Ilaria Zambon | University of Tuscia (Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Viterbo) (original) (raw)

Papers by Ilaria Zambon

Trends regarding population growth and urbanisation rates of the Mediterranean region will be ana... more Trends regarding population growth and urbanisation rates of the Mediterranean region will be analysed.

Land-use changes and urban sprawl have transformed European cities, with a direct impact on both ... more Land-use changes and urban sprawl have transformed European cities, with a direct impact on both metropolitan structures and socioeconomic functions. However, these processes tend to be relatively different across countries, being influenced by place-specific factors associated to socioeconomic, historical, political and cultural factors that influence decisions on the use of land. Considering 155 metropolitan areas in 6 European macro-regions, the present study investigates spatial patterns of land consumption profiling cities according to a large set of territorial variables, with the final objective to identify relevant socioeconomic dimensions characteristic of recent processes of urban growth. Investigating the socioeconomic background underlying land-use changes in metropolitan regions allows identification of place-specific factors improving the design of effective strategies containing land consumption in different European urban typologies. An exhaustive analysis of land-use changes at regional and local spatial scales contributes to find alternative policies for land-use efficiency and long-term environmental sustainability.

Since urban growth is strictly connected to the morphological, environmental, political, social, ... more Since urban growth is strictly connected to the morphological, environmental, political, social, cultural and economic characteristics of the territory over which the phenomenon is acting, the importance of adopting an ad hoc analysis for studying patterns and processes of sprawl according to the investigated region has been stressed. In a context of particularly high land demand, dynamics and spatial effects of urban sprawl in Mediterranean Europe have been quantified extensively, concluding that nature and spatial outcomes of sprawl reflect geo-economic and socio-cultural characteristics of the territory and its settlements, especially along peri-urban areas, sea coastlines and internal lowlands, considered areas with the highest potential to population growth. Results derived from empirical studies may stimulate the adoption of more specific, scale-dependent policies aimed at containing urban-rural disparities. In this line of thinking, the present study proposes a specific analysis of urban expansion in a representative case study in southern Europe, the metropolitan region of Attica (Greece), exploring environmental implications of urban sprawl. Based on a qualitative and quantitative analysis, this work is intended to provide a specific contribution on dispersed urban expansion, shedding further light on latent transformations of Mediterranean cities, progressively abandoning a compact urbanization and moving toward discontinuous metropolitan spatial structures.

Long-term urban expansion in a contemporary European metropolis has been investigated in this stu... more Long-term urban expansion in a contemporary European metropolis has been investigated in this study by interpreting the overall vision and the practical objectives of subsequent strategic master plans approved for the urban area of Athens, the Greek capital, in the aftermath of World War II. Diverging town planning orientations over time in Athens have reflected the slow evolution towards a less compact and mono-centric spatial asset, typical of several Mediterranean cities. By indirectly sustaining (or tolerating) informal housing, sequential master plans in Athens, at least until the late 1980s, have progressively incorporated discontinuous or isolated settlements in the consolidated urban fabric, creating a mixed city model suspended in-between compactness and dispersion. The study finally argues how this model is a result of multiple social forces competing in the urban arena.

Sustainability is often explained through three dimensions (society, economy and environment). Ho... more Sustainability is often explained through three dimensions (society, economy and environment). However, such a definition currently appears to be restricted. Sustainable development often includes the energy issue. An example of realities founded on bioenergy are agro-energy districts. These realities involve all the three dimensions of sustainability, integrating also the energy dimension and fueling a potential circular economy. Based on these premises, the most affluent rural subdivision in Italy is that of wine. The wine sector has experienced a recent growth of its economic market, diverging from other agricultural activities and enlarging its cultivated surface areas. In this sense, the local landscape has also changed. Owing to the strong inclination of the wine sector in adopting sustainable strategies and measures, agro-energy districts can be the following future phase in viticulture realities as a cutting-edge business in the modern agricultural sector, implementing new strategies and opportunities.

Dispersed urbanization has expanded into rural land worldwide. The present work focused on the At... more Dispersed urbanization has expanded into rural land worldwide. The present work focused on the Athens' metropolitan area, the capital of Greece, discussing the potential role of a typical rural Mediterranean landscape dominated by olive groves, in urban containment and peri-urban conservation of biodiversity and local traditions. Having a great cultural, culinary and aesthetic importance, olive groves characterize Mediterranean peri-urban landscapes in a distinctive way. This study identifies processes of urban dispersion and changes in the 'olive landscape' in the study area, proposing new ideas for a sustainable land management in metropolitan contexts that have recently undergone processes of territorial transformation toward urban sprawl, under the effect of socioeconomic disturbances, including economic crisis.

The diffusion of renewable energy requires the search for new technologies useful for obtaining g... more The diffusion of renewable energy requires the search for new technologies useful for obtaining good energy and production efficiency. Even if the latter is not always easy to obtain, the integration of photovoltaic panels on the roof of greenhouses intended for floriculture can represent an alternative. The present paper evaluates climatic conditions inside a greenhouse, in which 20% of its roof surface has been replaced with mobile photovoltaic (PV) panels. The PV system implemented in this study can vary the light energy collection surface in relation to the degree of insolation. The aim is to observe the shading effects of the PV system on the growth of several varieties of flowers (iberis, mini-cyclamens and petunias) to ensure the use of solar energy as an income integration deriving from floricultural production. In fact, in agronomic terms, it has ensured: (i) to be able to shade the underlying environment in most lighting conditions; and (ii) to let through more light when it is required for the needs of crop plants or in cloudy weather. Results have described the distribution of solar radiation, variability of temperature and humidity and lighting in a solar year and the observed outcomes on floristic production.

