The Hazard Assessment in a Terraced Landscape: Preliminary Result of the Liguria (Italy) Case Study in the Interreg III Alpter Project

In steep areas the lack of terrain suitable to farming has induced man to modify the slopes with terraces. In the ligurian territory (northern Italy) above the twenty per cent of the total surface area have been changed by means of terraces. Terraces may be regarded as a human interference with the geomorphic system, which drives the evolution of the terrestrial surface. This interference actually causes the increase of the hazard particularly in those areas where the morphology hardly constrains the urbanisation. The preliminary results here presented are part of the hazard assessment task of the EU Interreg III Alpter project, which was born to contrast the abandonment of terraced agricultural areas in the alpine region. After checking the real extension of terraces and collecting data, will be performed a MS (multivariate statistic) analysis to get to a decision tree model of the hazard connected with terraces. The preliminary results make focus attention mainly on aspect and gradient slope more than on other features

ISTRAŽIVANJE IMIDŽA GRADOVA KAO ELEMENTA UPRAVLJANJA MARKOM

Imidž gradova važan je čimbenik uspješnosti marketinga i brandinga gradova. O marketingu gradova kao i o brandingu gradova posljednjih se godina sve više raspravlja kako kod nas tako i u zapadnim zemljama. U sklopu brandinga gradova potrebno je promišljati i o imidžu koji se mora kontinuirano istraživati da bi se mogla planirati uspješna izgradnja marke nekog grada. Brand ili marka predstavlja za sve potencijalne kupce ili korisnike usluga prvi signal kvalitete, izvrsne usluge i ugodnosti. Pozitivna iskustva koja će pojedine interesne grupe: lokalno stanovništvo, lokalno i nacionalno gospodarstvo, inozemni ulagači, državna politika, turisti i ostali posjetitelji nekog grada steći s određenim gradom, po bilo kojoj interesnoj osnovi, stvorit će u njima određene osobne preferencije prema nekom gradu, potaknut će njihovu emocionalnu povezanost te će svakako pomoći u generiranju razvoja cijele lokalne zajednice. Iz tih razloga veoma je bitno sustavno, kontinuirano i ciljano započeti sa izgradnjom lokalnih gradskih brandova s ciljem decentralizacije gradova, jačanja lokalne ekonomije, povećanja zaposlenosti jer takav pristup može omogućiti hrvatskim gradovima opstanak na sve jače globaliziranom i konkurentom tržištu svjetskih gradova u borbi za nove poslove, jači turistički promet, nove investicije i nova sjedišta tvrtki. Za potrebe ovog rada provedeno je i u radu prikazano preliminarno istraživanje imidža grada Rovinja na uzorku od 150 ispitanika − turista strukturiranim upitnikom. Dobiveni rezultati istraživanja indikativni su i pokazuju smjer, mogućnosti i način istraživanja imidža nekog grada kao dobru praksu i za ostale hrvatske gradove te ukazuju na potrebu promišljanja o brandingu i imidžu gradova zajedno

Rilievo integrato presso il Borgo Schirò (PA)

Il lavoro qui presentato consiste in un rilievo integrato (Topografico/GPS statico/NRTK/Laser Scanner) di un piccolo contesto extraurbano siciliano, Borgo Schirò, noto per le vicende storiche che portarono alla sua costruzione a seguito dell’emanazione della legge n.1 del 2 gennaio 1940, per il superamento del latifondo. Data la natura varia degli elementi da rilevare (edifici, arredo urbano, strade) sono state adottate tecniche di acquisizione diversificate per ognuno di essi, le quali, in forma integrata, hanno permesso un utile confronto finale degli elaborati prodotti, offrendo la possibilità di effettuare analisi qualitative altamente accurate su singoli casi strutturali ed elevati gradi di dettaglio nei casi architettonici focalizzati. Le tempistiche notevolmente contenute e l’esiguità del numero degli operatori necessari alle operazioni di acquisizione ed elaborazione dei dati, rendono soddisfacenti gli esiti raggiunti e chiaramente proficua l’integrazione delle metodologie di rilievo adottate.The work here shown consists of an integrated survey (Topographic/static GPS/NRTK/Laser Scanning) of a small Sicilian extraurban context, Borgo Schirò, known for the historical events that led to its construction, following the issuance of the law n. 1 of January 2nd 1940, for the elimination of the latifondium. Given the different nature of the elements to be surveyed (buildings, urban elements, roads) different techniques of metric data acquisition were used for each of them. The integration of all of them, allowed a useful comparison of the final products, offering the possibility of making highly accurate qualitative analysis on the individual structural cases and a high level of detail in the architectural cases focused. The reduced timing and the very small number of operators needed for data acquisition and processing, make the achieved outcomes satisfactory and the integration of survey methods adopted clearly successful

