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Resilienza e sostenibilità delle filiere frutticole per la valorizzazione dei territori: Irrigazione di precisione in Actinidia chinensis var. chinensis
Get PDFURGES ex–post. What Metrics, Indicators, and Impacts on Well–Being?
No full textIn the last fifteen years, the number of participatory design actions
has increased, leading to a proliferation of studies, examples,
and concrete applications. However, the evaluation of impacts,
outcomes, and long–term project results remains a poorly
developed and monitored area of research. One reason this occurs
is that many projects do not include a follow–up and verification
period in their timeline. That is, not only do they often fail to
implement impact verification processes immediately after project
completion, but they also rarely address subsequent phases
with regular and coherent follow–up actions over the years.
These projects kickstart potential mechanisms that may progress
or fail without anyone knowing why 1. The main challenges
are related to measuring impact: what should be measured?
The intangible, cultural impacts of participatory design, such as
strengthening communities or improving social cohesion, may
elude traditional metrics. What possible indicators and measurement
methods exist? Can evaluation criteria be standardized? Or, as
with actions, are metrics always to be tailored to specific cases?
This limits the comparability of results and the adoption of
standardized practices between projects. Perhaps a framework
for evaluation could be developed that incorporates both qualitative
and quantitative metrics, taking into account well–being
indicators that are both individual and collective, as well as
quantitative indicators where possible
Poetically Inhabiting. URGES for the City: Incubator of Social Policies and Culture
No full textURGES in Matera represents a tangible example of how Academia
can bridge the Communication gap between the Local Administration and the city, i.e. the citizens. The inclusion of green areas in peripheral urban contexts can
represent a complex challenge, particularly when it comes to overcoming
the initial resistance of a disinterested, if not hostile, community.
The project in question exemplifies an approach that has
been able to combine urban planning with the active participation
of residents, transforming an imposed intervention into a process
of valorization of the shared territory. The participating residents
developed a sense of ownership in the project, taking responsibility for it and protecting it over time. Through preliminary interviews
with the designers, the broad contours of the potential for
the project, including its critical issues, were drawn. Participation needs time. The attitude of the experts who demand
participation, but who also labels residents as suspicious, goes
hand in hand with speed and construction site practices that have
nothing to do with human processes. These are rhetoric filled with
dichotomies and stereotypical polarizations linked to the suburbs.
Instead, it becomes increasingly difficult to say what a suburb is
From passive remote sensing to LiDAR technology: investigating Mediterranean forest ecosystems under climate change and management impacts.
No full textThe Mediterranean environment is one of the most important global biodiversity hotspot and carbon sinks (FAO and Bleu (UNEP), 2018). It is also a vulnerable biome, threatened by increasing natural and anthropogenic disturbances driven by climate change processes (Ravot et al., 2020), responsible for rapid shifts in dynamics, structural complexity, and species composition.
Factors such as human activities, increasing water demand, marginal and rural areas abandonment, and the rising frequency and intensity of extreme climate events shape Mediterranean landscapes and their dynamics (Myers et al., 2000). The complex structure and composition of Mediterranean forests represent both a rich source of ecological value and a significant challenge for their assessment (FAO and Bleu (UNEP), 2018).
Although several methods and approaches have been developed for the characterisation of Mediterranean environments, a comprehensive analysis of both dynamic patterns and structural changes over time remains difficult.
Remote sensing (RS) techniques are extensively used to monitor, assess, and manage forests, allowing for explicit evaluations across both spatial and temporal scales. Numerous studies have proposed innovative approaches based on remote sensing data, which provide multi-temporal observations of Mediterranean environments (Etteieb et al., 2013; Nicholls and Hoozemans, 1996; Peñuelas et al., 2017; Puletti et al., 2021).
In this PhD thesis, both remote and proximal sensing monitoring techniques are employed at various spatial scales, ranging from site-specific to bio-regional, enhancing the study of vegetation pattern dynamics and structural characteristics through the integration of passive satellite sensors and active LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology.
