1,721,002 research outputs found
Micro-climatic effect of shading nets for crop protection in Mediterranean areas.
No full textMediterranean areas are characterized by hot summers that can determine bad environmental conditions for the growth of vegetable crops cultivated inside greenhouse. In Southern Italy, the traditional technique often employed by farmers during summer to reduce sun radiation and excessive internal air temperature is the whitening of the external side of the greenhouse plastic film through painting it with liquid calcium carbonate. More recently, the use of plastic shading nets is progressively affirming, thanks to a cheaper price and improved photo-selective properties, as a way to more effectively control the micro-climatic conditions inside closed greenhouse and tunnel. Thanks to a specific formulation of their chemical and physical properties, plastic nets may indeed combine the shade effect with some specific features useful for creating more favourable microclimatic conditions for the crop growth. With the aim to analyze the efficacy of different greenhouse shading
techniques, an experimental trial was carried out by comparing two commercial plastic nets characterized by different shade effects, respectively
equal to 60 % and 36%. These two plastic nets were tested in laboratory, where their radiometrical characteristics were determined. The same plastic nets were then installed on two different small-scale tunnels located in Southern Italy, in which inside air and relative humidity were measured during some late spring days. The results obtained through these experimental trails enabled to start a comparative analysis of the performances of the two tested shading nets, highlighting the role that a correct selection of the most suitable net may play on the final results in terms of crop protection from high temperatures and sunburns
Analysis of renewable energy and agro-food by-products in a rural landscape: the Energyscapes.
Full text linkRenewable energy sources currently play an increasingly crucial role that, owing to their spatial and high temporal variability, need a careful planning approach to develop a flexible spatio-temporal analysis framework. From an energy point of view, thanks to its morphological, agricultural and environmental structure, a regional territory, such as the Basilicata Region (Southern Italy), can be considered as an interesting case study, since it is characterized by significant sources of renewable energy (biomass, wind, solar, hydro, etc.). This paper presents an analysis of the spatial supply and relationships between renewable energy potentials and rural land through the use of a Geographical Information System, implemented with the aim to analyze the energy usability, and to investigate the influence of unutilized biomass resources for bioenergy production, such as agro-food by-products, that are often spread on the territory and need to be collected and transported to conversion plants. The study is carried out to bridge the gap between energy modelling and spatial planning, by integrating research and techniques in energy systems within a more general environmental and landscape framework. The concept of “Energyscape” may be considered as a spatial and temporal combination of the supply, demand and infrastructure for energy. The temporal and spatial aspects, linking the biomass resource, the biomass by-product, the conversion plant size and the environmental impacts, are the starting point to simulate an interdisciplinary analysis able to define the importance of the spatial arrangement for decisions on energy plant localization, enabling to figure out optimal solutions in decision-making processes and in spatial planning
Planning the energy valorization of agricultural co-products, byproducts and waste in a landscape context.
Full text linkWithin the current global trend aimed to increase energy saving and exploit renewable energies, agriculture may play a significant role, mainly when the energy valorization of agricultural by-products, co-products and waste is concerned. Agricultural biomass is a diffuse source of energy, having one of the highest potential to cover renewable energy needs for the future, but the previous restoration of organic matter in the soil should be anyway properly considered. Litter decomposition governs the soil nutrient levels and the carbon cycle, consequently influencing the physical and chemical properties of the soil, which are the key components to maintain the productivity of agro-ecosystems and the entirety of rural landscapes. In the present paper, the spatial relationships between renewable energy potentials, coming from agricultural co-products, by-products and waste, and the rural landscape, were analyzed through the implementation of a GIS over the whole territory of the Basilicata Region. This internal Southern Italian Region can be considered as a benchmarking case study, since it is characterized by big sources of
renewable energy connected to its morphological and environmental structure, as well as to its traditional agricultural and food productions. Basing on the quantity of agricultural residues, the energy production in this study area after restoring the nutrient balance of the soil was estimated in the framework of a planning process able to preserve the rural landscape
Micro-climatic effect of plastic nets for crop protection in greenhouse.
