124 research outputs found
An integrated approach for studying the land suitability for ecological corridors through spatial multicriteria evaluations
No full textAssessing different possibilities for the reuse of an open-pit quarry using the Choquet integral
No full textIntegrated sustainability assessments: a spatial multicriteria evaluation for siting a waste incinerator plant in the Province of Torino (Italy)
No full textThe present paper proposes a spatial multicriteria approach for supporting decision makers in the siting process of a waste incinerator plant in the Province of Torino (Italy). Municipal solid waste management is an intrinsically complex problem because it involves different interconnected elements and must achieve objectives that are often in conflict. Given the spatial nature of the problem, a useful support is provided by a family of methods that are rapidly gaining traction for planning and policy-making, named multicriteria spatial decision support systems, which are based on geographical information systems and multicriteria analysis coupling. In the present study, a methodological framework is proposed for the integration of geographical information systems with a specific multicriteria analysis technique, named Analytic Network Process. The method is illustrated with reference to a case study in the Province of Torino. The purpose of the research is to generate a suitability map of the area under analysis in order to locate a municipal solid waste incinerator plant. The application allows the dependence relationships between the criteria to be assessed and the relative importance of all the elements to be evaluated. The results are obtained in the form of maps analyzed through the ILWIS 3.3 GIS software and have been further verified through a "what-if" analysis with reference to the clusters priorities in order to test the robustness of the model. The implementation of the spatial Analytic Network Process technique gives an originality value to the present research since it represents one of the first applications at both the national and international level
Enabling public participation in Strategic Environmental Assessment: an application of Multicriteria Analysis,
No full textSince the last decades Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) has been recognized as a very important and rapidly growing area of research and application in the domain of sustainable development. It has been generally agreed that public participation must be integrated in SEA procedure because it allows information relevant to the decision-making process to be included. In this sense, one of the major challenge in this area is to detect some tools which are able to better link the decision-making process and the stakeholders involved in the decision. The paper proposes an application of a method belonging to the Multiple Criteria Decision Aiding family in order to support the preparation of a land-use plan for a small town in Northern Italy, highlighting the relationship between the performed evaluation, the SEA procedure and the participatory planning process that has been carried out in order to involve the population in planning decision
Demetalation of corrole complexes: an old dream turning into reality
No full textDifferent strategies for the demetalation of corrole complexes have been developed, using copper complexes of corrole as model compounds.,Best results were obtained using the acidic mixture CHCl3/H2SO,, which allowed the almost complete removal of copper ions from both mesotriaryl-, beta-octaalkyl- and fully substituted corroles. This route reduced both the decomposition of the starting complex and the formation of isocorrole species produced by oxidation of the corrole ring in the acidic conditions necessary for the demetalation reaction. To investigate the scope of the reaction, the same approach was later extended to other metal complexes of corrole, such as cobalt, manganese, iron and germanium derivatives. Although not always successful, this approach demonstrated that in the case of corrole it is also possible to obtain a reversible coordination of metal ions, a route of synthetic interest for further functionalization of the corrole ring. Copyright (c) 2008 Society of Porphyrins & Phthalocyanines
Use of Multi-Criteria Model to Compare Devices for the Protection of Roads against Rockfall
No full textMany kilometers of roads in mountainside areas have adjacent rock slopes that are prone to rockfall. The analysis of these instabilities is a complex and multidimensional process that requires engineering judgments regarding the choice of a suitable protection device because different alternatives can be used to solve the same problem, taking into account the costs and impact on the environment. Nevertheless, very few tools are available to help designers and decision makers to manage this problem by comparing the various alternatives and by quantifying the advantages or disadvantages of each. For this reason it is important to highlight that the Multi-Criteria Analysis approach, as applied in the Analytic Hierarchy Process technique, is a suitable tool since it considers the various aspects that are involved in the assessment and design of rockfall protection devices. The model presented in this article considers the five most relevant aspects (economic, environmental, design, transport, and social) considered in the process of decision making concerning the choice of a rockfall protection device. Finally, the developed model is applied to a real case of a mountain road that is prone to rockfall phenomena, and the results are presented and discussed
Integrating multicriteria evaluation and stakeholders analysis for assessing hydropower projects
No full textThe use of hydroelectric potential and the protection of the river ecosystem are two contrasting aspects that arise in the management of the same resource, generating conflicts between different stakeholders. The purpose of the paper is to develop a multi-level decision-making tool able to support energy planning, with specific reference to the construction of hydropower plants in mountain areas. Starting from a real-world problem concerning the basin of the Sesia Valley (Italy), an evaluation framework based on the combined use of Multicriteria Evaluation and Stakeholders Analysis is proposed in the study. The results of the work show that the methodology is able to grant participated decisions through a multi-stakeholders traceable and transparent assessment process, to highlight the important elements of the decision problem and to support the definition of future design guidelines
Fast optical sensing of metals: a case study of Cu(2+)assessment in soils
No full textIn this paper we report an application of a novel porphyrin ligand, Zn(II)TPP-BPI-crown (ZnPC), functionalized with two dibenzo-crown-ether moieties as cation-sensitive ionophore. The test on the optical response of ZnPC ligand inside PVC-based polymeric membranes towards different cations (Na+, K+, Li+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Co2+, Cd2+, Pb2+, Zn2+, Cu(2+)and NH4+) were performed. The influence of the lipophilic site functionalization on the ZnPC optode response was investigated. The visibly (naked eye) observed color change of sensing material from green to red demonstrated the suitability of the ZnPC-based optodes to perform fast monitoring of Cu(II) ions in the concentration range between 6.6 x 10(-7)and 2.4 x 10(-2)mol l(-1), with a low detection limit (estimated by s/n = 3 method) of 0.03 mg l(-1), which is lower than WHO guideline value of 2 mg l(-1)for natural waters. The membranes with the best composition were deposited onto paper support and employed for the express analysis of copper(II) ion in aqueous soil extracts. The results obtained were in a good agreement with a standard ASS method, thus suggesting the utility of developed sensors for aims of express environmental monitoring
One-step synthesis of isocorroles
No full textA new method for the preparation of isocorroles has been developed based on the reaction of triphenylcorrole with DDQ. Regioisomer 7 where the interruption of the conjugation is at the 5 position, is reported for the first time. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
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