Pantelić, Ivana Vukanac, Jelena Krneta Nikolić, Miloš Živanović, Giorgia Cinelli,Valeria Gruber, Sebastian Baumann, Giancarlo Ciotoli, Luis Santiago Quindos Poncela, Daniel Rábago
Source: Atmosphere, 2022, 13, 2005, doi: 10.3390/atmos13122005

Title: Geophysical and geochemical multi-method investigations for reconstructing subsurfaces, alluvial sedimentology, and structural geology (Tiber valley, Rome)
Authors: Giustini F, Brilli M, Carlucci G, Ciotoli G, Gaudiosi I, Mancini M, Simionato M
Source: International Journal of Earth Sciences, doi: 10.1007/s00531-022-02254-6, 2022

Title: Global thermal spring distribution and relationship to endogenous and exogenous factors
Authors: Tamburello G, Chiodini G, Ciotoli G, Procesi M, Rouwet D, Sandri L, Carbonara N, Masciantonio C
Source: Nature Communications, 13, doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-34115-w, 2022.

Title: Development and testing of a rapid, sensitive, high-resolution tool to improve mapping of CO2 leakage at the ground surface
Authors: S. Graziani, S.E. Beaubien, G. Ciotoli, S. Bigi.
Source: Applied Geochemistry, 145 , doi: 10.1016/j.apgeochem.2022.105424, 2022. 1-s2.0-S0883292722002281

Title: Geospatial analysis for fish farming across Tyrrhenian coast (Tuscany, central Italy)
Authors: Manca Zeichen M., Ciotoli G., Archina M.
Source: Ocean and Coastal Management, 226, 106261, doi:10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2022.106261, 2022

Title: Geological hazard assessment of the coastal area of Rome (Central Italy) from multi-source data integration
Authors: Maffucci R., Ciotoli G., Pietrosante A., G.P. Cavinato, Milli S., Ruggiero L., Sciarra A., Bigi S.
Source: Engineering Geology, 106527, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2022.106527, 2022

Title: The assessment of local geological factors for the construction of a Geogenic Radon Potential map using regression kriging. A case study from the Euganean Hills volcanic district (Italy)
Authors: Coletti C., Ciotoli G., Benà E., Brattich E., Cinelli G., Galgaro A., Massironi A., Mazzoli C., Mostacci D., Morozzi P., Mozzi P., Nava J., Ruggiero L., Sciarra A., Tositti L., Sassi R.
Source: Science of The Total Environment, 808, 1-16, 2022, doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152064, 2022

Title: Radon Hazard in Central Italy: Comparison among Areas with Different Geogenic Radon Potential
Authors: Giustini F., Ruggiero L., SciarraA., Beaubien S.E., Graziani S., Galli G, Pizzino L., Tartarello M.C., Lucchetti C., Sirianni P., Tuccimei P., Voltaggio M., Bigi S., Ciotoli G.
Source: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(2), 666, https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19020666, 2022

Title: Monte Carlo Simulations to Assess the Uncertainty of Locating and Quantifying CO2 Leakage Flux from Deep Geological or Anthropogenic Sources.
Authors: S.E. Beaubien, G. Ciotoli, M.G. Finoia, S. Lombardi, S. Bigi
Source: Stochastic Environmental Research and Risk Assessment, 36, 609-627, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00477-021-02123-9, 2022

Title: On harmonization of radon maps
Authors: Peter Bossew, Igor Čeliković, Giorgia Cinelli, Giancarlo Ciotoli, Filipa Domingos, Valeria Gruber, Federica Leonardi, Jovana Nikolov, Gordana Pantelić, Alcides Pereira, Eric Petermann, Natasa Todorović, Rosabianca Trevisi
Source: Journal of European Radon Associations, 3, 7554; 2022 https://doi.org/10.35815/radon.v3.7554

2021
Title: Comparison of radon mapping for the delineation of radon priority areas – an exercise
Authors: Gruber V., Baumann S., Alber O., Laubichler C., Bossew P., Petermann E., Ciotoli G., Pereira A., Domingos F., Tondeur F., Cinelli G., Fernandez A., Sainz C., Quindos-Poncela L.
Source: Journal of European Radon Associations, 2, 5755, 2021 - http://dx.doi.org/10.35815/radon.v2.5755

2020
Title: Development of a Geogenic Radon Hazard Index—Concept, History, Experiences
Authors: Bossew P., Cinelli G., Ciotoli G., Crowley Q.G., De Cort M., Elío Medina J., Gruber V., Petermann E., Tollefsen T.
Source: Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health,17(11), 4134; doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17114134, 2020

Title: Influence of tectonics on global scale distribution of geological methane emissions
Authors: Ciotoli G., Procesi M., Etiope G., Fracassi U., Ventura G.
Source: Nature Communications, 11, 2305, doi:10.1038/s41467-020-16229-1, 2020