The present study investigates changes in the rural landscapes of a Mediterranean country (Greece... more The present study investigates changes in the rural landscapes of a Mediterranean country (Greece) over a long time period (1970-2015) encompassing economic expansions and recessions. Using a spatial distribution of 5 basic agricultural land-use classes (arable land, garden crop, vineyards, tree crop and fallow land) derived from official statistics at 6 quantitative analysis based on correlation and multivariate techniques was carried out to identify recent changes in the Greek agricultural landscape at prefectural level during different economic waves. Empirical results evidenced both intuitive and counter-intuitive landscape transformations, including: (i) a progressive, spatially-homogeneous reduction of cropland; (ii) a (more or less) rapid decrease in the surface of high-input crops, including arable land, horticulture and vineyards; (iii) a parallel increase in the surface of tree crops, especially olive; (iv) a spatially-heterogeneous decrease of fallow land concentrated in metropolitan and tourism districts, especially in the last decade; and, finally, (v) increasingly diversified landscapes in rural, accessible areas close to the sea coast. Based on a correlation analysis with background socioeconomic indicators, our findings reflect the multiple impacts of urbanization and land abandonment on the composition and diversity of rural landscapes. Changes in agricultural land-use were moulded by multiple drivers depending on latent transformations in rural systems and inherent conflicts with expanding urban regions. Together with market conditions and the Common Agricultural Policy subsidy regime, social contexts and the economic cycle are important when identifying long-term changes in agricultural landscapes, especially in transitional socio-ecological systems.

Settlement densification and scattering are two processes through which cities evolved. Becoming ... more Settlement densification and scattering are two processes through which cities evolved. Becoming a multidisciplinary research issue, urban sprawl is among the major concerns in developed and emerging countries for its negative impacts on socio-environmental complex systems. Sprawl varies at the regional scale, following different characteristics, dynamics, effects and consequences. Consequently, converging on a unique definition for sprawl is made even more difficult when patterns and processes of urbanization in various countries and regions are considered together. Our study aims at deriving a comprehensive interpretation of urban scattering based on a narrative analysis of recent expansion paths in three metropolitan cities of southern Europe (Barcelona, Istanbul, Naples) in terms of density traits, spatial forms, socioeconomic and environmental impacts. Compared to past urban trajectories, recent processes of urban expansion produced inherent changes in the density gradient, requiring specific actions of urban containment.

Studying and modeling plants for producing electric power obtained from vegetal wood cellulose bi... more Studying and modeling plants for producing electric power obtained from vegetal wood cellulose biomass can become an opportunity for building a supply chain based on the local fuel-producing capacity. Focusing on energy-producing technologies, such as pyrolysis or gasification, the present work assessed the amount of vegetal biomass that may be used as fuel, both in terms of actual availability and supply price, in the Province of Rieti (Italy). The aim is to draw up a supply plan that has an intrinsic relationship with the local area. The results confirmed a production of 24 MW of project thermal power and 4 MW of project electric power. The ensuing plant was then studied following current norms about renewable energy, environmental consistency, and atmospheric emissions. An economic analysis of the cost investment was also carried out, where the total return is approximately of 19%. The results exposed that plant costs are acceptable only if short-supply chain fuel is purchased. The costs of generating energy from agroforestry biomass are certainly higher; however, the plant represents a significant territorial opportunity, especially for the economic sectors of agriculture and forestry. The employment effect plays a central role in the concession process, which is relevant for the interaction among renewable energy production and agriculture. The environmental impact of a biomass plant from agroforestry residues can be measured exclusively on atmospheric emissions: the plant must be placed in industrial areas without any landscape or naturalistic value.

This work introduces a new class of landscape metrics characterizing basic features of patch peri... more This work introduces a new class of landscape metrics characterizing basic features of patch perimeters. Specific computation on patch perimeters was carried out on fine-grained land-use maps with the aim to characterize spatial patterns of neighbor patches, evidencing contact points and perimeter length between two (or more) land-use types. A detailed set of class and landscape metrics were derived from such analysis. This approach is complementary to classical landscape metrics and proved to be particularly useful to characterize complex, fragmented landscapes profiling metropolitan regions based on integrated evaluations of their structural (landscape) and functional (land-use) organization. A multivariate analysis was run to characterize distinctive spatial patterns of the selected metrics in four metropolitan regions of southern Europe reflecting different morphological configurations (Barcelona: compact, polycentric; Lisbon: dispersed, mono-centric; Rome: dispersed, polycentric; and Athens: compact, mono-centric). Perimeter metrics assumed different values for each investigated land-use type, with peculiar characteristics associated to each city. Land-use types assessing residential, discontinuous urban patches were associated to particularly high values of perimeter metrics, possibly indicating patch fragmentation, spatially-associated distribution of land-use types and landscape complexity. Multivariate analysis indicates substantial differences among cities, reflecting the range of morphological configurations described above (from compact mono-centric to dispersed polycentric) and suggesting that urban expansion is accompanied with multiple modifications in the use of the surrounding non-urban land. The computational approach proposed in this study and based on spatially-explicit metrics of landscape configuration and proximity may reflect latent changes in local socio-spatial structures. Our results demonstrate that scattered urban expansion determines a polarization in suburban areas with highly fragmented and more homogeneous landscapes, respectively, associated with mixed cropland and forest systems.

The issue of "safe working" has received increasing concern in recent years worldwide, especially... more The issue of "safe working" has received increasing concern in recent years worldwide, especially in Europe. Several European countries developed specific strategies to ensure the safety of operators and the awareness on the potential risks that can emerge from a vast set of activities, including field activity in agriculture. Earlier investigations have lately investigated this topic, proposing quali-quantitative analysis applied to specific economic sectors. The present study focused on the working accidents occurred in agriculture over the last 6 years (2012-2017) in Italy. By exploring where and when injuries occurred, the socio-demographic profile of involved persons (including age, gender, nationality) and correlating these episodes to agricultural practices, the present paper reveals intrinsic patterns of safe (or unsafe) working conditions at a quite detailed spatial scale (administrative provinces) in Italy. Based on these results, training/educational programs should be planned to increase awareness of risks involving workers in agriculture. Future scenarios can be explored based on specific information dealing with risk factors and operating conditions at various working sites with the final objective to establish suitable technical, legislative and operational measures to reduce job accidents.

