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On Vertical Farming: architectural design and urban strategies
No full textConsiderata la crescente interrelazione tra abitare e coltivare - che è alla base delle principali trasformazioni dello spazio fisico avvenute ad opera degli esseri umani e che ha plasmato l’umanità stessa nel tempo -, la ricerca esplora il potenziale dell’agricoltura urbana fuori suolo come strumento strategico di riqualificazione urbana sostenibile. In particolare, si analizza l’introduzione della coltivazione aeroponica in Vertical Farming quale sistema produttivo in grado di generare impatti positivi sull’ecosistema urbano, a diverse scale. Nel contesto attuale, segnato da un'accelerazione dei processi di urbanizzazione, dal crescente consumo di suolo e da una maggiore domanda di accesso equo al cibo, la tesi si inserisce nel dibattito sulla transizione ecologica proponendo l’integrazione tra edifici dismessi e tecnologie avanzate di Vertical Farming. L'elemento innovativo risiede nello sviluppo di un iter progettuale che interpreta la Vertical Farm come dispositivo urbano in grado di catalizzare il riuso architettonico, la produzione alimentare e l'attivazione dello spazio aperto. Attraverso il metodo e il processo di ricerca, i fondamenti teorici e il progetto urbano presentato, la tesi promuove una visione sistemica dell'architettura. Entro tale visione, la Vertical Farm si configura come infrastruttura produttiva in grado di incentivare processi sociali, spaziali e ambientali virtuosi. La tesi propone, infine, di ripensare lo spazio aperto urbano come territorio educante: un paradigma mutualistico in cui cura collettiva, ecologia e tecnologia si integrano, fondandosi su responsabilità ambientale, equità e inclusione interspecifica.Given the growing interrelation between dwelling and cultivating—a relationship that has historically underpinned major transformations of physical space and contributed to shaping humanity itself—this research explores the potential of soilless urban agriculture as a strategic tool for sustainable urban regeneration. Specifically, it investigates the introduction of aeroponic cultivation systems within Vertical Farming structures, conceived as infrastructures capable of generating positive impacts on the urban ecosystem at multiple scales. In the current context—characterized by accelerating urbanization, increasing land consumption, and growing demands for equitable access to food—this thesis contributes to the discourse on ecological transition by proposing the integration of abandoned buildings with advanced Vertical Farming technologies. The innovative aspect lies in the development of a design process that interprets the Vertical Farm as an urban device capable of catalyzing architectural reuse, food production, and the activation of open space. Through its research methodology, theoretical framework, and urban design proposal, the thesis promotes a systemic vision of architecture. Within this vision, the Vertical Farm is not merely a productive infrastructure, but a catalyst for virtuous social, spatial, and environmental processes. Ultimately, the thesis proposes to reconceive urban open space as an educating territory: a mutualistic paradigm where collective care, ecology, and technology converge, grounded in environmental responsibility, equity, and interspecies inclusion
Sustainable enterprises: green psychological climate and sustainable behaviors in an italian agri-food company
No full textThis doctoral thesis investigates how environmental sustainability (ES) is implemented and perceived within a large Italian agri-food company. Grounded in work and organizational psychology, the study analyzes the translation of external environmental pressures into internal organizational processes, emphasizing the role of top management, green HR practices, and informal change agents in shaping green organizational culture and sustainable workplace behaviors. Through a multi-method research design—including interviews, document analysis, and questionnaires—the project explores the relationship between environmental policies, eco-initiatives, and employee perceptions, focusing on the Green Work Climate (GWC) model as both a mediating and descriptive framework. Four empirical studies analyze the antecedents and effects of sustainable behaviors, revealing how organizational and group-level climates influence employee engagement in eco-civic actions and eco-initiatives. The findings offer both theoretical and practical implications for enhancing environmental sustainability in industrial settings, emphasizing the importance of aligning top-down policies with bottom-up engagement
Metal carbonyl clusters as effective precursors in the preparation of heterogeneous catalysts for biomass valorization
No full textIn this work, the use of metal carbonyl clusters (MCCs) as precursors for the preparation of heterogeneous catalysts is presented. In particular, their deposition on select supports and their subsequent decomposition is shown to be a viable strategy for the preparation of well-dispersed ultrasmall monometallic and bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs). Pt/Ni-based systems were prepared through the decomposition of heterometallic Ni−Pt Chini-type supported on TiO2, while the Ru-based catalysts were prepared employing the MCC [HRu3(CO)11] supported on different materials. The characterization of the final catalysts showed the formation of well-dispersed NPs with mean diameters around 1 nm. Moreover, both kinds of systems presented enhanced catalytic performances compared to analogous catalysts prepared via the more employed incipient wetness impregnation of metallic salts. The Pt/Ni-based catalysts were found to be active for both model reactions performed: reductive amination of furfural (FUR) and selective oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). Ni