L'analisi archeologica nei processi di valutazione ambientale,. Proposta metodologica in ambiente GIS

This paper illustrates a research project aimed at testing a method of GIS-based evaluation which was conducted using specific criteria and an "objective point of view" during an archaeological impact assessment. The authors tested the use of a database, linked to a GIS platform, to assign fixed values in order to evaluate the "potential", the "value of the context" and the "risk" of single archaeological sites affected by new projects of urban development. Based on the application of the same methodology and language used by the scholars involved in the environmental impact studies and coming from other scientific fields (natural sciences, economics, etc.), the assessment idea is proposed in order to stimulate archaeologists to use not only qualitative, but also quantitative values, like the procedures for the environmental impact assessment. Some case studies relative to the Venetian Lagoon, Mestre and Comacchio (FE) conclude the paper

Performance evaluation of polymer-filled metal fused filament fabrication tooling for profile extrusion

The application of additive manufacturing (AM) for tooling in the mould and die industry brings a disruptive potential in process performance, design flexibility and product enhancements. Maturing of existing AM technologies and emerging technologies such as metal-fused filament fabrication (metal FFF) can further support the applicability of AM tooling in polymer profile extrusion. This study provides a complete characterization of metal FFF 17–4 PH stainless-steel die inserts and evaluates their applicability in a polymer extrusion process chain. The presented experimental assessment pivots on the metrological characterization of the produced inserts and the impact of the insert characteristics on the final extrudates’ product. Considering a conventionally manufactured benchmark insert, produced via subtractive methods (CNC machining and electrical discharge machining), comparable results for AM tools in terms of extrudates’ quality and process repeatability are presented. It was found that despite significant higher average surface parameters for AM insert tools (Sa = 2–9 μm vs. Sa = 0.3–0.9 μm for dies manufactured by machining), a much smaller difference was observed in the resulting quality of polymer extrudates’ product. The roughness generation effect of polymer profile extrusion based on the different dies’ internal surface roughness topography and the effect on extrudates product was evaluated. Three-dimensional average roughness Sa on acrylonitrile butadiene styrene extrudate surfaces obtained from conventionally machined dies was in the range of 0.3 μm. For extrudates obtained from additively manufactured dies, their Sa was in the rage of 0.5 μm (despite the much higher surface roughness of FFF dies compared to machined dies). The results confirm that with suitable extrudates’ product requirement, it is feasible to apply metal FFF as the selected manufacturing method for tooling in polymer profile extrusion