Università di Cagliari (UNICA), Italy

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The University of Cagliari (UNICA), founded in 1606, is one of Italy’s oldest universities and a leading research institution in Sardinia. Through its Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering (DICAAR), UNICA addresses water scarcity and sustainable agriculture in Mediterranean island contexts.

Team in the AQUEDUCT Project :

  • Principal Investigator (PI): Nicola Montaldo

Group Members :

  • Roberto Corona, Serena Sirigu, Gian Piero Deidda, Andrea Saba, Simone Ferrari, Alessandro Seoni, Antonio Mascia

Research Focus​

Water and Agriculture Management

UNICA’s involvement in the AQUEDUCT project centers on the sustainable management of water resources in semi-arid island environments, particularly through the study of Sardinia’s Flumendosa-Mulargia water system. This includes modeling dam operations, irrigation prioritization, and adaptation strategies to drought and climate variability. Key research areas encompass:

  • Hydrological modeling and reservoir management

  • Priority-based water allocation for urban, industrial, irrigation, and environmental needs

  • Integration of remote sensing and GIS for agricultural water efficiency

  • Collaboration with regional authorities on flood control and drought mitigation

The Flumendosa dams exemplify this work:

  • Flumendosa at Nuraghe Arrubiu: Gravity-Arch Dam; Height: 119 m; Max storage: 316.42 Mm³; Drainage: ~751 km²

  • Mulargia Monte su Rei: Gravity-Arch Dam; Height: 99 m; Max storage: 347 Mm³; Drainage: ~180 km²

  • Management and Valorization of Forest Resources

  • Flumineddu a Capanna Silicheri: Gravity-Arch Dam; Height: 45.30 m; Max storage: 3.60 Mm³; Drainage: ~248 km²

Water Management Rules

Priority Class

Urban (%)

Industrial (%)

Irrigation (%)

DMV (Environmental) (%)

I

 50 – – –

II

 30 80 – –

III

 20 20 50 50

IV

 – – 50 –

V

 – – – 50

  • Target Volume: Threshold for initiating rationing on non-priority users.

  • Reserved Volume: Exclusive access for urban and industrial demands.

  • Strategic Volume: Protected reserve inaccessible to all users.

This ensures equitable distribution amid Sardinia’s variable climate and agricultural demands.

Stakeholders

  • Sardinian Basin Water Authority: Oversees regional water planning and enforcement of allocation rules.

  • Local farmers, irrigation districts, and agricultural cooperatives.

  • Regional government bodies (e.g., ENAS for dams, Abbanoa for distribution).

  • EU-funded projects like PRIMA, aligning with AQUEDUCT’s goals for Mediterranean water resilience.

UNICA’s contributions through DICAAR enhance adaptive water governance, supporting sustainable agriculture in water-stressed regions like Sardinia.