Recent urbanization led to a more evident distinction in historical inner cities, consolidated ur... more Recent urbanization led to a more evident distinction in historical inner cities, consolidated urban periphery and peri-urban areas. The resulting metropolitan structures are moulded by social, economic, cultural and political factors, fuelling unregulated-and often dispersed-urban expansion. In this context, spatial planning was increasingly asked to regulate complex processes of metropolitan development. Under the hypothesis that discontinuous urban expansion was associated with planning deregulation or poorly effective zoning procedures, the present study introduces an operational approach aimed at comparing actual and planned land-use at the metropolitan scale in the Large Urban Zone (LUZ) of Rome, Italy. Settlements developed on land with less stringent building constraints have resulted in the discontinuous urban expansion. Because of increased house demand and high pressure for services and infrastructures, discontinuous urbanization in Rome has frequently involved out-of-plan land-with partial regulatory constraints or with mixed/ambiguous land destination-in areas with growing population. Going beyond a descriptive analysis of urban morphologies, empirical exercises comparing actual and planned land-use provide basic information to design developmental policies containing discontinuous urbanization.

This article presents empirical results of a multivariate analysis run with the aim to identify (... more This article presents empirical results of a multivariate analysis run with the aim to identify (apparent and latent) socioeconomic transformations that shape the distribution pattern of cropland in a metropolitan region of southern Europe (Athens, Greece) over a sufficiently long time interval spanning from 1960 to 2010. The study area is representative of monocentric cities expanding in an unregulated fashion and experiencing sequential cycles of economic growth and recession. Percent share of cropland in total municipal area increased moderately over time. A non-linear relationship with the distance from downtown Athens was also observed, indicating that the highest rates of cropland were observed at a distance ranging between 20 and 30 km from the inner city. A multivariate regression was run by decade at each municipality of the study area using 11 predictors with the aim to identify the factors most associated with cropland decline along urban fringes. Distance from downtown Athens, soil and climate quality, population growth rate, and competing land use were the most relevant factors correlated with cropland expansion (or decline) in the study area. Competing land use was particularly important for cropland decline in a first urbanization phase (1960-1980), while population growth rate-and hence an increased human pressure-was positively associated with agricultural areas in a subsequent phase (1990-2010). In these regards, per capita urban land had a non-linear spatial behavior, being correlated negatively with cropland in 1960 and 1970 and positively in 2010, possibly indicating a moderate change from a monocentric model towards a more dispersed metropolitan configuration impacting distribution of agricultural areas. Empirical findings of this study suggest that effective strategies supporting peri-urban agriculture require a comprehensive knowledge of the local socioeconomic context and relevant biophysical conditions-specifically focusing on the dominant soil and climate attributes.

Urban growth at different spatial scales is analysed using the assumptions that large cities have... more Urban growth at different spatial scales is analysed using the assumptions that large cities have experienced sequential cycles of urbanization, suburbanization and re-urbanization that reflect complex demographic dynamics. Original approaches, quantitative methodologies and indicators are employed to support analysis of urban growth at different spatial scales. Residential mobility is considered as a proxy measure for spatial dynamics, intensity of urban expansion and socioeconomic development at local and regional scales in Mediterranean Europe. By computing the percent share of the population living in the same municipality five years before the census date in the total resident population at the census date, a spatial analysis of residential mobility and related background context allowed for the identification of specific urban cycles, outlining heterogeneous patterns of growth in the metropolitan region of Athens, Greece, over the last three decades . Results indicate that changes in spatial patterns of residential mobility are associated with multiple factors (directly or indirectly), dependent on demographic dynamics and economic cycles exposing (apparent or latent) variability in the socio-spatial urban structure and functional re-organization processes across larger metropolitan areas. Multiple socioeconomic transitions are identified in the study area, with short-range population movements diverging with urbanization, suburbanization and re-urbanization. Under both economic expansion and recession, spatial patterns of residential mobility reflect differential population dynamics, whose knowledge provides innovative visions for future urban cycles in Europe.

Investigating land-use dynamics worldwide has revealed that one of the most significant socioecon... more Investigating land-use dynamics worldwide has revealed that one of the most significant socioeconomic processes is the progressive decrease of surface area intended for agricultural use. Land loss is accompanied by the increase in both artificial areas, wooded areas and semi-natural environments and a parallel decrease of cropland. Two kinds of urban growth exhibit very different soil consumption rates and characteristics. Compact growth involves almost total saturation and natural soil sealing; conversely, a dispersed city is characterized by the coexistence of buildings and green areas, which guarantees a partial persistence of natural features. Soil consumption is only partly related to demographic growth in Italy. While trends in resident population in Italy have stabilized since the 1980s, soil sealing was growing at a high and almost constant growth rate over time. The intensity of use, i.e. the ratio between the number of inhabitants and the sealing surface, represents an effective indicator for assessing settlement types. The systematic analysis of how much soil is consumed, combined with the evaluation of the quality and uses that the soil itself had before being transformed, is an indispensable element to support decisions in the sphere of land policy. .H\ZRUGVODQGGFRQVXPSWLRQGZHOOLQJJW\SHXUEDQL]DWLRQ0HGLWHUUDQHDQ-(//FRGH3455 ,1752'8&7,211 7KHH ZLGHVSUHDGG H[SDQVLRQQ RII XUEDQ DUHDVV VHHPVV DD SHUVLVWHQWW SURFHVVV LQ ERWKK GHYHORSHGG DQG HPHUJLQJJ FRXQWULHVV .D]HP]DGHK=RZZ HWW DO :LWKK WKHH FRQVHTXHQWW WUDQVIRUPDWLRQQ RII SULVWLQHH ODQGXVHXUEDQQVSUDZOOLVVFXUUHQWO\\RQHRIIWKHHPDMRUUDQGGWKUHDWHQLQJJXUEDQL]DWLRQQWUHQGVVDIIHFWLQJJWKH

Urban settlements have globally expanded into rural land. Being influenced by complex socio-envir... more Urban settlements have globally expanded into rural land. Being influenced by complex socio-environmental dynamics and sometimes acting as a reserve of economic value, fallow land has characterized rural areas in a distinctive way over the last decades. The present work debates on the role of fallow land as a component of Mediterranean peri-urban landscapes, considering together different aspects from environmental/agronomic and regional science perspectives. An empirical analysis of the latent relationship between spatial distribution of fallow land, agricultural landscape (land-use, territorial, and topographic characteristics), and urban sprawl was carried out in a representative Mediterranean case study (Athens, Greece) evidencing the possible linkage between urban growth/containment, conservation of rural biodiversity/local traditions, and fallow land (intended as a candidate source of buildable land) in fringe districts. Urban growth at the local scale was contrasted with the spatial distribution of fallow land under sequential expansions and recessions of the regional economic system. Conservation of marginal rural land in fringe districts-including fallow land-is a necessary target of any sustainable land management strategy in metropolitan contexts experiencing rapid socioeconomic transformations.

