Maurizio Pollino

Land Cover classification and change-detection analysis using multi-temporal remote sensed imagery and landscape metrics

Abstract Remote Sensing (RS) data and techniques, in combination with GIS and landscape metrics, are fundamental to analyse and characterise Land Cover (LC) and its changes. The case study here described, has been conducted in the area of Avellino (Southern Italy). To characterise the dynamics of changes during a fifty year period (1954–2004), a multitemporal set of images has been processed: aerial photos (1954), and Landsat scenes (MSS 1975, TM 1985 and 1993, ETM+ 2004). LC pattern and its changes are linked to both natural and social processes whose driving role has been clearly demonstrated in the case study: after the disastrous Irpinia earthquake (1980), specific zoning laws and urban plans have significantly addressed landscape changes

GIS and remote sensing to study urban-rural transformation during a fifty-year period

A relevant issue in Remote Sensing (RS) and GIS is related to the analysis and the characterization of Land Use Land Cover (LULC) changes, very useful for a wide range of environmental applications and to efficiently undertake landscape planning and management policies. The methodology described has been applied to a case-study conducted in the area of the Province of Avellino (Southern Italy). Firstly, aerial photos and Landsat imagery have been classified to produce LULC maps for a fifty-year period (1954/2004). Then, through a GIS approach, change detection and spatiotemporal analysis has been integrated to characterize LULC dynamics, focusing on the urban-rural gradient. This study has shown that LULC patterns and their changes are linked to both natural and social processes whose driving role has been clearly demonstrated: after the disastrous Irpinia earthquake (1980), local specific zoning laws and urban plans have significantly addressed landscape changes.

Free Web Mapping Tools to Characterise Landscape Dynamics and to Favour e-Participation

GIS methodologies in combination with Remote Sensing data and techniques are fundamental to analyse and characterise Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) and their evolutionary dynamics. The case study here described, has been conducted in two study-areas: the Serre Regional natural Park and the so-called Conca of Avellino (Southern Italy). This study is part of a wider research allowed to understand how the landscape changes dynamics are linked and have been influenced by several causes (demography, economy, transportation network, people preferences, policies, etc.). A multi-temporal set of images (aerial photos and Landsat scenes) has been processed LULC. Then, through a GIS approach, change detection and spatiotemporal analysis has been integrated to characterise LULC dynamics, focusing on urban growth/sprawl phenomenon and loss of rural/natural lands. This paper focuses the attention on the WebGIS application based on free online tools which has been implemented with the aim to publish and to share with local communities all geospatial data produced. This platform will be further implemented in order to favour e-participation in the planning tools.

An open source GIS system for earthquake early warning and post-event emergency management

The recent advances in geo-informatics have been opening new opportunities in earthquake early warning and emergency management issues. In the last years, the geo-scientific community has recognized the added value of a geo-analytic approach in complex decision making processes for critical situations due to disastrous natural events such as earthquakes. In fact, recently, GIS-based solutions are investigated in several research projects such as SIT_MEW Project, aimed at the development of volcanic and seismic early warning systems (EWSs). In this project context, an innovative open source GIS system has been investigated and developed as integrated component of the seismic EWS. Its architecture consists in a geospatial database system, a local GIS application for analyzing and modelling the seismic event and its impacts and supporting post-event emergency management, a WEB-GIS module for sharing the geo-information among the public and private stakeholders and emergency managers involved in disaster impact assessment and response management.

Land Suitability Evaluation for Agro-forestry: Definition of a Web-Based Multi-Criteria Spatial Decision Support System (MC-SDSS): Preliminary Results

Land suitability evaluation (LSE) is a widespread methodology that supports environmental managers and planners in analysing the interactions between location, development actions, and environmental elements. In the present paper, we discuss on a web-based multi-criteria spatial decision support system (MC-SDSS) implemented to accomplish LSE for agro-forestry. We propose a MC-SDSS developed on a free open source software for geospatial (FOSS4G) environment, accessible through a user-friendly geographical user interface (GUI) that allows to perform geospatial analyses. To this end, the MC-SDSS has been conceived as a multi-tier architecture, able to manage processes executable via OGC (Open Geospatial Consortium) web processing services (WPSs) and produce output maps and data available via the largely used OGC services: web feature service (WFS), web coverage service (WCS) and web map service (WMS). In this first application, we chose the weighted linear combination (WLC) as decision rule to aggregate data, weighted by judgements provided by experts following the analytical hierarchy process (AHP).