Full text linkExcessive levels of solar radiation may negatively influence crop growth, with sunburns or other possible crop damages, while increasing the internal greenhouse temperature above levels that are tolerable for plants and workers. In order to control hot air temperature inside a greenhouse, one of the most common solutions traditionally employed by growers in Southern Europe is whitening the external side of its cladding material, by painting it with liquid calcium carbonate. More recently, the use of plastic shading nets is progressively affirming, thanks to their cheaper price and some improved technical characteristics that enable them to act as a “passive” tool for controlling internal microclimate and produce suitable environmental conditions. A comparative analysis between a plastic net and a traditional whitening technique, aimed to critically assess the efficacy of the two different shading methods to modify and control the internal microclimate inside a plastic-covered greenhouse, is presented in this paper. A trial was carried out in Pontecagnano (Southern Italy), where one small-scale tunnel was shaded with a plastic net characterized by 60% of shade effect, while another identical small-scale tunnel was whitened with liquid calcium carbonate on the external side of the cladding plastic film. The radiometrical characteristics both of the plastic net and the whitened film were determined in the laboratory of the SAFE School of the University of Basilicata (Italy). The results obtained through these experimental trails enabled a comparative analysis of the performances of the two tested shading methods, confirming the relationship among the shading conditions and the transmittance in the solar range, highlighting the role that a correct solution may play on the final results in terms of crop protection from high temperatures and sunburns
Classificazione di vocazionalità all'impiego di energie rinnovabili mediante grid multi-layer
Full text linkLe energie rinnovabili si pongono come una alternativa sempre di più valida alle fonti energetiche tradizionali, considerato che il loro utilizzo non pregiudica le risorse naturali, in quanto non immettono in atmosfera sostanze nocive e/o climalteranti.
La Regione Basilicata, grazie alla sua morfologia, orografia ed alle caratteristiche del patrimonio forestale ben si presta ad essere considerata un serbatoio di energia pulita.
L'obiettivo del presente lavoro è quello di individuare la vocazionalità del territorio agricolo e forestale con l’impiego di Grid Multi-Layer rispetto a ciascuna delle varie fonti di energia rinnovabile, in particolare individuando aree potenzialmente più idonee alla produzione di energia solare, eolica e da biomasse.
L'analisi delle caratteristiche del territorio è stata effettuata attraverso specifiche elaborazioni GIS che hanno condotto alla realizzazione di una banca dati territoriale, all'interno della quale tutti i vari strati informativi sono stati inseriti come file vector, raster e/o geodatabase.
Per poter rendere tale strumento facilmente utilizzabile e/o consultabile dai decisori, è stato inoltre implementato un unico livello informativo in formato raster grid, con la caratteristica di contenere tutte le informazioni necessarie al fine della classificazione della vocazionalità.
Il Grid Multi-Layer realizzato permette di valutare le differenti propensioni del territorio rispetto alle varie fonti energetiche considerate, in modo da consentire una più consapevole opera di pianificazione e gestione del territorio. Nell’attuale sistema di sviluppo e salvaguardia ambientale il Grid Multi-Layer potrebbe costituire un valido supporto anche nella programmazione delle politiche energetiche regionali
Rural landscape planning through spatial modelling and image processing of historical maps
No full textRural land has been affected over the years by profound, complex and difficult to understand transformations due to natural events, human intervention and changes in natural cycles. Nowadays, the analysis of rural land as well as the environment and landscape is made easier and more complete through the use of powerful and reliable tools; many changes can be considered to be models of territorial development that may prove useful in the appropriate planning of interventions in a rural area. In this paper the land use changes in a rural area located in Southern Italy were analysed by comparing some historical cartographic supports produced by the Italian Geographic Military Institute at different periods over about 160 years with modern maps, in order to evaluate the morphological and vegetation variations of agro-forestry land. The results in terms of landscape modification of the study area show significant changes: the agricultural and forestry land has been affected by deep transformations. Land use and morphological changes at four time steps were conducted through the implementation of digital terrain models, which were enriched by draping land cover pictures over them; these finally enabled an evaluation in a scenic way of the morphological and vegetation variations of the agro-forestry landscape, allowing a virtual jump back to periods when digital aerial photography was not yet possible. Multitemporal analysis with the support of GIS techniques has great potential for assessing and monitoring landscape diversity and typical changes of vegetation and for planning sound interventions in landscape structures
Multi-temporal analysis of vernacular farm buildings and rural landscape through historical cartography and 3-D GIS
Full text linkFarm buildings, designed over the centuries in order to fulfil their primary agricultural goal, now often constitute a widespread heritage of vernacular constructions, endowed with an unreplaceable architectural value. Together with the concurrent action of natural events, human interventions and changes in natural cycles, they play indeed a central role in shaping the rural landscape.
In this paper, thanks to the use of a Geographic Information System in which historical cartography, aerial photos and other ancillary dataset have been implemented, the land use of the area of “Monte Vulture and Monticchio lakes” and its environmental components have been investigated through a 3-D modelling of the relevant rural landscape and its main features. This area, located in the Basilicata Region (southern Italy), is one territory with a great scenic interest, having been recognized as a landscape heritage thanks to some specific cultural and historical elements. This rural landscape also includes – similar as many other Italian rural landscapes - some vernacular constructions having a high historical and architectural value, that have contributed to create this traditional rural landscape. The analysis has involved a multi-temporal comparison of the vernacular constructions located in the study area, so as to evaluate the built heritage evolution in the framework of its rural landscape, as well as its interactions with the surrounding territory. With this aim, the historical reconstruction of the landscape before and after the year 1900 has been conducted through implementing digital terrain models enriched by draping land cover pictures over them.
