The Laboratory of Experimental Volcanotectonics is equipped with three main modelling apparatus for the analysis of the interplay among volcanic processes, tectonics and crustal structure, encompassing a very wide range in scale, from the dynamics of a continental volcanic arc, to the growth and collapse of small stratovolcanoes or calderas.

The modelling equipment is flexible and models can be designed to simulate the intrusion of magma in a heterogeneous or homogeneous crust under compressive, strike-slip or extensional tectonics. Scaled models of the natural prototypes are prepared with analogue brittle and ductile materials, and then analysed through the observation of plan view, cross-sections, digital elevation models and thermal images of the deformed experiments.

Experimental data are uploaded in a 3D GIS for quantitative analysis and comparison with the natural prototypes.