GIS procedure to evaluate the relationship between the period of construction and the outcomes of compliance with building safety standards. The case of the earthquake in L’Aquila (2009)

The earthquake (Ml=5.8; Mw=6.3) that shook L’Aquila (Abruzzo region, Italy) on 6 April 2009 and caused huge widespread damage in the other 56 municipalities of the seismic crater has also provided important input to reflect proactively on the need to avoid the repetition of similar tragedies, learning from the calamities that have occurred. In fact, L’Aquila and the other municipalities hit by the earthquake represent an open-air analysis laboratory to reveal and directly see the weak points of the different buildings on the field which did not adequately resist the shocks. In order to provide important data for social utility, in this paper we illustrate the steps which constitute a GIS procedure that we have thought in order to evaluate the relationship between the period of construction and the outcomes of compliance with building safety standards. Through sequential activities which have enabled us to also produce three-dimensional scenarios – of immediate communicative impact and able to show details for interdisciplinary analysis and strategical planning – we have portrayed the urban evolution of L’Aquila per period of construction and mapped the level of damage to the buildings. The relational analysis and quantitative data have permitted us to show that in the case of L’Aquila the major percentages of “unusable buildings”, and also these together with “condemned buildings due to external risks” concern the structures erected until 1955 and then in the 1956- 1975 period, followed by the ones constructed in the periods of 1976-1988 and 1989-1994. Similar results, in conjunction with other specific information, can offer the possibility to define and apply the consolidation measures necessary to tackle future earthquakes in an appropriate way, without a passive sense of resignation and with a deeper awareness of seismic risk

Analisi multitemporale dell’edificazione e del verde urbano in un’area di studio del “Municipio Roma III”

Il presente studio si inserisce nella compagine delle ricerche geografiche finalizzate all’analisi multitemporale delle componenti, riguardanti l’edificazione, gli aspetti demografici e le varie tipologie di verde in ambiente urbano, con particolare riferimento a un’area di studio dell’attuale “Municipio Roma III”. Si tratta, infatti, di un contesto territoriale che, dagli anni Cinquanta del Novecento, è stato soggetto a diverse fasi di crescita edilizia con dinamiche e direttrici di sviluppo differenti, fino a determinare un fitto riempimento degli spazi. Una valvola di sfogo, che genera riflessi positivi a livello percettivo e di qualità della vita, è dunque rappresentata dalle aree verdi, che – come evidenziato dalla letteratura internazionale – possono rappresentare importanti luoghi di ricarica fisico-mentale. Mediante una serie di applicazioni GIS, la produzione di specifici elaborati a elevato grado di dettaglio e l’analisi puntuale degli aspetti quanti-qualitativi che connotano l’area in esame, si delinea un quadro d’insieme multistrato e si esegue uno screening del territorio, atto a ricostruire le principali tendenze in atto e a supportare proposte progettuali tese al riordino e alla (ri)qualificazione.This study is part of the collection of pieces of geographical research aimed at the multi-temporal analysis of the components regarding building development, the demographic aspects and the various typologies of green space in an urban context, with particular reference to a study area of what is now the “Municipio Roma III”. In fact, this represents a territorial context which since the 1950s has been subject to various phases of building growth with different development dynamics, leading to a dense filling of spaces. An escape valve, generating positive aspects at the level of perception and quality of life, is thus represented by green areas, which – as highlighted by the international literature – can be important places to recharge one’s batteries in, physically and mentally. By means of a series of GIS applications, the production of highly detailed specific processed data and the accurate analysis of the quantitative-qualitative aspects connoting the area being examined, a multi-layer overview is defined and a screening of the area carried out, aimed at reconstructing the main ongoing trends and at backing up project proposals with a view to reorganisation and (re)qualification

A comparison of active learning and direct instruction on college students enrolled in two classes of introductory photography

The purpose of this study was to learn about teaching methods and their effects on achievement and skill. The problem was to investigate the effects of both active learning and direct instruction (lecture/demonstration) on students\u27 ability to produce a continuous tone, ten step gray scale, black and white photographic print. The researcher arranged for a college instructor of photography to teach two intact classes of General Photography using the two instructional methods. The objectives for both classes were the same. Each student in both groups completed eight photographic assignments. After twelve (12) weeks of instruction and studio/lab work, each student in both groups was then asked to produce one criterion print. Those prints were rated by two photography experts using a five point Likert scale. Each photograph was evaluated by both judges and each print was assigned a score from one to five for range of tone. The data were organized into a one dimensional design for differences. A t-test for independent samples was used to determine the mean difference between experimental and control groups. There was no statistically significant difference found for type of instruction

Multi-temporal analysis of building development and urban green space in a study area of the “Municipio Roma III”