The results which have been obtained enabled an evaluation in a scenic way of the morphological and vegetation variations during time of the rural landscape, allowing a virtual “time jump” back to periods when digital aerial photography was not yet existing. Thanks to these new technologies, able to exploit information included into old cartographic supports, some suitable tools have been then developed, skilled to support the sustainable planning and management of rural built heritage, enabling an analysis of their possible valorisation for cultural tourism purposes as well
Spatial modeling and image processing of historical maps for rural landscape planning
No full textThe analysis of the rural land modification, as well as its environment and landscape, is im-portant to understand the profound transformations connected with the human intervention and natural events. A multi-temporal analysis, with the support of GIS techniques, has a great potential for monitoring landscape diversity. The objective of this paper is to present a methodology for the spatial analysis that was developed with the aim to understand the dy-namics occurred in the past on the rural landscape, on its morphology and vegetation, to compare them with the current situation and to imagine possible future trends for a sound planning of interventions on the landscape structure. This approach was applied to a case study in the South of Italy, within the Basilicata Region. A specific GIS was designed and implemented, so identifying the most important elements present in a study area, analyzing their transformation, and formulating a spatial model with the primary aim of highlighting the interrelationships between the elements present in the study area and the rural landscape. The analysis of this landscape, enabled by digital processing of historical maps dating to dif-ferent time periods, was performed over the three-dimension images of the territory, that can be considered as a reconstruction of the territory showing all the differences that have oc-curred over the years. All the aspects characterizing the area, starting from the analysis of topography, land cover, vegetation, rivers, until getting to anthropic components (buildings, roads or railways, hydraulic infrastructures, etc.) can be examined in suitable detail and completeness. Final results of this analysis are the creation of a powerful tool, able to give useful information that would be adequately considered in addressing suitable development policies and land management planning in the rural areas. The environment may be particu-larly considered for a sustainable development in harmony with the historical changes of the rural territory that current events, according to the modern ways of conceiving the suburban areas, play over social aspects closely related to the traditions and customs of the past
Historical cartography and GIS tools for the analysis of land use and landscape changes.
No full textThe human activities led modifications, connected to land use changes, in the agro-forestry areas and in the rural land. The changes in social and economic conditions, occurred during the last century, have imposed significant modifications to the rural land, with different impacts on the environment. To understand these modifications is now more easy thanks to new tools and
technologies. The territorial analysis shows, with the support of a Geographic Information System (GIS) and historical maps, the dynamics of land use occurred during the years, in order to evaluate the consequences of the land transformations on the rural environment and landscape. The study area, located
in the Basilicata region (South of Italy), reflects the common dynamic present in many rural areas of Southern Italy, i.e. the increase of agricultural areas (in particular for cereal crops) replacing forested surfaces in an older period, followed by the further phenomenon of spontaneous re-naturalization of many of
these areas, due to the abandonment of extensive cultivated areas. The use of three-dimensional reconstructions, obtained through the creation of different Digital Terrain Model (DTM), has allowed to appreciate also the landscape modifications, in term of morphological and vegetation variation and aesthetic quality. A particular attention is required in land use management and
agricultural activities, since they may influence some natural cycles of the ecosystems and the quality of the forest
Analysis of the evolution of landscape and land use in a GIS approach.
Full text linkThe use of Geographical Information Systems facilitates spatial analysis and allows the understanding of the evolutionary processes that occurred over the years and have led to the current conditions. Thanks to a comparison between an historical cartographic map with recent ortophotos, it was possible to evaluate the meaningful elements present in an area and their changes over time. A compared analysis, started early 1800, found that the study area, mainly its rural and forestry land, have been affected by deep transformations, due to natural events, human intervention, and changes in natural cycles, that resulted difficult to understand. The historical map represents the entire municipality of Ruoti (Basilicata Region, Southern Italy), traditionally devoted to arboreal cultivation or wood-sheep farming,. The map reports the town and the surrounding area in the Year 1812, showing the main rivers, the land use of the area, the different type of vegetations, expressed with different colors and symbols.
The spatial analysis of this study area showed a succession of land use changes, influenced by the modern cultivation techniques, while vegetation changes give variations of the agro-forestry landscape over the years, and cultivation conversion caused a loss of CO2 fixation value
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