Title: Increased methane emission from natural gas seepage at Katakolo Harbour (Western Greece)
Authors: Kordella S., Ciotoli G., Dimas X., Papatheodorou G., Etiope G.
Source: Applied Geochemistry, 116, 1-7,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2020.104578, 2020

2019
Title: Mapping the geogenic radon potential and radon risk by using Empirical Bayesian Kriging regression: a case study from a volcanic area of central Italy
Authors: Giustini F., Ciotoli G., Rinaldini A., Ruggiero L., Voltaggio M.
Source: Science of the Total Environment., STOTEN 30460, 661, 449-464, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.01.146

Title: Sediment-Hosted Geothermal Systems: review and first global mapping
Authors: Procesi M., Ciotoli G., Mazzini A., Etiope G.
Source: Earth Science Review, 192, 529-544, doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2019.03.020

Title: Gridded maps of geological methane emissions and their isotopic signature
Authors: Etiope G., Ciotoli G., Schwietzke S, Schoell M.
Source: Earth Syst. Sci. Data Discuss., 11, 1-22, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-11-1-2019, 2019

Title: European Atlas of Natural Radiation (2019).
Authors: Achatz, M., Ajtić, J., Ballabio, C., Barnet, I., Bochicchio, F., Borelli, P., Bossew, P., Braga, R., Brattich, E., Briganti, A., Carpentieri, C., Castellani, C., Castelluccio, M., Chiaberto, E., Ciotoli, G., Coletti, C., Cucchi, A., Daraktchieva, Z., Di Carlo, C., De France, J., Dehandschutter, B., Domingos, F., Dudar, T., Elio, J., Falletti, P., Ferreira, A., Finne, I., Fontana, C., Fuente Merino, I., Galli, G., Garcia-Talavera, M., German, O., Grossi, C., Gruber, V., Gutierrez-Villanueva, J., Hansen, M., Hernandez Ceballos, M., Hoffmann, M., Hurst, S., Iurlaro, G., Ivanova, K., Jobbagy, V., Jones, A., Kovalenko, G., Kozak, K., Lawley, R., Lehné, R., Lister, B., Long, S., Lucchetti, C., Magnoni, M., Matolin, M., Mazur, J., Mazzoli, C., Mclaughlin, J., Mollo, M., Mostacci, D., Mundigl, S., Nesbor, D., Neves, L., Neznal, M., Nikolov, J., Nilsson, P., Nogarotto, A., Onischenko, A., Orgiazzi, A., Pacherová, P., Panagos, P., Pereira, A., Perez, M., Pokalyuk, V., Pressyanov, D., Quindós Poncela, L., Ringer, W., Rossi, F., Sangiorgi, M., Sassi, R., Simic, Z., Smedley, P., Socciarelli, S., Soligo, M., Stoulos, S., Szabo, K., Täht-Kok, K., Todorović, N., Tolton, R., Tuccimei, P., Turtiainen, T., Tye, A., Udovicic, V., Vasilyev, A., Venoso, G., Verdelocco, S., Verkhovtsev, V., Voltaggio, M., Zhukova, O. and Zhukovsky, M.
Source: Cinelli, G., De Cort, M. and Tollefsen, T. editor(s), Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2019, JRC116795, (ISBN): 978-92-76-08258-3 (online), 978-92-76-08259-0 (print); Doi: 10.2760/46388 (online)

2018
Title: A GIS-based procedure for preliminary mapping of pluvial flood risk at metropolitan scale
Authors: Di Salvo C., Pennica F., Ciotoli G., Cavinato G.P.
Source: Environmental Modelling and Software, 107, 64-84, https://doi: 10.1016/j.envsoft.2018.05.020

Title: Coeval Uplift and Subsidence Reveal Magma Recharging Near Rome (Italy).
Authors: Trasatti E., Marra F., Polcari M., Etiope G., Ciotoli G., Darrah T.H., Tedesco D., Stramondo S., Florindo F. Ventura G.
Source: Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystem (G3), 19, 1484-1498, doi: 10.1029/2017GC007303

Title: Assessing mantle versus crustal sources for non-volcanic degassing along fault zones in the actively extending southern Apennines mountain belt (Italy)
Authors: Ascione A., Ciotoli G., Bigi S., Buscher J., Mazzoli S., Ruggiero L. Sciarra A., Tartarello M.C., Valente E.
Source: GSA Bulletin (2018), 130 (9-10): 1697-1722, doi: 10.1130/B31869.1

Title: Does moderate magnitude earthquake generate seismically induced ground effects? The case study of the Mw = 5.16, 29th December 2013 Matese earthquake (southern Apennines, Italy)
Authors: Valente E., Ascione A., Ciotoli G., Cozzolino M., Porfido S., Sciarra A.
Source: Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch) (2018), 107, 517-537, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-017-1506-5