The core aim is to improve monitoring strategies for complex Mediterranean environments affected by natural and anthropogenic disturbances, which represent a challenge using conventional practices.
We analysed:
I.
The evolutionary dynamics and distribution patterns of disturbed Mediterranean riparian ecotones (Sections A-B) through multi-temporal change detection analysis based on remote sensing spectral images at both local and bio-regional scales. The study integrated Landsat-derived vegetation indices, topographic, and hydrographic data, identifying the critical driving factor. Insights were provided into how these ecotones respond to climatic and socioeconomic factors.
II.
The overview of LiDAR applications in forestry (Section C), with a focus on terrestrial laser scanners (TLS) and airborne laser scanners (ALS). Various approaches used in different ecosystems are compared highlighting their role in precision forestry and discussing the strengths and limitations.
III.
The inventory parameter assessment capabilities of Terrestrial Laser Scanner in complex Mediterranean stands characterize by strong site-specific adaptation (Section D) comparing data against traditional forest inventories practices. The results demonstrated that TLS provides accurate and detailed assessments of structural attributes such as tree height, crown volume, and stand density.
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IV.
Non-destructive approaches for forest productivity and biomass assessment (Section E) This section focused on non-destructive techniques for estimating forest productivity and biomass using both TLS and automated processing algorithms. These methods were applied to assess above-ground biomass (AGB) and tree volume in Mediterranean oak forests, offering refined insights essential for sustainable forest management and carbon stock estimation.
V.
Classification algorithm for the analysis of forest gaps to study processes related to photosynthesis, light availability, space distribution. The "crossing3dforest" R package was developed to evaluate empty space structures in forest ecosystems. The package processes TLS point clouds to quantify the size, shape, and connectivity of empty spaces in forest stands.
VI.
Integration of ALS and Sentinel-2 for large-scale fuel loads modelling (Section G): This study aimed to integrate Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) with Sentinel-2 multispectral imagery to develop fuel load models over large Mediterranean areas. Additionally, a novel classification algorithm was introduced, integrating Sentinel-2 data with proximal sensing data (ALS) to categorize forest structural types and estimate fuel loads distribution.
The study cases addressed diverse yet interconnected topics, demonstrating how the integration of LiDAR and passive remote sensing technologies provides critical insights into the structure, biomass, and fire risk dynamics of Mediterranean forest ecosystems. These methods and results contribute significantly to the development of advanced environmental models and tailored management strategies for Mediterranean landscapes.
By integrating various monitoring systems, the research offers high-quality, detailed input data for productivity models, process-based simulations, and forecasting. This facilitates the prediction of management scenarios and the potential impacts of climate change on forest ecosystems.
Ultimately, the findings enable the creation of precise forecasting tools and management strategies, which are essential for the sustainable preservation and adaptive management of Mediterranean forests
Telerilevamento e monitoraggio dello stato idrico della vegetazione e del suolo mediante l'uso di sensoristica ottica e a microonde
Get PDFL’agricoltura è una delle attività più antiche e importanti dell'umanità perché fornisce i mezzi di sostentamento per diversi miliardi di persone. Attraverso l'uso di una serie di pratiche agricole sostenibili, rese sempre più necessarie a causa dei cambiamenti climatici, i sistemi agroalimentari possono generare benefici per l'intero ecosistema aiutando la conservazione della biodiversità, l'immagazzinamento del carbonio ed una migliore gestione dell'acqua all'interno del ciclo idrogeologico.