insertion in the Pt active phase achieved two important results: in reductive amination of FUR, it led to an increased yield of furfurylamine (FAM) above 90% after one hour of reaction; in HMF oxidation, it improved catalyst stability, allowing five reaction cycles to be performed on the same catalyst. The preparation of Ru-based systems demonstrated the possibility of obtaining small NPs through the MCCs decomposition over different supports, allowing fine-tuning of the properties of the final catalyst. The preparation of Ru nanoparticles supported over basic materials led to improved catalytic performances compared to the use of NaHCO3 to promote HMF oxidation over non-basic catalysts like Ru/TiO2. Employing the materials obtained from the calcination of Mg/Al layer double hydroxides (LDH) as support for the Ru NPs, it was possible to carry out the HMF oxidation obtaining a complete conversion of the reagent and a high FDCA yield of around 90% after 6 hours of reaction
Chamaeleon of Heraclea. Testimonies and selected fragments
No full textLa tesi propone l’edizione critica, corredata di commento, dei Testimoni e di una selezione di Frammenti delle opere di Cameleonte di Eraclea. L’introduzione ripercorre la storia degli studi relativi alla figura del Peripatetico, ne indaga la ricezione nell’erudizione moderna, definisce l’impostazione metodologica adottata per l’analisi dei frammenti, presenta la tradizione testuale delle fonti che li preservano e ne delinea i criteri di selezione. Dopo i Testimonia, sono editi e analizzati i frammenti dei trattati Περὶ θεῶν, Περὶ Ἰλιάδος, Περὶ Πινδάρου, Περὶ Ἀνακρέοντος e Περὶ τῆς ἀρχαίας κωμῳδίας. L’Appendice presenta una nuova edizione critica con commento di due testimoni papiracei, il PSI IX 1093 e il P.Oxy. XXVI 2451.The dissertation presents a critical edition, accompanied by a commentary, of the Testimonia and a selection of Fragments from the works of Chamaeleon of Heraclea. The introduction traces the history of scholarship on Chamaeleon, examines his reception in modern erudition, outlines the methodological approach adopted for the analysis of the fragments, discusses the textual tradition of the sources that preserve them, and defines the criteria for their selection. Following the Testimonia, the fragments of the treatises On the Gods, On the Iliad, On Pindar, On Anacreon, and On Ancient Comedy are edited and analysed. The Appendix provides a new critical edition with commentary of two papyrological testimonia, PSI IX 1093 and P.Oxy. XXVI 2451
Closing the loops: water - energy - bioeconomy nexus in a systemic framework
No full textCircular Bioeconomy encourages the creation of closed-cycle systems based on biological resources. Whilst the circular bioeconomy concept seeks to limit the overuse of natural resources, its successful implementation is closely tied to resource availability, including water. This thesis explores the nexus between water resources and bioeconomy through a circular and systemic lens. The analysis is grounded in a literature review and two case studies within a portion of the Po River Basin District. The first study explores the cascading impacts of the 2022 drought on major water-use sectors and on the broader socio-environmental system. The propagation of the effects identified is mapped into Causal Loop Diagrams, conceptual models derived from the System Dynamics methodology. Results highlight severe agri-environmental consequences, exacerbated by high temperatures, and amplified energy demand due to more energy-intensive activities, which indicate the water-energy nexus. The study also highlights the critical role of leverage points in complex systems suggesting supply and demand-side management strategies. These include, for instance, a change in crop allocation towards less water-intensive ones. The second study employs an optimization method, based on multicriteria decision analysis, to investigate land allocation decisions. The results show that the elasticity of water demand is influenced by various factors beyond water pricing, like risk behaviour and participation in the bioeconomy. Agents engaged in bioenergy are less sensitive to water price increases, underscoring the risk of both the ineffectiveness of such economic instruments, mandated by the Water Framework Directive, and the potentiality of unsustainable outcomes. This research argues that systemic approaches need to be reflected in the policy domain, moving beyond sectoral policies that can result in controversial effects. In doing so, this thesis calls for a more comprehensive approach in policy design that better aligns with the inherent complexity of circular bioeconomy systems
Understanding long-term multi-year drought characteristics in Europe under climate change
No full textCharacterizing the evolution of drought frequency and severity under anthropogenic global warming remains a key challenge because of the complexity of the underlying physical processes and the mismatch between the length of instrumental records and the long-term variability of drought features. Multiyear droughts, given their rare occurrence and the limited availability of historical data, make it more difficult to determine their occurrence patterns and develop reliable future predictions. This thesis aims to enhance the understanding of long-term multiyear meteorological and hydrological drought risk in European regions from the past, present, to future by integrating paleo-hydroclimatic, observational, and climate-model-based data. The study first assesses the ability of Global Climate Models (GCMs) to reproduce multiyear meteorological drought statistics in Northern Italy using a 209-year rainfall record. Results indicate that while GCMs effectively simulate rainfall seasonality and drought frequency, they tend to underestimate drought duration and severity. A modeling framework is then developed to integrate