The smoothed particle hydrodynamics method via residual iteration

In this paper we propose for the first time an iterative approach of the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) method. The method is widespread in many areas of science and engineering and despite its extensive application it suffers from several drawbacks due to inaccurate approximation at boundaries and at irregular interior regions. The presented iterative process improves the accuracy of the standard method by updating the initial estimates iterating on the residuals. It is appealing preserving the matrix-free nature of the method and avoiding to modify the kernel function. Moreover the process refines the SPH estimates and it is not affected by disordered data distribution. We discuss on the numerical scheme and experiments with a bivariate test function and different sets of data validate the adopted approach

Studi sull\u2019accuratezza numerica di un solutore meshfree per l\u2019approssimazione di campi

L\u2019attivit\ue0 di ricerca \ue8 stata finalizzata allo studio di metodologie numeriche avanzate senza reticolazioni per l\u2019approssimazione di funzioni e sue derivate. In particolare si sono condotti studi sull\u2019accuratezza e convergenza del metodo Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics riferendosi a campionamenti regolari e no

High-resolution lightning detection and possible relationship with rainfall events over the Central Mediterranean area

Lightning activity is usually associated with precipitations events and represents a possible indicator of climate change, even contributing to its increase with the production of NOx gases. The study of lightning activity on long temporal periods is crucial for fields related to atmospheric phenomena from intense rain-related hazard processes to long-term climate changes. This study focuses on 19 years of lightning-activity data, recorded from Italian Lightning Detection Network SIRF, part of the European network EUCLID (European Cooperation for Lightning Detection). Preliminary analysis was dedicated to the spatial and temporal assessment of lightning through detection in the Central Mediterranean area, focusing on yearly and monthly data. Temporal and spatial features have been analyzed, measuring clustering through the application of global Moran’s I statistics and spatial local autocorrelation; a Mann–Kendall trend test was performed on monthly series aggregating the original data on a 5 × 5 km cell. A local statistically significant trend emerged from the analysis, suggesting a possible linkage between surface warming and lightning activity

Lysis of soil microbial cells by CO2 or N2 high pressurization compared with chloroform fumigation

The classical chloroform fumigation-incubation (CFI) and fumigation-extraction (CFE) methods are nowadays among the most used for determining soil microbial biomass, although the chloroform lysing of microbial cells is not always complete. Here, we have tested a physical method, used for sterilizing foods but never in soil, based on N-2 or CO2 high pressurization (N2HP or CO2HP, respectively) to cause microbial cell lysis. The N2HP and CO2HP were tested on two soils differing for their organic matter content, one agricultural (AGR) and one forest (FOR), and firstly were compared with the CFI. The CO2 extra-flush from both soils during 10-d incubation by N2HP was lower than that by CFI method, whereas that by CO2HP was greater. Then, the lysis by CO2HP was compared with that by the CFE method by varying CO2 pressure and duration. The CO2HP, at proper conditions, was more efficient than CFE method to cause the lysis of soil microbial cells. Moreover, both CO2 pressure value and duration were important in increasing the extractable organic C compared to the CFE. The most successful combination of high CO2 pressure and duration was 4.13 MPa and 32 h. However, we cannot exclude that CO2HP might have caused the release of soil organic C not ascribable to living organic matter. Further studies using C-13 and/or N-15-labeled microbial cells should assess the release of abiotic organic C

