Interview with Diego Sebastiani, CEO of GEEG, innovative start-up of the University of Rome “La Sapienza” specialized in the development of research activities on materials, products and innovative technological solutions applied to the underground world.
GEEG, Geotechnical and Environmental Engineering Group, is an innovative, young and dynamic start-up that supports public and private institutions, businesses and engineering companies operating in the field of mechanized excavation of tunnels and in the management of land and rocks for excavation.
The goal of GEEG is to make available its knowledge acquired in years of experimental research, offering operational and innovative solutions in monitoring and reducing environmental impact.
How does GEEG help companies, engineers and institutions in their activities? Mainly through two channels: developing research activities and providing innovative services in support of the design and realization of the works. Let’s look at them in detail.
Research in collaboration with companies and engineering corporations: GEEG makes available to companies and engineering corporations its studies, experimental research activities and its support in the design and implementation of the work in relation to:
Conditioning agents, chemicals, traditional and innovative materials: GEEG conducts studies and analyses both of the effectiveness of chemicals used in the excavation of tunnels with TBM and of their dosage and method of use. These studies also include assessments of the clogging risk and the abrasion risks of the metal components of the TBM digging head.
Over time, evaluations have been introduced on bentonitic sludge and polymeric fluids, tail greases, back-filling mortars and injecting materials in support of tunnel excavation and underground constructions.
Environmental impact, ecotoxicity, biodegradation and reuse of excavated land and rocks: GEEG evaluates and compares the use of some products compared to other, from a chemical and environmental point of view; analyse the possibility of reuse of rock and excavated land through biodegradation studies and ecotoxicological studies and through the development of experimental protocols for the management of reuse of excavated land and rock.
Monitoring and analysis : GEEG is proposed as an operational support in the management and analysis of data from the mechanized excavation of tunnels through specific analysis and interpretation of traditional and innovative data. GEEG also develops studies to evaluate excavation performance, aimed at optimising the advancement of TBM excavation.
Dissemination: GEEG’s mission is to contribute to the development of scientific knowledge in the world of civil and environmental engineering; for this reason has particularly at heart the sharing of knowledge acquired at national and international level through participation in conferences, Congresses, Seminars and Study Days and through the regular publication of technical and scientific articles on the most prestigious national and international magazines of the sector.
To learn more about the world of GEEG, we interviewed Diego Sebastiani, CEO of this young and ambitious start-up:
Hello Diego, nice to meet you and thank you for your time. GEEG: tell us this fantastic story
First of all, thank you for your interest and availability. GEEG is actually a story, and as such, it develops around people. In the case of GEEG, all started by Totò, Luca, Anita, Irene, Giorgio, Andrea and Diego, a group of professors, researchers, engineers and laboratory technicians; with experience in the development of research activities, with so much curiosity, desire to learn and a strong desire to transfer what learned in years of Research to companies and engineering companies involved daily in the design and construction of tunnels and other underground works. In the first years of strong growth and hard work GEEG has also become the story of Eleonora, Tommaso, Marta, Matilde, Sara, Claudia, Marco, Cristina and Daniele and in the near future it will probably be of other people.
GEEG is a story of people, ideas, enthusiasm and a lot of commitment.
How and when was the idea of GEEG born?
The idea of GEEG begins to form between 2015 and 2016 when at the University of Rome “La Sapienza” a series of lucky events brought me, Totò and Andrea (research group related to the Department of Structural and Geotechnical Engineering) to develop research activities on soil conditioning (chemical treatment) for the mechanized excavation of tunnels in collaboration with an important Italian company, Astaldi; at the same time we were facing with a collaboration with Giorgio, Luca and Irene (a research group belonging to the Department of Chemical Engineering Materials Environment) and, a few months later, to work with Anita and Daniele, at that time belonging to the CNR, in a research activity for an important tunnel project in Florence.
The daily sharing of laboratory activities, the need to overcome difficulties and obstacles together, some ideas in the head, the conviction of having formed a close-knit team and the will to continue working together … We began to think seriously towards the end of 2016 at the idea of GEEG. Between 2016 and 2018 GEEG went from idea to reality through a rich, long and complex work of reflection and planning with the Departments and with the startup offices and spin-off of Sapienza to get all the necessary approvals and, finally, at the startup foundation.
Why is it so important to do research and development in the field of civil engineering? What are the benefits and what are the risks of not doing it?
The world we know is in continuous and ever faster transformation, the world of underground and tunnels has always been characterized by a strong impulse to technological innovation and, at the moment, it is one of the strategic sectors in which many PNRR funds are being invested to boost the growth and development of our country. Innovating and therefore doing Research, in this context, is not only important but becomes the only concrete and forward-looking way to be protagonists of growth and changes in this period.
GEEG aims to support companies and engineering companies in the development of research activities in a serious and highly qualified scientific point of view, without neglecting fundamental aspects such as dynamism, flexibility, effectiveness and the ability to respond to specific needs.
Who is GEEG targeting? How is the market responding?
GEEG is addressed to three different interlocutors: 1) companies and large national and international groups involved in the construction of tunnels and underground works, 2) engineering companies, engaged in the design of works in the field of civil and environmental engineering; 3) suppliers and producers of raw materials, chemicals and materials used in these projects.
Honestly, in these years we have grown so much, beyond our expectations and the programs we had made. We grew up, although the Covid-19-related health emergency has made some tasks more complex to manage. We believe that we have experienced this growth without ever lacking commitment and quality in our activities and without having distorted or sacrificed the founding principles on which GEEG believes. Now GEEG is a solid reality, varied in services, consolidated in the team and processes and strongly projected in its future growth in Italy and abroad.
What’s the status in Italy in terms of awareness of “environmental impact” in civil engineering?
Contrary to the clichés that engineers have a low sensitivity on issues related to sustainability and environmental impact, I believe that in Italy awareness is growing exponentially. On the other hand, it seems that we can no longer think of the realization of an engineering work without reasoning about the view of a circular economy, reduction of emissions and innovation towards the introduction of green and generally low-impact technologies. These are unquestionably important issues.
Unfortunately, it must be said, on the other hand not always legislation, administrative processes and public and private interests manage to fit, keeping the environment at the center of the reasoning. We often encounter difficulties in developing information and communication about complexity and greatness of the works we realize and about the control procedures, including those relating to the environment, which are being implemented. In general I can say that often abroad Italian projects and legislation are appreciated and taken as a model of balance between the need to create safe and well-done works. Important is the attention to preserve the environment and the context in which they are inserted. I conclude by saying that, as in everything, we can always improve and that therefore all initiatives and all efforts are aimed at creating greater awareness on these issues.
How did you launch your project? And how do you support it?
The start-up of GEEG was fully supported by the partners in bootstrapping, therefore without any type of external financing. It was a courageous choice, supported by a strategy aimed at reducing startup costs, in which important elements were the support that the University of Rome “La Sapienza” has provided us and the time and energy that the partners have invested in the project. This, now a little more than 3 years later, allows GEEG to self-sustain, strong of a discreet financial soundness, and to invest in research activities that, we hope, can contribute to feed the growth that we are living.
Curiosity: what is the type of project or study that you have followed that gave you the most satisfaction?
Undoubtedly in these early years of GEEG we had the opportunity to follow many interesting and stimulating projects. Moreover, for those lucky enough to take part in the construction of a gallery, it is always an extremely stimulating type of activity. Among the many, I consider of particular interest the projects of tunnels in which, through processes of circular economy, our work contributes to the reuse of land and rocks from excavation and non-renewable natural resources, reducing or zeroing out landfill volumes and the associated emissions and transport impacts of such materials.
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