Dispersed urbanization during the last half century has transformed metropolitan regions into wel... more Dispersed urbanization during the last half century has transformed metropolitan regions into well-connected, low-density residential areas. However, this kind of urbanization has changed irreversibly the traditional rural landscape around cities, leading to a new definition of 'rurality'. The present work discusses the intimate relationship between urban sprawl and new forms of rurality. Considering economic downturns and the possible impact on landscape transformations, our study focuses on a representative Mediterranean case of urban sprawl (the metropolitan region of Athens, Greece). In this area, urban settlements expanded rapidly into fringe land, producing relevant socio-demographic transformations that have determined uneven changes in rural landscapes. A spatially-explicit investigation of local-scale dynamics that characterize population residing in sparse settlements over a long time period (1961-2011)-encompassing distinct phases of urban growth and rural development-is relevant for analysis of local changes in the relationship between sprawl and new forms of rurality. A new concept of 'rurality'-adapting to rapidly-evolving, mixed rural/peri-urban contexts-require reframing the relationship between rural landscapes, scattered settlements, economic cycles and socio-demographic aspects, in the light of a truly sustainable development of local territories.

Building activity at the metropolitan scale reflects socioeconomic transformations increasingly d... more Building activity at the metropolitan scale reflects socioeconomic transformations increasingly dependent on place-specific factors. The present study investigates height profile and age of buildings over 12 time intervals (1910s-2010s) in Greece, a country experiencing particularly complex urban

The present study illustrates a simplified procedure identifying population sub-centers over 50 y... more The present study illustrates a simplified procedure identifying population sub-centers over 50 years in three Southern European cities (Barcelona, Rome, Athens) with the aim to define and characterize progressive shifts from mono-centric structures towards a polycentric spatial configuration of (growing) metropolitan regions. This procedure is based on a spatially-explicit, local-scale analysis of the standardized residuals from a log-linear model assessing the relationship between population concentration and the distance from a central place in each metropolitan region, under the hypotheses that (i) a mono-centric spatial structure is characterized by a linear relationship between the two variables and that (ii) population sub-centers-considered early signals of a more polycentric regional structure-are characterized by high and positive regression residuals. Results of this study indicate that the three cities have experienced distinctive urbanization waves influencing the overall metropolitan configuration, with variable impact on the original mono-centric structure. Population sub-centers include (i) peri-urban municipalities around the central city and more remote towns situated in rural districts (Barcelona); (ii) scattered towns at variable distances (20-30 km) from the central city (Rome); (iii) fringe municipalities and peri-urban locations in flat districts, 10-20 km away from the central city (Athens). These results may indicate a distinctive evolution path toward polycentric development in the three cities, more evident in Barcelona and Rome and less evident in Athens. The proposed methodology can be generalized and adapted to discriminate population from employment sub-centers in metropolitan regions all over Europe.

Trends regarding population growth and urbanisation rates of the Mediterranean region will be ana... more Trends regarding population growth and urbanisation rates of the Mediterranean region will be analysed.

Land-use changes and urban sprawl have transformed European cities, with a direct impact on both ... more Land-use changes and urban sprawl have transformed European cities, with a direct impact on both metropolitan structures and socioeconomic functions. However, these processes tend to be relatively different across countries, being influenced by place-specific factors associated to socioeconomic, historical, political and cultural factors that influence decisions on the use of land. Considering 155 metropolitan areas in 6 European macro-regions, the present study investigates spatial patterns of land consumption profiling cities according to a large set of territorial variables, with the final objective to identify relevant socioeconomic dimensions characteristic of recent processes of urban growth. Investigating the socioeconomic background underlying land-use changes in metropolitan regions allows identification of place-specific factors improving the design of effective strategies containing land consumption in different European urban typologies. An exhaustive analysis of land-use changes at regional and local spatial scales contributes to find alternative policies for land-use efficiency and long-term environmental sustainability.

Since urban growth is strictly connected to the morphological, environmental, political, social, ... more Since urban growth is strictly connected to the morphological, environmental, political, social, cultural and economic characteristics of the territory over which the phenomenon is acting, the importance of adopting an ad hoc analysis for studying patterns and processes of sprawl according to the investigated region has been stressed. In a context of particularly high land demand, dynamics and spatial effects of urban sprawl in Mediterranean Europe have been quantified extensively, concluding that nature and spatial outcomes of sprawl reflect geo-economic and socio-cultural characteristics of the territory and its settlements, especially along peri-urban areas, sea coastlines and internal lowlands, considered areas with the highest potential to population growth. Results derived from empirical studies may stimulate the adoption of more specific, scale-dependent policies aimed at containing urban-rural disparities. In this line of thinking, the present study proposes a specific analysis of urban expansion in a representative case study in southern Europe, the metropolitan region of Attica (Greece), exploring environmental implications of urban sprawl. Based on a qualitative and quantitative analysis, this work is intended to provide a specific contribution on dispersed urban expansion, shedding further light on latent transformations of Mediterranean cities, progressively abandoning a compact urbanization and moving toward discontinuous metropolitan spatial structures.

Long-term urban expansion in a contemporary European metropolis has been investigated in this stu... more Long-term urban expansion in a contemporary European metropolis has been investigated in this study by interpreting the overall vision and the practical objectives of subsequent strategic master plans approved for the urban area of Athens, the Greek capital, in the aftermath of World War II. Diverging town planning orientations over time in Athens have reflected the slow evolution towards a less compact and mono-centric spatial asset, typical of several Mediterranean cities. By indirectly sustaining (or tolerating) informal housing, sequential master plans in Athens, at least until the late 1980s, have progressively incorporated discontinuous or isolated settlements in the consolidated urban fabric, creating a mixed city model suspended in-between compactness and dispersion. The study finally argues how this model is a result of multiple social forces competing in the urban arena.