La gestione delle pratiche agricole tradizionali può essere migliorata grazie alla mole crescente di dati provenienti sia da piattaforme remote satellitari che di campo e tramite la loro integrazione. L’uso dei dati telerilevati aperti (open data) rappresenta una importante risorsa utilizzabile da chiunque per il monitoraggio nelle zone soggette ai cambiamenti climatici. Le tecniche di telerilevamento forniscono un valido strumento per il monitoraggio a diverse scale spaziali, al fine di analizzare le condizioni idriche del suolo e della vegetazione le cui variazioni possono comportare un degrado nella produzione e nell’efficienza agricola. L’uso di segnali elettromagnetici a diverse lunghezze d’onda consente di indagare strati diversi di suolo e vegetazione, fornendo informazioni su varie condizioni delle colture. Una banda spettrale molto interessante a questi scopi, anche grazie a una moltitudine di satelliti dalle prestazioni sempre più avanzate, si è rivelata quella delle microonde che non solo è trasparente alla copertura nuvolosa e non è dipendente dall’illuminazione solare, ma ha anche una notevole capacità di penetrazione nei corpi osservati e una dipendenza diretta, tramite la costante dielettrica, dal contenuto in acqua. Perciò, l’uso combinato di applicazioni di telerilevamento a microonde e di near-sensing offre la possibilità di ottenere una maggior resilienza rispetto alle condizioni locali.
Le piante, che hanno la capacità di adattarsi e vivere in ambienti anche estremi, sviluppano un'ampia varietà di strategie per sopravvivere rispetto a diverse condizioni di stress, le quali tendono ad incidere negativamente sullo sviluppo e sulla crescita della vegetazione. Per utilizzare l’energia solare senza subire dei danni, quest’ultime utilizzano meccanismi di difesa che possono includere la produzione di una serie di pigmenti nella parte esterna della foglia. Uno di questi riguarda il ciclo delle xantofille che permettono l’attivazione di un meccanismo fotoprotettivo che protegge la pianta da un eccesso di energia solare. L’attivazione del ciclo delle xantofille é strettamente legato ad una caratteristica di assorbimento della luce, da parte della pianta, nella lunghezza d’onda dei 531 ηm. su queste premesse è stato generato un indice denominato PRI (photochemical reflectance index) che permette di indicare la presenza di un’elevata attività nel ciclo delle xantofille, ovvero, se la pianta riesce a sfruttare tutta l’energia, o gran parte di essa, per attivare i processi di fotosintesi.
In questo studio è stato sfruttato il potenziale dell'integrazione fra dati ottici e a microonde per monitorare le caratteristiche e lo stato della vegetazione, con la possibilità, conseguentemente, di individuare eventuali condizioni di stress. In particolare, l'attività del ciclo delle xantofille, misurabile attraverso il PRI, è strettamente legata alla capacità della pianta di gestire l'energia solare in eccesso e rappresenta un indicatore precoce dello stress fisiologico. Questo approccio consente di identificare le condizioni di stress che possono compromettere l'accumulo di biomassa e ridurre la resa agricola. Inoltre, la biomassa totale della vegetazione può essere quantificata utilizzando sensori a microonde, che sono particolarmente sensibili al contenuto di acqua nelle piante. L'idea della tesi consiste nel verificare le relazioni tra l'attività fotosintetica, stimata tramite il PRI, e il contenuto idrico rilevato tramite dati a microonde, per comprendere meglio le dinamiche di stress e salute delle colture. Un ulteriore obiettivo è analizzare e validare questi parametri confrontandoli con indici ottici già consolidati in letteratura, al fine di confermare e approfondire la conoscenza dello stato fisiologico delle piante e ottimizzare la gestione agricola. Tale interazione mira, inoltre, a individuare quanto del contenuto idrico nelle colture, misurato tramite sensori satellitari, sia necessario per determinare una variazione significativa del PRI, assicurando che tale variazione sia attribuibile al cambiamento nel contenuto in acqua e non alle naturali fluttuazioni dell'attività fotosintetica della pianta.
Nello studio, sono stati osservati due campi di sorgo, coltura fortemente resistente alla siccità, durante le stagioni estive del 2022 e del 2023 utilizzando i dati delle missioni satellitari di Sentinel-1 e Sentinel-2. I dati di backscattering di Sentinel-1, che è un radar ad apertura sintetica (SAR), sono stati inseriti insieme ad una serie di misure in-situ in alcuni modelli elettromagnetici per ottenere informazioni relative al contenuto in acqua della vegetazione e del terreno. E’ stata sfruttata l'elevata sensibilità dei dati SAR al contenuto in acqua del suolo e delle piante con l'elevata sensibilità dei dati ottici ai diversi pigmenti, producendo così informazioni più approfondite sullo stato di salute della vegetazione e validando così le misure di PRI effettuate in loco.