Study of sustainability of renewable energy sources through GIS analysis techniques

In an integrated vision of the problems concerning energy policies, the use of renewable energy sources should assume a significant role. The 2009/28/EC Directive of the European Parliament and Council has indicated ambitious energy and climate change objectives for 2020: greenhouse gas emissions reduction for 20%, renewable energy increase for 20%, improvement in energy efficiency for 20% [1]. The aim of this paper is to present a GIS based methodology able to support decision-making in energy supply from Renewable Energy Sources (RES). To decide what type of renewable energy font is the best choice for a specific territory, its important to know the local energetic situation, exploring the potential renewable energy sources available in that specific area, deciding what is the more territory compatible/sustainable among them, and if its exploitable by suitable environmental and economic point of view. The methodology is largely directed towards the development of a tool to support siting decision.

Collaborative Open Source Geospatial Tools and Maps Supporting the Response Planning to Disastrous Earthquake Events

The latest improvements in geo-informatics offer new opportunities in a wide range of territorial and environmental applications. In this general framework, a relevant issue is represented by earthquake early warning and emergency management. This research work presents the investigation and development of a simple and innovative geospatial methodology and related collaborative open source geospatial tools for predicting and mapping the vulnerability to seismic hazard in order to support the response planning to disastrous events. The proposed geospatial methodology and tools have been integrated into an open source collaborative GIS system, designed and developed as an integrated component of an earthquake early warning and emergency management system.

Seismic vulnerability assessment using field survey and remote sensing techniques

In this paper, a seismic vulnerability assessment at large scale is described, within the SIMURAI project. A field survey was carried out in order to gather detailed information about geometric characteristics, structural typology and age of construction of each single building. An airborne Remote Sensing (RS) mission was also carried out over the municipality of Avellino, providing a detailed estimate of 3D geometric parameters of buildings through a quite fast and easy to apply methodology integrating active LIDAR technology, aerophotogrammetry and GIS techniques. An analytical seismic vulnerability assessment procedure for Reinforced Concrete buildings is illustrated and applied to the building stock considering (i) field survey data (assumed as a reference) and (ii) LIDAR data combined with census data as alternative sources of information, according to a multilevel approach. A comparison between the obtained results highlights an acceptable scatter when data provided by RS techniques are used.

Wave energy potential in the Mediterranean sea: Design and development of DSS-WebGIS “waves energy”

GIS technologies are able to provide useful tools for estimating the energy resource from the sea waves, assessing whether this energy is exploitable and evaluating possible environmental impacts. The idea to convert the energy associated with the marine wave motion (both off-shore and coastal) into exploitable electrical energy is not new and over time several projects have been developed, aiming at the implementation of devices for electrical energy generation from the sea. However, compared to other well-established renewable sources (such as wind, solar or biomass), the exploitation of the tidal power, is currently only in prototype form. Nevertheless, it has shown very promising potentiality, as also emerges from the activities currently carried-out by public institutions and private stakeholders.

An Ontology Framework for Flooding Forecasting

Floods can cause significant damage and disruption as they often affect highly urbanized areas. The capability of knowledge using and sharing is the main reason why the ontologies are suited for supporting the phases of forecasting in (near-) real time disastrous flooding events and managing the flooding alert and emergency. This research work develops an ontology, FloodOntology for floods forecasting based on continuous measurements of water parameters gathered in the watersheds and in the sewers and simulation models. Concepts are captured across the main involved domains i.e. hydrological/hydraulic domains and SN-based monitoring domain. Classes hierarchies, properties and semantic constraints are defined related to all involved entities, obtaining a structured and unified knowledge-base on the flooding risk forecasting, to be integrated in expert systems.