Sustainability is often explained through three dimensions (society, economy and environment). Ho... more Sustainability is often explained through three dimensions (society, economy and environment). However, such a definition currently appears to be restricted. Sustainable development often includes the energy issue. An example of realities founded on bioenergy are agro-energy districts. These realities involve all the three dimensions of sustainability, integrating also the energy dimension and fueling a potential circular economy. Based on these premises, the most affluent rural subdivision in Italy is that of wine. The wine sector has experienced a recent growth of its economic market, diverging from other agricultural activities and enlarging its cultivated surface areas. In this sense, the local landscape has also changed. Owing to the strong inclination of the wine sector in adopting sustainable strategies and measures, agro-energy districts can be the following future phase in viticulture realities as a cutting-edge business in the modern agricultural sector, implementing new strategies and opportunities.

Dispersed urbanization has expanded into rural land worldwide. The present work focused on the At... more Dispersed urbanization has expanded into rural land worldwide. The present work focused on the Athens' metropolitan area, the capital of Greece, discussing the potential role of a typical rural Mediterranean landscape dominated by olive groves, in urban containment and peri-urban conservation of biodiversity and local traditions. Having a great cultural, culinary and aesthetic importance, olive groves characterize Mediterranean peri-urban landscapes in a distinctive way. This study identifies processes of urban dispersion and changes in the 'olive landscape' in the study area, proposing new ideas for a sustainable land management in metropolitan contexts that have recently undergone processes of territorial transformation toward urban sprawl, under the effect of socioeconomic disturbances, including economic crisis.

The diffusion of renewable energy requires the search for new technologies useful for obtaining g... more The diffusion of renewable energy requires the search for new technologies useful for obtaining good energy and production efficiency. Even if the latter is not always easy to obtain, the integration of photovoltaic panels on the roof of greenhouses intended for floriculture can represent an alternative. The present paper evaluates climatic conditions inside a greenhouse, in which 20% of its roof surface has been replaced with mobile photovoltaic (PV) panels. The PV system implemented in this study can vary the light energy collection surface in relation to the degree of insolation. The aim is to observe the shading effects of the PV system on the growth of several varieties of flowers (iberis, mini-cyclamens and petunias) to ensure the use of solar energy as an income integration deriving from floricultural production. In fact, in agronomic terms, it has ensured: (i) to be able to shade the underlying environment in most lighting conditions; and (ii) to let through more light when it is required for the needs of crop plants or in cloudy weather. Results have described the distribution of solar radiation, variability of temperature and humidity and lighting in a solar year and the observed outcomes on floristic production.

The present study investigates changes in the rural landscapes of a Mediterranean country (Greece... more The present study investigates changes in the rural landscapes of a Mediterranean country (Greece) over a long time period (1970-2015) encompassing economic expansions and recessions. Using a spatial distribution of 5 basic agricultural land-use classes (arable land, garden crop, vineyards, tree crop and fallow land) derived from official statistics at 6 quantitative analysis based on correlation and multivariate techniques was carried out to identify recent changes in the Greek agricultural landscape at prefectural level during different economic waves. Empirical results evidenced both intuitive and counter-intuitive landscape transformations, including: (i) a progressive, spatially-homogeneous reduction of cropland; (ii) a (more or less) rapid decrease in the surface of high-input crops, including arable land, horticulture and vineyards; (iii) a parallel increase in the surface of tree crops, especially olive; (iv) a spatially-heterogeneous decrease of fallow land concentrated in metropolitan and tourism districts, especially in the last decade; and, finally, (v) increasingly diversified landscapes in rural, accessible areas close to the sea coast. Based on a correlation analysis with background socioeconomic indicators, our findings reflect the multiple impacts of urbanization and land abandonment on the composition and diversity of rural landscapes. Changes in agricultural land-use were moulded by multiple drivers depending on latent transformations in rural systems and inherent conflicts with expanding urban regions. Together with market conditions and the Common Agricultural Policy subsidy regime, social contexts and the economic cycle are important when identifying long-term changes in agricultural landscapes, especially in transitional socio-ecological systems.

Settlement densification and scattering are two processes through which cities evolved. Becoming ... more Settlement densification and scattering are two processes through which cities evolved. Becoming a multidisciplinary research issue, urban sprawl is among the major concerns in developed and emerging countries for its negative impacts on socio-environmental complex systems. Sprawl varies at the regional scale, following different characteristics, dynamics, effects and consequences. Consequently, converging on a unique definition for sprawl is made even more difficult when patterns and processes of urbanization in various countries and regions are considered together. Our study aims at deriving a comprehensive interpretation of urban scattering based on a narrative analysis of recent expansion paths in three metropolitan cities of southern Europe (Barcelona, Istanbul, Naples) in terms of density traits, spatial forms, socioeconomic and environmental impacts. Compared to past urban trajectories, recent processes of urban expansion produced inherent changes in the density gradient, requiring specific actions of urban containment.

Studying and modeling plants for producing electric power obtained from vegetal wood cellulose bi... more Studying and modeling plants for producing electric power obtained from vegetal wood cellulose biomass can become an opportunity for building a supply chain based on the local fuel-producing capacity. Focusing on energy-producing technologies, such as pyrolysis or gasification, the present work assessed the amount of vegetal biomass that may be used as fuel, both in terms of actual availability and supply price, in the Province of Rieti (Italy). The aim is to draw up a supply plan that has an intrinsic relationship with the local area. The results confirmed a production of 24 MW of project thermal power and 4 MW of project electric power. The ensuing plant was then studied following current norms about renewable energy, environmental consistency, and atmospheric emissions. An economic analysis of the cost investment was also carried out, where the total return is approximately of 19%. The results exposed that plant costs are acceptable only if short-supply chain fuel is purchased. The costs of generating energy from agroforestry biomass are certainly higher; however, the plant represents a significant territorial opportunity, especially for the economic sectors of agriculture and forestry. The employment effect plays a central role in the concession process, which is relevant for the interaction among renewable energy production and agriculture. The environmental impact of a biomass plant from agroforestry residues can be measured exclusively on atmospheric emissions: the plant must be placed in industrial areas without any landscape or naturalistic value.