I risultati ottenuti con i dati satellitari a microonde e multispettrali evidenziano un’elevata sensibilità del SAR allo stato idrico del suolo e della vegetazione agricola e la possibilità di stimare sia l’umidità del suolo che il contenuto in acqua delle piante, confermando che questi dati possono essere utilizzati in modo complementare per monitorare lo stato della vegetazione agricola: i dati SAR in banda C possono essere utilizzati per stimare il contenuto in acqua della vegetazione (in ambito tecnico spesso si trova con il suo termine in inglese plant water content, PWC), mentre gli indici multispettrali derivati da Sentinel-2, come ad esempio il Normalized Difference Red Edge (NDRE) o il Plant Senescence Reflectance Index (PSRI), possono essere utilizzati per rilevare lo stato dei pigmenti. Il metodo implementato aiuta a migliorare il monitoraggio della vegetazione, evidenziando lo stato idrico della vegetazione e le sue variazioni che gli indici basati solo su microonde o dati multispettrali non sono in grado di rilevare.Agriculture is one of the oldest and most important activities of humanity because it provides the means of livelihood for several billions of people. Through the use of a series of sustainable agricultural practices, made increasingly necessary due to climate change, agri-food systems can generate benefits for the entire ecosystem by helping to conserve biodiversity, store carbon and better manage water within the hydrogeological cycle.
The management of traditional agricultural practices can be improved thanks to the growing amount of data coming from both satellite and in-situ platforms and through their integration. The use of open remote sensing data represents an important resource that can be used by anyone for monitoring in areas subject to climate change. Remote sensing techniques provide a valid tool for monitoring at different spatial scales, in order to analyze the water conditions of soil and vegetation whose variations can lead to a degradation in agricultural production and efficiency. The use of electromagnetic signals at different wavelengths allows to investigate different layers of soil and vegetation, providing information on various crop conditions. A very interesting spectral band for these purposes, also thanks to a multitude of satellites with increasingly advanced performances, has turned out to be that of microwaves which is not only transparent to cloud cover and does not depend on solar illumination, but also has a notable capacity to penetrate the observed bodies and a direct dependence, via the dielectric constant, on the water content. Therefore, the combined use of microwave remote sensing and near-sensing applications offers the possibility of achieving greater resilience to local conditions.
Plants, which have the ability to adapt and live in even extreme environments, develop a wide variety of strategies to survive in different stress conditions, which tend to negatively affect the development and growth of vegetation. To use solar energy without suffering damage, the latter use defense mechanisms that can include the production of a series of pigments on the outer part of the leaf. One of these concerns the xanthophyll cycle that allows the activation of a photoprotective mechanism that protects the plant from an excess of solar energy. The activation of the xanthophyll cycle is strictly linked to a characteristic of light absorption, by the plant, in the wavelength of 531 ηm. On these premises, an index called PRI (photochemical reflectance index) was generated that allows to indicate the presence of a high activity in the xanthophyll cycle, that is, if the plant is able to exploit all the energy, or a large part of it, to activate the photosynthesis processes.
In this study, the potential of the integration between optical and microwave data has been exploited to monitor the characteristics and the state of vegetation, with the consequent possibility of identifying possible stress conditions. In particular, the activity of the xanthophyll cycle, measurable by the PRI, is strictly linked to the plant's ability to manage excess solar energy and represents an early indicator of physiological stress. This approach allows to identify stress conditions that can compromise biomass accumulation and reduce agricultural yield. Furthermore, the total biomass of vegetation can be quantified using microwave sensors, which are particularly sensitive to water content in plants. The idea of the thesis is to verify the relationships between photosynthetic activity, estimated by the PRI, and water content detected by microwave data, to better understand the dynamics of stress and crop health. A further objective is to analyze and validate these parameters by comparing them with optical indices already consolidated in the literature, in order to confirm and deepen the knowledge of the physiological state of plants and optimize agricultural management. This interaction also aims to identify how much of the water content in crops, measured by satellite sensors, is necessary to determine a significant change in PRI, ensuring that this change is attributable to changes in water content and not to natural fluctuations in the plant's photosynthetic activity.