streamflow observations, paleo-hydrological reconstructions, and climate model simulations, addressing the limitations of short instrumental records. Applied to the Po River, the result indicates a projected 10% decline in mean annual flow during the 21st century, with drought duration and severity increasing by approximately 11% and 12%, respectively. Future drought conditions are likely to match or exceed the driest period of the Medieval Climate Anomaly under different emissions scenarios. Expanding this framework to six additional Alpine basins, the study demonstrates that tree-ring-based streamflow reconstructions effectively capture long-term variability and multiyear droughts. Large-scale climate oscillations may play a critical role in influencing multiyear droughts, with future projections indicating an increased likelihood of extreme events under similar climate patterns. In summary, this thesis underscores the value of a multidisciplinary framework to assess hydroclimatic extremes and improve drought risk projections, providing crucial insights for climate adaptation and regional water resource management
Mechanism-based continuum modelling of masonry
No full textWhen dealing with the analysis of masonry structures, numerical models are generally adopted. Different modelling strategies have been proposed throughout the years, including detailed block-based models and homogeneous continuum approaches. While ensuring accurate predictions thanks to explicitly modelling masonry constituents, block-based approaches tend to be computationally expensive. Therefore, continuum models, representing masonry as an equivalent homogeneous material, are usually preferred. This approach allows a net saving in terms of computational cost, although it requires defining a proper constitutive framework. In this sense, accounting for different failure mechanisms appears essential. In this thesis, a novel framework for the mechanism-based continuum modelling of masonry is proposed. Emphasis is given to the possibility of representing different failure mechanisms within a homogeneous continuum approach. A selection of the most prominent ones for regular periodic masonry is taken as a starting point to derive a novel multi-failure strength domain. A single-surface formulation is also proposed, relying on the RealSoftMax function. Its employment in the framework of non-associated elasto-plasticity is investigated through displacement-based Finite Elements (FEs), showing promising results. Higher computational efficiency is then achieved by means of a novel hybrid stress FE. In both cases, the possibility of separately tracking the evolution of a plastic strain variable for each failure mechanism is highlighted. Finally, the post-peak quasi-brittle response of masonry is investigated within a mechanism-based elasto-damaging approach. A damage variable is conceived for each failure mechanism and suitably related with the damage variables for an orthotropic continuum model. The approach allows to track the evolution of damage and the mechanisms activated. Mixed stabilized displacement-strain FEs, recently proposed to deal with constitutive models involving softening, are also employed. Throughout this thesis, numerical examples are presented with the aim of highlighting the models capabilities and potentialities. Well-known benchmarks from the literature are also considered for comparison
Non-destructive testing of post-tensioned concrete elements using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Ultrasound Tomography (UT)
No full textRecently, there has been a growing focus on the vulnerability of infrastructure, particularly bridges, due to emerging issues that may threaten the safety of commuters. A significant number of major bridges that are over 50 to 60 years old suffer from insufficient maintenance, aging materials, and rapid structural integrity deterioration. In response, governments have initiated comprehensive bridge inspection campaigns, based on national Guidelines, to assess their current condition. This initiative provides the basis for the development of rehabilitation programs to restore viable infrastructure and identify alternative solutions for those beyond repair. This thesis focuses on evaluating the applicability and reliability of non-destructive techniques employed in bridge inspections, specifically. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Ultrasound Tomography (UT). The study aims to clarify the strengths and limitations of these methods by offering a comprehensive theoretical foundation, explaining the underlying principles, and examining their applicability and beneficial outcomes. Therefore, two distinct experimental campaigns were conducted under controlled laboratory conditions, providing valuable case studies that closely mimic real-world bridges, in particular post-tensioned beams. Tendon ducts were filled with grout and tendons, along with scenarios simulating defective grouting. The specimens include variable spacing between stirrups and varying tendon duct depths. These controlled experiments offer a practical framework for analyzing the factors influencing the effectiveness of the two methodologies. The laboratory findings contributed to more reliable assessments of structural integrity and grouting conditions, ultimately supporting effective maintenance and rehabilitation strategies for bridges. This work highlighted the importance of integrating advanced technology into infrastructure management to ensure the safety and longevity of vital transportation networks
Impact of ambient temperature on structural response: data-driven models for damage detection in SHM systems