Advances to ASHRAE Standard 55 to encourage more effective building practice

ASHRAE Standard 55 has been evolving in recent years to encourage more sustainable building designs and operational practices. A series of changes address issues for which past design practice has been deficient or overly constrained. Some of the changes were enabled by findings from field studies of comfort and energy-efficiency, and others by new developments in the design- and building-management professions.  The changes have been influencing practice and spurring follow-on research.The Standard now addresses effects of elevated air movement, solar gain on the occupant, and draft at the ankles, each with several impacts on energy-efficient design and operation. It also addresses the most important source of discomfort in modern buildings, the large inter- and intra-personal variability in thermal comfort requirements, by classifying the occupants’ personal control and adaptive options in a form that can be used in building rating systems. In order to facilitate design, new computer tools extend the use of the standard toward direct use in designers’ workflow. The standard also includes provisions for monitoring and evaluating buildings in operation. This paper summarizes these developments and their underlying research, and attempts to look ahead

Accumulation and persistance of fecal pollution in the coastal area of Rovinj

Fekalno onečišćenje važan je ekološki problem priobalnih područja koji utječe na ekosustav i ugrožava ljudsko zdravlje. Akumulacija i postojanost fekalnoga onečišćenja istraženi su u vodenom stupcu i sedimentu tri rovinjske uvale izložene različitim vrstama i količinama otpadnih voda. Razina fekalnog onečišćenja kvantificirana je pomoću bakterijskih indikatora i fekalnih sterola. Raspodjela otpadnih voda oko glavnog kanalizacijskog ispusta u uvali Cuvi ovisila je o udaljenosti od ispusta, volumenu ispuštenih voda, trenutnom strujanju i prisutnosti termokline. Bakterijski indikatori i fekalni steroli bili su značajno korelirani iako se njihov odnos mijenjao sezonski. Fekalna kontaminacija je registrirana u radiusu od 300 m oko ispusta. Sezonske promjene brojnosti heterotrofnih bakterija i produkcije bile su vrlo slične kao i na neonečišćenom području, uz blago povećanje brojnosti i brzine dijeljenja na ispustu. U uvali Valdibora izloženoj utjecaju ispusta tvornice za preradu ribe, unatoč deset puta manjem volumenu u odnosu na ispust u uvali Cuvi razine onečišćenja bile su usporedive. Brojnost heterotrofnih bakterija je bila najveća oko industrijskog ispusta, dok je brzina dijeljenja bakterijskih stanica bila izrazito niska. Granulometrijski sastav površinskih sedimenata (0-5 cm) bio je izmijenjen u odnosu na dublje sedimente (5-10 cm) u krugu od 300 m oko glavnog kanalizacijskog ispusta. U blizini ispusta koprostanol je najvećim dijelom bio vezan za frakciju vrlo sitnog pijeska. Otpadne vode iz tvornice za preradu ribe stvorile su izražene anoksične uvjete u sedimentu koji su pogodovali dijagenetskom procesu nastanka koprostanola. U sedimentima južne luke, izloženim ispuštanju sa brodova i jahti razina fekalnog onečišćenja je bila niska.Fecal contamination represents an important problem for coastal areas that affects the ecosystem and poses a threat to human health. The accumulation and persistence of fecal pollution was analyzed in the sediments and waters along the coast of Rovinj from 3 bays exposed to different types and amounts of sewage effluents. The level of sewage contamination was quantified using fecal indicator bacteria and fecal sterols. The distribution of waste waters around the main sewage outfall in Cuvi bay depended on the distance from the outfall, the volume discharged, the momentary currents and the presence of the thermocline. Fecal indicator bacteria and sterols were strongly correlated but their relation changed from season to season. Fecal contamination was detected in a radius of 300 m from the outfall. Seasonal changes of the abundance and production of heterotrophic bacteria were very similar in the contaminated and uncontaminated areas with a limited increase in the abundance and production close to the outfall. In the bay of Valdibora, influenced by a fish cannery effluent around 10 times smaller than the outfall in Cuvi bay the levels of contamination were comparable. The abundance of heterotrophic bacteria was the largest around the industrial outfall, while the specific rate of replication was very low. The grainsize composition of surface sediment (0-5cm) was altered in comparison to the less contaminated deeper sediment (5-10 cm) in a radius of 300 m around the main sewage outfall. At the sewage disposal site, coprostanol was predominantly associated with very fine sand. The fish cannery effluent, created highly anoxic conditions in the sediment that favored the diagenetic formation of coprostanol. The sediments from the southern harbor, exposed only to boat and yacht effluents displayed very low levels of fecal contamination