This work introduces a new class of landscape metrics characterizing basic features of patch peri... more This work introduces a new class of landscape metrics characterizing basic features of patch perimeters. Specific computation on patch perimeters was carried out on fine-grained land-use maps with the aim to characterize spatial patterns of neighbor patches, evidencing contact points and perimeter length between two (or more) land-use types. A detailed set of class and landscape metrics were derived from such analysis. This approach is complementary to classical landscape metrics and proved to be particularly useful to characterize complex, fragmented landscapes profiling metropolitan regions based on integrated evaluations of their structural (landscape) and functional (land-use) organization. A multivariate analysis was run to characterize distinctive spatial patterns of the selected metrics in four metropolitan regions of southern Europe reflecting different morphological configurations (Barcelona: compact, polycentric; Lisbon: dispersed, mono-centric; Rome: dispersed, polycentric; and Athens: compact, mono-centric). Perimeter metrics assumed different values for each investigated land-use type, with peculiar characteristics associated to each city. Land-use types assessing residential, discontinuous urban patches were associated to particularly high values of perimeter metrics, possibly indicating patch fragmentation, spatially-associated distribution of land-use types and landscape complexity. Multivariate analysis indicates substantial differences among cities, reflecting the range of morphological configurations described above (from compact mono-centric to dispersed polycentric) and suggesting that urban expansion is accompanied with multiple modifications in the use of the surrounding non-urban land. The computational approach proposed in this study and based on spatially-explicit metrics of landscape configuration and proximity may reflect latent changes in local socio-spatial structures. Our results demonstrate that scattered urban expansion determines a polarization in suburban areas with highly fragmented and more homogeneous landscapes, respectively, associated with mixed cropland and forest systems.

The issue of "safe working" has received increasing concern in recent years worldwide, especially... more The issue of "safe working" has received increasing concern in recent years worldwide, especially in Europe. Several European countries developed specific strategies to ensure the safety of operators and the awareness on the potential risks that can emerge from a vast set of activities, including field activity in agriculture. Earlier investigations have lately investigated this topic, proposing quali-quantitative analysis applied to specific economic sectors. The present study focused on the working accidents occurred in agriculture over the last 6 years (2012-2017) in Italy. By exploring where and when injuries occurred, the socio-demographic profile of involved persons (including age, gender, nationality) and correlating these episodes to agricultural practices, the present paper reveals intrinsic patterns of safe (or unsafe) working conditions at a quite detailed spatial scale (administrative provinces) in Italy. Based on these results, training/educational programs should be planned to increase awareness of risks involving workers in agriculture. Future scenarios can be explored based on specific information dealing with risk factors and operating conditions at various working sites with the final objective to establish suitable technical, legislative and operational measures to reduce job accidents.

Recent urbanization led to a more evident distinction in historical inner cities, consolidated ur... more Recent urbanization led to a more evident distinction in historical inner cities, consolidated urban periphery and peri-urban areas. The resulting metropolitan structures are moulded by social, economic, cultural and political factors, fuelling unregulated-and often dispersed-urban expansion. In this context, spatial planning was increasingly asked to regulate complex processes of metropolitan development. Under the hypothesis that discontinuous urban expansion was associated with planning deregulation or poorly effective zoning procedures, the present study introduces an operational approach aimed at comparing actual and planned land-use at the metropolitan scale in the Large Urban Zone (LUZ) of Rome, Italy. Settlements developed on land with less stringent building constraints have resulted in the discontinuous urban expansion. Because of increased house demand and high pressure for services and infrastructures, discontinuous urbanization in Rome has frequently involved out-of-plan land-with partial regulatory constraints or with mixed/ambiguous land destination-in areas with growing population. Going beyond a descriptive analysis of urban morphologies, empirical exercises comparing actual and planned land-use provide basic information to design developmental policies containing discontinuous urbanization.

This article presents empirical results of a multivariate analysis run with the aim to identify (... more This article presents empirical results of a multivariate analysis run with the aim to identify (apparent and latent) socioeconomic transformations that shape the distribution pattern of cropland in a metropolitan region of southern Europe (Athens, Greece) over a sufficiently long time interval spanning from 1960 to 2010. The study area is representative of monocentric cities expanding in an unregulated fashion and experiencing sequential cycles of economic growth and recession. Percent share of cropland in total municipal area increased moderately over time. A non-linear relationship with the distance from downtown Athens was also observed, indicating that the highest rates of cropland were observed at a distance ranging between 20 and 30 km from the inner city. A multivariate regression was run by decade at each municipality of the study area using 11 predictors with the aim to identify the factors most associated with cropland decline along urban fringes. Distance from downtown Athens, soil and climate quality, population growth rate, and competing land use were the most relevant factors correlated with cropland expansion (or decline) in the study area. Competing land use was particularly important for cropland decline in a first urbanization phase (1960-1980), while population growth rate-and hence an increased human pressure-was positively associated with agricultural areas in a subsequent phase (1990-2010). In these regards, per capita urban land had a non-linear spatial behavior, being correlated negatively with cropland in 1960 and 1970 and positively in 2010, possibly indicating a moderate change from a monocentric model towards a more dispersed metropolitan configuration impacting distribution of agricultural areas. Empirical findings of this study suggest that effective strategies supporting peri-urban agriculture require a comprehensive knowledge of the local socioeconomic context and relevant biophysical conditions-specifically focusing on the dominant soil and climate attributes.