No full textThe accuracy and reliability of Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) systems are significantly affected by environmental and operational variations, with ambient temperature playing a major role. Temperature fluctuations modify material properties such as stiffness and alter support conditions, impacting structural response data recorded by SHM systems. These variations may lead to false-positive damage detections or obscure actual structural deterioration, underscoring the necessity of incorporating temperature effects in SHM analysis. This dissertation addresses these challenges by examining thermal inertia, which causes a time lag between temperature changes and structural response measurements. To account for this, sequential temperature measurements are integrated into regression models to enhance the accuracy of structural response predictions and damage detection. A range of regression models is developed and tested, including linear regression, autoregressive with exogenous inputs (ARX), autoregressive-moving average with exogenous inputs (ARMAX), Nonlinear AutoRegressive with eXogenous inputs (NLARX), and the deep learning-based WaveNet model. These models are applied across multiple case studies, including finite element simulations, experimental data from an aluminum truss bridge, and real-world monitoring of the Z24 Bridge and Munich test bridge. The models incorporate temperature history from recent hours, and their predictive accuracy and damage detection capabilities are evaluated. Findings reveal that considering temperature history significantly enhances SHM predictions, reducing errors in identifying structural damage. The NLARX model strikes a balance between computational efficiency and predictive performance, making it highly applicable to real-world scenarios. Although WaveNet offers superior accuracy, its high computational demands limit its practicality. In conclusion, integrating temperature history into SHM models greatly improves long-term infrastructure monitoring. The choice of regression model depends on data availability and computational resources, requiring a trade-off between precision and efficiency. These findings contribute to more robust SHM frameworks, enhancing the reliability of damage detection and infrastructure management
Innovative planned prevention. Indoor environmental control techniques for the conservation and safe accessibility of cultural heritage
No full textLa ricerca si propone di integrare diversi ambiti – teorico, tecnico-operativo e produttivo – e di fornire concreti avanzamenti nell’ambito della conservazione preventiva e programmata del patrimonio culturale. I concetti su cui essa si fonda sono: il controllo ambientale indoor come pratica di conservazione preventiva dei beni culturali, il rapporto tra qualità dell’aria e salute delle persone, la salubrità dell’aria indoor come mezzo di accessibilità ai luoghi della cultura. Essa sviluppa gli studi utili all’individuazione di sistemi tecnologici per il controllo dei parametri ambientali indoor, in collaborazione con un’azienda, in un’ottica di previsione dei loro effetti nell’ambiente interno. Il solo approccio tecnologico non è però sufficiente a risolvere la complessità della dinamica analizzata: la ricerca mira quindi a formulare un protocollo operativo che possa rendere possibile il concretizzarsi di interventi mirati di conservazione preventiva, che necessitano di modalità controllate di fruizione e d’uso dei siti della cultura. Il percorso della conoscenza si compone dell’analisi delle caratteristiche del sito, delle condizioni di conservazione dei beni culturali, del monitoraggio ambientale, dell’analisi delle dinamiche ambientali in atto e della dotazione tecnologica e impiantistica presente, al fine di quantificare il rischio microclimatico indoor e il rischio ambientale indoor per le opere custodite e per i materiali dell’architettura storica. Il protocollo viene applicato in un caso studio, per testarne l’efficacia e indagarne i risvolti pratici e operativi: il Pio Monte della Misericordia a Napoli. All’interno dei diversi ambienti del complesso è stato svolto un monitoraggio dei parametri microclimatici e di qualità dell’aria indoor tramite una rete di sensori multiparametrici IoT e una sperimentazione con un sistema tecnologico di sanitizzazione dell’aria.The research aims to integrate different fields - theoretical, technical-operational and productive - and to provide concrete advances in the field of preventive and planned conservation of cultural heritage. The concepts on which it is based are indoor environmental control as a practice of preventive conservation of cultural heritage, the relationship between air quality and human health, indoor air healthiness as a means of accessibility to cultural sites. In collaboration with a company, it develops studies useful for identifying technological systems for controlling indoor environmental parameters in order to predict their effects on the indoor environment. However, the technological approach alone is not sufficient to resolve the complexity of the dynamics analysed: the research therefore aims to formulate an operational protocol that will make it possible to implement targeted preventive conservation interventions that require controlled modes of use and enjoyment of cultural sites. In order to quantify the indoor microclimate risk and the indoor environmental risk for the works of art and the historical architectural materials, the knowledge path consists of an analysis of the characteristics of the site, the conservation conditions of the heritage, environmental monitoring, an analysis of the existing environmental dynamics and the existing technological and plant equipment. The protocol is applied in a case study to test its effectiveness and examine its practical and operational implications: the Pio Monte della Misericordia in Naples. Monitoring of microclimatic parameters and indoor air quality was carried out in the various rooms of the complex using a network of IoT multi-parameter sensors and an experiment with a technological air sanitisation system