Alfredo Cigada is Professor of Mechanical and Thermal Measurements at Politecnico di Milano. He holds a Ph.D. in Applied Mechanics.
He is member of the Society for Experimental Mechanics (SEM), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), International Society for Civil Structural Health Monitoring (ISCSHM), and International Association for Bridge Maintenance and Safety (IABMAS). He is also Honorary Partner of the Italian Association of Building Technologists (ATE), member of the Scientific Committee of the journal Structural and served as Deputy Editor of Tutto Misure from 2010 to 2025. He is a member of the CEI CT214 Committee, developing national guidelines on Structural Health Monitoring.
Among his main recognitions are the NIWeek 2013 Award for the fiber optic monitoring system of the Main Spire of Milan Cathedral, the Engineering News-Record (ENR) Award in the “Special Construction” category for the design of the new exhibition for Michelangelo’s Pietà Rondanini at the Castello Sforzesco in Milan, the Aftab Mufti Medal for the development of a fiber optic system to monitor bridge pier scour, and the Movyon–Autostrade per l’Italia Award for introducing a new concept of vehicle weighing that does not rely on conventional Weigh-in-Motion (WIM) systems.
From 2022 to 2025 he served as the National Coordinator of the Italian Group of Mechanical and Thermal Measurements. He was a member of the Board of Governors of Politecnico di Milano (2004-2010), with responsibility for research, intellectual property, start-up and spin-off companies. Since 2001, he has coordinated the activities of the Mechanical and Thermal Measurements Research Group - Politecnico di Milano.
He has been involved in many research projects at European and national levels, with public institutions and private companies. These include the monitoring of the San Siro (Meazza) Stadium, the main spire of Milan Cathedral, and the Palazzo Lombardia complex. He is co-founder of four start-up companies and co-inventor of ten patents. He has acted as reviewer and evaluator for research projects on behalf of several national and international organizations, including: University of Padua, Swiss Science Foundation, Croatian Ministry of Science and Education, Princeton University, European Commission, serving as an expert evaluator for both the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships) and the European Research Council (ERC) programs.
He has authored more than 200 scientific publications in international peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings. His research interests include measurement systems and data analysis, innovative sensors—particularly MEMS and fiber optic—vibrations and acoustics, renewable energy, safety engineering, measurement techniques for crime investigation and forensics and Structural Health Monitoring, wind engineering. He is also actively engaged in the development of innovative teaching in the field of Measurements.