Mario Maiolo

Synthetic sustainability index (SSI) based on life cycle assessment approach of low impact development in the Mediterranean area

Abstract Climate change and the processes of urbanization alter the hydrologic and hydraulic regime of runoffs formation in urban areas. Low impact infrastructure development (LID) contributes to achieving conditions of invariance hydrological and hydraulics. The purpose of this work is to identify an index of synthetic sustainability (SSI) based on life cycle assessment (LCA). Such LCA evaluates design alternatives through the comparison of the different values of the SSI. The proposed methodology allows the evaluation of the SSI attributing to the individual layers of the LIDs different weights and taking into account both of the influence that each of them perform on invariance hydrologic and hydraulic both of the LCA normalized output. In this paper is showed a methodological implementation obtained by the analysis of a green roof and a permeable pavement. This green roof has been realized, on real scale, in the Urban Hydrology Experimental Park in University of Calabria (Italy).

Sustainability criteria for the selection of water supply pipeline

Abstract The evolution of the materials used for drinking water pipelines has often introduced substantial innovations in the market, both in terms of improved static and hydraulic performance and cost. Over time, technical and cost-effective assessments to pipelines selection, related to the materials used, have been accompanied by environmental assessments in relation to the environmental impact of construction and management of drinking water system. The recent legislative and technical regulations have made the environmental cost assessment more complex, which is related to the life cycle of materials and infrastructures. This paper proposes an index, In Situ Sustainability Index (ISSI), which can be used for the pipelines materials choice for drinking water systems and which takes into account both technical and environmental aspects. This index considers the interaction between piping and laying soil, through the In Situ Elasticity Coefficient and the impacts of materials used for water system piping through Life Cycle Assessment. The ISSI index is a practical tool because it makes a simultaneous consideration of two essential aspects in the design (technical and environmental evaluations) through a rapid-use analytical structure.

Infrastructure Vulnerability Index of drinking water systems to terrorist attacks

Abstract Drinking water supply systems are vulnerable targets for which counter-terrorism measures have been raised worldwide. The threat of terrorist attacks to these systems has led to the need for the international scientific community to deal with the vulnerability assessment related to such events. In this context, this paper proposes an Infrastructure Vulnerability Index for drinking water distribution system with the aim of providing managers with a tool to assess system vulnerability to possible terrorist acts and to support the investments choice aimed at increasing security. This index is obtained using a set of indicators with reference to the structural parts of the system and considers both intentional contamination and physical damage. The index uses a hierarchic structure and decomposes the system into components and uses the Analytic Hierarchy Process to compute the weights. An application of the index was carried out for three water schemes of the Province of Crotone (Southern Italy) and the results obtained allowed to highlight the characteristics of the index and its usefulness.

Flood Risk Mitigation in a Mediterranean Urban Area: The Case Study of Rossano Scalo (CS – Calabria, Italy)

Urban flooding is recently affecting several towns in the Italian Mediterranean region. The study focuses on the interconnection between the sewer network of the town (Rossano Scalo) and the main water course (the Citrea Creek) flowing through it. An integrated approach considering both town planning and hydraulic aspects lead the search for potential flood risk mitigation solutions. Through the use of GIS and field surveys a highly urbanized sub-basin was selected and analysed. The hydrologic- hydraulic system was simulated through SWMM software, paying attention to interactions between the minor and the major system. Critical nodes (urban flooding points) were finally considered for planning potential mitigation solutions.

Metals Potential Removal Efficiency of Permeable Pavement

Permeable Pavement (PP) represents a good solution to solve stormwater management problems both in quantitative and qualitative way. In this way, the potential removal efficiency of a permeable pavement in treating metals was assessed by performing a monitoring campaign at a lab-scale system constructed for the purpose. Based on literature experiences, different relatively high-level concentrations of Copper and Zinc were applied during 8 different synthetic rainfall events. Results shown that the removal rates of Cu and Zn of the lab-scale pavements range from 85% to 92% and from 65% to 82%, respectively. Results also shown that the Cu removal rates of the lab-scale pavement are higher than Zn removal rate.