Analysis and Management of Natural Disasters and Technological risks - ASSIST

The ASSIST Laboratory (Analysis and Management of Anthropogenic and Natural Disasters) operates within the Department of Natural Environment and Climate Resilience, School of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences. The laboratory is dedicated to interdisciplinary research, education, and innovation in disaster risk reduction, emergency management, climate resilience, and environmental protection. Its activities integrate scientific research with modern technologies to support prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery from natural and human-induced disasters. The laboratory also promotes collaboration with academic institutions, public authorities, civil protection agencies, and international research networks through research projects, training activities, and technology transfer.

Laboratory Details

Laboratory Title: Analysis and Management of Natural Disasters and Technological risks - ASSIST

Faculty: Department of Natural Environment and Climate Resilience

School: School of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences

Email: info@assistlab.gr

Telephone: +302510462465

Website:

Official Gazette of Establishment:

Introduction - Presentation

The ASSIST Laboratory (Analysis and Management of Anthropogenic and Natural Disasters) operates within the Department of Natural Environment and Climate Resilience, School of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences. The laboratory is dedicated to interdisciplinary research, education, and innovation in disaster risk reduction, emergency management, climate resilience, and environmental protection. Its activities integrate scientific research with modern technologies to support prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery from natural and human-induced disasters. The laboratory also promotes collaboration with academic institutions, public authorities, civil protection agencies, and international research networks through research projects, training activities, and technology transfer.

Field of Research

Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Analysis and Management of Natural and Anthropogenic Disasters Climate Change Adaptation and Climate Resilience Environmental Risk Assessment Civil Protection and Emergency Management Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Spatial Analysis Hydrological and Flood Risk Modelling Wildfire Risk Assessment and Management Decision Support Systems for Disaster Management Remote Sensing and Earth Observation Applications Virtual and Augmented Reality for Disaster Education and Training Sustainable Environmental Management Environmental Monitoring and Climate Services

Laboratory Members

Name	Position/Capacity	Email	Telephone
Prof. Dimitrios Emmanouloudis	Professor, Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH), Greece; Director, ASSIST Laboratory	demmano@neclir.duth.gr	6988566477
Prof. Nikolaos Katopodis	Chairman of the Scientific Committee; Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan, USA	ndk@umich.edu
Prof. Fotios Maris	Professor, Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH), Greece	fmaris@civil.duth.gr
Assoc. Prof. Panteleimon Xofis	Associate Professor, Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH), Greece	pxofis@neclir.duth.gr
Prof. Spyridon Mamalis	Professor, Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH), Greece	mamalis@vo.duth.gr
Anastasia Mirli	Lecturer, Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH), Greece	amirli@civil.duth.gr
Theodoros Kolydas	Mathematician–Meteorologist; Director of the Hydrometeorology and Natural Disasters Sector, ASSIST Laboratory	theodoros.kolydas@gmail.com
Prof. Grigorios Varras	Professor, University of Ioannina, Greece	grvarras@gmail.com
Prof. Gerasimos Karabelias	Professor, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Greece	gkarabelias@panteion.gr
Prof. Avgoustos Tsinakos	Professor, Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH), Greece	tsinakos@cs.duth.gr
Prof. José Luis García Rodríguez	Professor, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain	josel.garcia@upm.es
Assoc. Prof. Paraskevi Nomikou	Associate Professor, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Greece	evinom@geol.uoa.gr
Assoc. Prof. Garry Stevens	Associate Professor, Western Sydney University, Australia	G.Stevens@westernsydney.edu.au
Assoc. Prof. Dimitrios Karampatzakis	Associate Professor, Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH), Greece	dkara@cs.duth.gr
Ram Aviram	Ambassador (Ret.); Hydrodiplomacy Expert, Israel	raviram@bit-consultancy.com
Prof. Fatima Antonethe Castaneda Mena	Professor, Universidad Galileo, Guatemala	fatimacastaneda@galileo.edu
Assist. Prof. Elissavet Feloni	Assistant Professor, University of West Attica, Greece	efeloni@uniwa.gr
Olga Papantsiou	Administrative Officer, Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH), Greece \| MSc, MSc	opapants@admin.duth.gr
Athanasia Mavrogiorgou	PhD Candidate, Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH), Greece	namavrog@gmail.com
Elena Samourkasidou	Lecturer, Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH), Greece	e.samourkasidou@gmail.com
Anastasia Pentagioti	Sustainable Development Analyst – Bioeconomy and Circular Economy Specialist	nataspent@gmail.com
Spyros Schismenos	Humanitarian Engineering and Disaster Analysis Specialist, Western Sydney University, Australia	S.Schismenos@westernsydney.edu.au
Prof. Leonardo Freire Dias	Professor, Municipal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	leonardo.ambientepmnf@gmail.com
Aglaia Vlachopoulou	PhD Candidate, Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH), Greece	litsav8@gmail.com
Dimitrios Menemenlis	Fire Service Officer, University of the Aegean, Greece	mendimitrios@hotmail.com

Featured Research Programs

Programme Title	Duration	Funding
Training and Knowledge Sharing Platform for First Responders and Educational Tools for students’ and citizens’ awareness and preparedness against Natural and Manmade Disasters and Risks	18 months	European Union
Modern Tools for wildfires' and Floods' Risk punctual forecast and monitoring and innovative techniques for citizens' safeguard awareness and preparedness	18 months	European Union
Actions for Civil Protection in the Region of Epirus	27 months	Region of Epirus

Featured Publications

Chronological Order	APP	doi
Solomos S., Nastos P., Emmanouloudis D., Koutsouraki A., Zerefos C. A Modeling Study on the Downslope Wind of "Katevatos" in Greece and Implications for the Battle of Arachova in 1826. Atmosphere., 2021	Published	10.3390/atmos12070877
Xofis P., Feloni E., Emmanouloudis D., Chatzigiovanakis S., Kravari K., Samourkasidou E., Kefalas G., Nastos P. Long-Term Monitoring of Trends in Xerothermality and Vegetation Condition of a Northeast Mediterranean Island Using Meteorological and Remote Sensing Data. Land, 13(12), 2129., 2024	Published	10.3390/land13122129
Amanatidis P., Lyratzis E., Angelopoulos V., Kouloumpris E., Skaperdas E., Bassiliades N., Vlahavas I., Maris F., Emmanouloudis D., Karampatzakis D. Intelligent Water Management Through Edge-Enabled IoT, AI, and Big Data Technologies. IoT, 7(1), 5., 2025	Published	10.3390/iot7010005