Urban growth at different spatial scales is analysed using the assumptions that large cities have... more Urban growth at different spatial scales is analysed using the assumptions that large cities have experienced sequential cycles of urbanization, suburbanization and re-urbanization that reflect complex demographic dynamics. Original approaches, quantitative methodologies and indicators are employed to support analysis of urban growth at different spatial scales. Residential mobility is considered as a proxy measure for spatial dynamics, intensity of urban expansion and socioeconomic development at local and regional scales in Mediterranean Europe. By computing the percent share of the population living in the same municipality five years before the census date in the total resident population at the census date, a spatial analysis of residential mobility and related background context allowed for the identification of specific urban cycles, outlining heterogeneous patterns of growth in the metropolitan region of Athens, Greece, over the last three decades . Results indicate that changes in spatial patterns of residential mobility are associated with multiple factors (directly or indirectly), dependent on demographic dynamics and economic cycles exposing (apparent or latent) variability in the socio-spatial urban structure and functional re-organization processes across larger metropolitan areas. Multiple socioeconomic transitions are identified in the study area, with short-range population movements diverging with urbanization, suburbanization and re-urbanization. Under both economic expansion and recession, spatial patterns of residential mobility reflect differential population dynamics, whose knowledge provides innovative visions for future urban cycles in Europe.

Investigating land-use dynamics worldwide has revealed that one of the most significant socioecon... more Investigating land-use dynamics worldwide has revealed that one of the most significant socioeconomic processes is the progressive decrease of surface area intended for agricultural use. Land loss is accompanied by the increase in both artificial areas, wooded areas and semi-natural environments and a parallel decrease of cropland. Two kinds of urban growth exhibit very different soil consumption rates and characteristics. Compact growth involves almost total saturation and natural soil sealing; conversely, a dispersed city is characterized by the coexistence of buildings and green areas, which guarantees a partial persistence of natural features. Soil consumption is only partly related to demographic growth in Italy. While trends in resident population in Italy have stabilized since the 1980s, soil sealing was growing at a high and almost constant growth rate over time. The intensity of use, i.e. the ratio between the number of inhabitants and the sealing surface, represents an effective indicator for assessing settlement types. The systematic analysis of how much soil is consumed, combined with the evaluation of the quality and uses that the soil itself had before being transformed, is an indispensable element to support decisions in the sphere of land policy. .H\ZRUGVODQGGFRQVXPSWLRQGZHOOLQJJW\SHXUEDQL]DWLRQ0HGLWHUUDQHDQ-(//FRGH3455 ,1752'8&7,211 7KHH ZLGHVSUHDGG H[SDQVLRQQ RII XUEDQ DUHDVV VHHPVV DD SHUVLVWHQWW SURFHVVV LQ ERWKK GHYHORSHGG DQG HPHUJLQJJ FRXQWULHVV .D]HP]DGHK=RZZ HWW DO :LWKK WKHH FRQVHTXHQWW WUDQVIRUPDWLRQQ RII SULVWLQHH ODQGXVHXUEDQQVSUDZOOLVVFXUUHQWO\\RQHRIIWKHHPDMRUUDQGGWKUHDWHQLQJJXUEDQL]DWLRQQWUHQGVVDIIHFWLQJJWKH

Urban settlements have globally expanded into rural land. Being influenced by complex socio-envir... more Urban settlements have globally expanded into rural land. Being influenced by complex socio-environmental dynamics and sometimes acting as a reserve of economic value, fallow land has characterized rural areas in a distinctive way over the last decades. The present work debates on the role of fallow land as a component of Mediterranean peri-urban landscapes, considering together different aspects from environmental/agronomic and regional science perspectives. An empirical analysis of the latent relationship between spatial distribution of fallow land, agricultural landscape (land-use, territorial, and topographic characteristics), and urban sprawl was carried out in a representative Mediterranean case study (Athens, Greece) evidencing the possible linkage between urban growth/containment, conservation of rural biodiversity/local traditions, and fallow land (intended as a candidate source of buildable land) in fringe districts. Urban growth at the local scale was contrasted with the spatial distribution of fallow land under sequential expansions and recessions of the regional economic system. Conservation of marginal rural land in fringe districts-including fallow land-is a necessary target of any sustainable land management strategy in metropolitan contexts experiencing rapid socioeconomic transformations.

Dispersed urbanization during the last half century has transformed metropolitan regions into wel... more Dispersed urbanization during the last half century has transformed metropolitan regions into well-connected, low-density residential areas. However, this kind of urbanization has changed irreversibly the traditional rural landscape around cities, leading to a new definition of 'rurality'. The present work discusses the intimate relationship between urban sprawl and new forms of rurality. Considering economic downturns and the possible impact on landscape transformations, our study focuses on a representative Mediterranean case of urban sprawl (the metropolitan region of Athens, Greece). In this area, urban settlements expanded rapidly into fringe land, producing relevant socio-demographic transformations that have determined uneven changes in rural landscapes. A spatially-explicit investigation of local-scale dynamics that characterize population residing in sparse settlements over a long time period (1961-2011)-encompassing distinct phases of urban growth and rural development-is relevant for analysis of local changes in the relationship between sprawl and new forms of rurality. A new concept of 'rurality'-adapting to rapidly-evolving, mixed rural/peri-urban contexts-require reframing the relationship between rural landscapes, scattered settlements, economic cycles and socio-demographic aspects, in the light of a truly sustainable development of local territories.

Building activity at the metropolitan scale reflects socioeconomic transformations increasingly d... more Building activity at the metropolitan scale reflects socioeconomic transformations increasingly dependent on place-specific factors. The present study investigates height profile and age of buildings over 12 time intervals (1910s-2010s) in Greece, a country experiencing particularly complex urban

The present study illustrates a simplified procedure identifying population sub-centers over 50 y... more The present study illustrates a simplified procedure identifying population sub-centers over 50 years in three Southern European cities (Barcelona, Rome, Athens) with the aim to define and characterize progressive shifts from mono-centric structures towards a polycentric spatial configuration of (growing) metropolitan regions. This procedure is based on a spatially-explicit, local-scale analysis of the standardized residuals from a log-linear model assessing the relationship between population concentration and the distance from a central place in each metropolitan region, under the hypotheses that (i) a mono-centric spatial structure is characterized by a linear relationship between the two variables and that (ii) population sub-centers-considered early signals of a more polycentric regional structure-are characterized by high and positive regression residuals. Results of this study indicate that the three cities have experienced distinctive urbanization waves influencing the overall metropolitan configuration, with variable impact on the original mono-centric structure. Population sub-centers include (i) peri-urban municipalities around the central city and more remote towns situated in rural districts (Barcelona); (ii) scattered towns at variable distances (20-30 km) from the central city (Rome); (iii) fringe municipalities and peri-urban locations in flat districts, 10-20 km away from the central city (Athens). These results may indicate a distinctive evolution path toward polycentric development in the three cities, more evident in Barcelona and Rome and less evident in Athens. The proposed methodology can be generalized and adapted to discriminate population from employment sub-centers in metropolitan regions all over Europe.