Il presente studio si inserisce nella compagine delle ricerche geografiche finalizzate all’analisi multitemporale delle componenti, riguardanti l’edificazione, gli aspetti demografici e le varie tipologie di verde in ambiente urbano, con particolare riferimento a un’area di studio dell’attuale “Municipio Roma III”. Si tratta, infatti, di un contesto territoriale che, dagli anni Cinquanta del Novecento, è stato soggetto a diverse fasi di crescita edilizia con dinamiche e direttrici di sviluppo differenti, fino a determinare un fitto riempimento degli spazi. Una valvola di sfogo, che genera riflessi positivi a livello percettivo e di qualità della vita, è dunque rappresentata dalle aree verdi, che – come evidenziato dalla letteratura internazionale – possono rappresentare importanti luoghi di ricarica fisico-mentale. Mediante una serie di applicazioni GIS, la produzione di specifici elaborati a elevato grado di dettaglio e l’analisi puntuale degli aspetti quanti- qualitativi che connotano l’area in esame, si delinea un quadro d’insieme multistrato e si esegue uno screening del territorio, atto a ricostruire le principali tendenze in atto e a supportare proposte progettuali tese al riordino e alla (ri)qualificazione.This study is part of the collection of pieces of geographical research aimed at the multi-temporal analysis of the components regarding building development, the demographic aspects and the various typologies of green space in an urban context, with particular reference to a study area of what is now the “Municipio Roma III”. In fact, this represents a territorial context which since the 1950s has been subject to various phases of building growth with different development dynamics, leading to a dense filling of spaces. An escape valve, generating positive aspects at the level of perception and quality of life, is thus represented by green areas, which – as highlighted by the international literature – can be important places to recharge one’s batteries in, physically and mentally. By means of a series of GIS applications, the production of highly detailed specific processed data and the accurate analysis of the quantitative-qualitative aspects connoting the area being examined, a multi-layer overview is defined and a screening of the area carried out, aimed at reconstructing the main ongoing trends and at backing up project proposals with a view to reorganisation and (re)qualification

Prevalence of methicillin-resistant staphylococci isolated from different biological samples at Policlinico Umberto I of Rome: correlation with vancomycin susceptibility

The methicillin-resistance is increasing all over the world in the last decade. It is more frequent among coagulase-negative staphylococci (MRCoNS); infact the 52% of S. epidermidis strains results to be resistant to methicillin.The methicillin-resistant strains also show a reduced sensitivity towards the first-line agents such as glycopeptides and other antibiotics commonly used in therapy such as trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole, imipenem, gentamycin, fosfomycin and chlarytromicin. Unlike MRSA (Methicillin-resistant S. aureus), MRCoNS resistance to glycopeptides generally concerns teicoplanin. Although vancomycin resistance is rare in Staphylococcus isolates, the detected shift towards higher values of MICs might affect patient's clinical outcome

Corpi, strumenti, narrazioni

The volume aims to provide an updated overview of School Geography as an inclusive knowledge. As teachers and citizens, we daily deal with the differences we meet. Working and living with a group of students implies, in fact, working and living in contact with the difference, defined by its dimensions: gender, physical ability, cultural heritage, social or economic backgrounds. Following this perspective, the “Officine didattiche” are thought of as a powerful opportunity in fostering the integration between methodological frameworks and educational practices. Inspired by the experience of the “Officine didattiche”, organized during the 59° Convegno Nazionale AIIG (held from September 29th to October 3rd, 2016 at the Facoltà di Lettere e Filosofia – Università La Sapienza), the book has been set as an operative tool for teachers. The authors of the contributions integrated theoretical reflections with the didactic relevance emerged from their training experiences. The main aim of this volume is to provide methodological and practical supports and to act as an operative source in planning and conducting training courses for teachers. The contributions are organized in three parts: "Corpi", "Strumenti" and "Narrazioni", re-proposing the guiding themes of the “Officine” set in Rome. Furthermore, these three “parts” work as thematic axes connecting the book to the contemporary debate on school and children Geographies

A Quality Control Scheme for Solar Irradiance Measurements on Facades in Urban Environments

The increasing prominence of digital tools for city-scale solar analysis emphasizes the need for validation methodologies, which include urban environmental monitoring and data quality control. This study addresses this gap by introducing a quality control scheme for solar irradiance measurements, using a typical street canyon in Geneva (Switzerland) as a case study. The developed quality control scheme is replicable and effectively addresses challenges posed by the built environment, distinguishing it from existing methods that mostly apply to measurements from unobstructed sensors. The experimental data used in this study were retrieved from the monitoring system installed on two opposing facades of the street canyon case study, as well as a nearby weather station. Measurements were recorded from December 22nd, 2022, to December 19th, 2023, at a one-minute time resolution. Five quality checks – nighttime check, range limit tests, precipitation check, shadow detection, and consistency check - were defined to identify the potential flaws and disturbances in the dataset so that these data points could be flagged accordingly. The results consist of reliable solar irradiance data over one year, which can be used in the future for validating a new component for modeling façade solar potential within the Grand Geneva Area Solar Cadaster.publishedVersio