In this study, the potential of integrating optical and microwave data was exploited to monitor vegetation characteristics and status with the consequent possibility of identifying any stress conditions. In particular, two fields of sorghum, a highly drought-resistant crop, were observed during the summer seasons of 2022 and 2023 using data from the Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 satellite missions. Backscattering data from Sentinel-1, which is a synthetic aperture radar (SAR), were inserted together with a series of in-situ measurements into some electromagnetic models to obtain information on the water content of vegetation and soil. The high sensitivity of SAR data to soil and plant water content was exploited with the high sensitivity of optical data to different pigments, thus producing more in-depth information on the health status of vegetation and validating the PRI measurements carried out in situ.
The results obtained with microwave and multispectral satellite data highlight a high sensitivity of SAR to soil and agricultural vegetation water status and the possibility to estimate both soil moisture and plant water content, confirming that these data can be used in a complementary way to monitor agricultural vegetation status: C-band SAR data can be used to estimate the plant water content (PWC), while Sentinel-2 derived multispectral indices, such as the Normalized Difference Red Edge (NDRE) or the Plant Senescence Reflectance Index (PSRI), can be used to detect pigment status. The implemented method helps to improve vegetation monitoring, highlighting vegetation water status and its daily variations that indices based only on microwave or multispectral data are not able to detect
Introducing Prism[4]arene: A Macrocycle with Enantiomerically Resolvable Inherent Chirality and Intriguing Chiroptical Properties
No full textThis study presents the first report of an inherently chiral prismarene with resolved enantiomers. Prism[4]arenes, synthesized via a thermodynamic template approach using a tailor-made selective cation, effectively maintain their chirality due to their strained macrorings and narrow annuli, which prevent the flipping of naphthalene rings. The solid-state structure of the synthesized PrS[4]iPe revealed a racemic crystal composed of all-pR and all-pS enantiomeric pairs, forming supramolecular polymeric chains of homochiral molecules interlinked by intermolecular host-guest interactions. Both enantiomers were resolved by using chiral high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and their chiroptical properties were thoroughly investigated. Configurational assignment was achieved through time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) computations alongside electronic circular dichroism/ultraviolet-visible (ECD/UV-vis) spectral analysis. Notably, the circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) properties exhibited a significant dissymmetry ratio of 0.008 for these prism[4]arenes, due to electric and magnetic dipole transition moments both directed along the cylinder axis. Furthermore, the ability of PrS[4]iPe to achieve enantioselective recognition with chiral ammonium guests was demonstrated
Progettare spazi pubblici adattivi al clima nelle zone critiche | Design climate adaptive public spaces in critical zones
No full textIn the current context of climate crisis, architectural design is increasingly called upon to address the transformation of fragile urban and territorial areas, integrating cultural heritage with strategies of environmental resilience. This article explores the role of adaptive reuse in marginal contexts as a means of responding to the dual urgency of climate adaptation and sustainable urban regeneration. Starting from 2020 flood event in Altamura (Bari, Italy), the design lan coordinated by Professor Ina Macaione at University of Basilicata engaged with the city's hydrological vulnerabilities by developing site-specific proposals based on the concept of watersquare, urban devices that combine stormwater management with the enhancement of public space. Three projects are presented
as experimental responses to these challenges, aiming to transform climate-related risks into opportunities for ecological and social reconnection. The work highlights how reuse, when framed within a systemic and climate-conscious perspective, can act as a catalyst for innovation in both design practice and didactic experimentation