Gli attuali indirizzi energetici richiesti dalla comunità europea favoriscono l'utilizzo delle ri... more Gli attuali indirizzi energetici richiesti dalla comunità europea favoriscono l'utilizzo delle risorse rinnovabili, in alternativa ai combustibili fossili tradizionali. Sostenendo uno sviluppo sostenibile, il fabbisogno energetico può essere soddisfatto anche attraverso la trasformazione di biomasse di origine agro-forestale in biocombustibile. Nasce così l'esigenza di avviare filiere sostenibili di produzione e consumo a livello locale. Una corretta pianificazione risulta quindi decisiva per garantire la nascita dei distretti agro-energetici. Questo processo richiede un'attenta analisi delle potenziali risorse energetiche che si possono ottenere in un determinato contesto territoriale. Si ricorda che il settore primario negli ultimi decenni ha registrato una grave perdita, come di occupati e di territori rurali abbandonati. Recuperando il paesaggio rurale e promuovendo un'agricoltura multifunzionale, i distretti agro-energetici sorgono come un'effettiva realtà competitiva e sostenibile per i contesti rurali. L'obiettivo del lavoro mira a fare emergere come le tecnologie GIS rappresentino uno strumento utile per individuare e valutare aree rurali che presentono un elevato intrinseco potenziale (magari legato all'identità locale, colture tipiche, particolarità contestuali) per insediare efficienti distretti agro-energetici. Utilizzando le tecnologie GIS, il risultato ha portato alla definizione e valutazione dei potenziali distretti sulla base della relazione offerta e domanda agro-energetica. Il presente lavoro riflette sulle opportunità e strategie di sviluppo sostenibile, basandosi su alcuni contesti studio in Italia. 1. Introduzione La Comunità Europea incoraggia da tempo l'inserimento di significative quote di energia prodotta da fonti rinnovabili nei bilanci energetici nazionali e regionali (Pozzo, 2009). Gli attuali indirizzi richiesti in materia di energia incentivano l'utilizzo delle risorse rinnovabili rispetto ai tradizionali combustibili fossili (Best, 2003; Colantoni et al., 2016a). Sostenendo uno sviluppo sostenibile, il fabbisogno energetico può essere soddisfatto attraverso la trasformazione di biomasse di origine agro-forestale in biocombustibile. Dal punto di vista di sostenibilità eco sistemica ed energetica, il calcolo di quanta biomassa può offrire un territorio è rilevante per elaborare strategie e possibilità future (Masera et al., 2006; Emer et al., 2011; Colantoni et al., 2016a; Zambon et al., 2017a). In Italia, la consapevolezza del ruolo delle bioenergie è maturata solo alla fine degli anni '90, dopo la Conferenza di Rio sui cambiamenti climatici del 1990 e il Protocollo di Kyoto del 1997. Nel Programma Nazionale Energia Rinnovabile da Biomasse del 1998, l'approccio integrato alle questioni energetiche assume consistenza al fine di (i) preservare l'ambiente, (ii) migliorare il rendimento delle fonti energetiche, (iii) evitare gli sprechi, (iv) ridurre l'uso di fonti fossili e (v) razionalizzare l'uso delle risorse attraverso l'accordo tra Pubblica Amministrazione e stakeholders nel comporre azioni settoriali e territoriali. Mediante lo strumento di attuazione "Programma

Parole chiave: consumo di suolo, analisi spaziale, piscine, impianti fotovoltaici, paesaggio medi... more Parole chiave: consumo di suolo, analisi spaziale, piscine, impianti fotovoltaici, paesaggio mediterraneo. ABSTRACT Il consumo del suolo rappresenta una delle maggiori sfide per la gestione e la pianificazione territoriale. Nell'ultimo mezzo secolo, una notevole quantità di suolo è stata destinata a usi antropici, a discapito principalmente delle zone rurali. L'esistenza di opportuni strumenti di analisi spaziale consente di attuare una serie di politiche e azioni per prevenire situazioni critiche, offrendo scenari per un maggiore sviluppo sostenibile e benessere collettivo. Il presente lavoro mira a esaminare le recenti dinamiche che hanno portato a un eccessivo consumo di suolo nel sud Europa. Utilizzando la tecnologia GIS, la ricerca si è concentrata sul paesaggio mediterraneo data la sua storia millenaria, in particolare sul contesto italiano, indagandolo attraverso due landmarks spaziali: le piscine e gli impianti fotovoltaici. Entrambi si sono diffusi recentemente nel paesaggio mediteranno, implicando numerose conseguenze e facendo emergere una serie di riflessioni. Le piscine si possono definire come un landmark conseguente ai processi di dispersione urbana, che coinvolge fattori socio-economici e ambientali. Mentre gli impianti fotovoltaici si sono diffusi nelle aree agricole mediterranee, modificandone i paesaggi e portando a una serie sia di benefici che di perdite. Attraverso un approccio di analisi spaziale, le piscine e gli impianti fotovoltaici consentono di identificare gli attuali paesaggi mediterranei, sollevando rilevanti questioni per i policy-decision makers.

Aim of this work is to evaluatethe possibilities of use of hazelnut pruning as biomass to be used... more Aim of this work is to evaluatethe possibilities of use of hazelnut pruning as biomass to be used in an Imbert downdraft prototype for gasification with air. Biomass gasification is one of the most used techniques to obtain power from biomass and generally energy crops are used for this scope. In our case is important to stress that hazelnut pruning is a wastemanagement problem and this workhighlights that is possible to use pruning for obtaining syngas to power production and a solid residue that could be used as soil improver. In this study bio-shredding derived from hazelnut pruning have been characterized to evaluate the energy content that is the most important factor for its use in a gasification process and the LHV obtained is about 15.3 MJ/kg. Syngas obtained show a LHV in a range of 3.84-4.45 MJ/Nm 3 , suitable for power production.