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• An integrated evaluation model is proposed to assess an environmental system. • A set of indicators investigates the relations between landscape ecology and landscape economics. • A mathematical model evaluates the environmental system in term of states of ecological equilibrium. • The model enables to identify the most valuable and the most critical areas in ecological and economic terms. • The research provides a reliable support for the decision-making process The increasing attention on environmental problems is stimulating the development of integrated evaluation approaches to territorial transformations, where different facets have to be considered. The present paper focuses on the development of a novel integrated evaluation model for measuring the ecological states and the economic values of an environmental system employing both a system of indicators and a mathematical model of Lotka-Volterra. This integrated evaluation model aims at investigating the relations between the landscape ecology and economics, and at simulating possible and future transformation scenarios for the landscape planning and management. As case study, we consider an environmental system located in Piedmont (Italy), in the Monferrato Ovadese area. The present paper proposes a suitable support for local governments to visualize outcomes and possible future scenarios, aiding the decision-making process in the definition of territorial transformation policies and actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The joint revealed and stated preferences model assesses the users' preferences in terms of urban parks. • The discrete choice experiment (DCE) collects data about new park features. • The travel cost method (TCM) examines the correlation between the new park and the existing green areas. • The results guide the choice of decision-makers about the functions to be located. • The integrated approach contributes to determine sustainable urban or peri‑urban park strategies. Inclusive and participatory decision-making is a sustainable option for governments and decision-makers to support real transformation and planning of policies and actions. Investigating and gathering the various views and opinions of stakeholders and citizens is particularly effective because it opens up a range of possibilities in co-constructing the city of the future. Among urban areas requiring planning, Urban Green Infrastructures (UGIs) represent spaces designed to improve the character of neighborhoods, as well as to increase the well-being of users. To achieve these goals, planners should adopt a design approach in which UGIs projects are shaped by local community concerns rather than by market conventions in urban design. Focusing on green recreational areas, this study employs an integrated approach combining Revealed (RP) and Stated Preferences (SP) to investigate citizens' preferences regarding urban parks. In particular, the experiment combines Travel Cost Method (TCM) and Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE) for supporting a requalification project in an ex-industrial area of Turin (Italy). In this way, it was possible to understand which facilities can contribute to increasing the citizens' well-being and the overall efficiency of the UGIs provision and maintenance. The proposed methodology represents an operational and replicable procedure to support different renewal projects in which citizens' opinions are crucial for developing long-term sustainable socio-ecological plans and actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Household mobility dynamics are a complex phenomenon due to the multi-faceted human-environment interactions involved. These dynamics are affected by a variety of variables, spanning economic, structural, political and environmental. With respect to this latter aspect, much research has explored the relationship between the development of urban green areas, the increase of price and the formation of gentrification. Within this context, the present work explores housing mobility and gentrification dynamics proposing a mixed-method approach that combines a spatially explicit agent-based model (ABM), a Multicriteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) and a Hedonic Price (HP). The case study of the transformation project of Victoria Park in Brisbane (Australia) is used to verify the applicability of this integrated approach. In the methodological framework proposed, the ABM simulates the housing mobility of the residents through an individual decision-making process, where the likelihood of mobility is based on various empirical endogenous factors (i.e., household socio-economic characteristics) and exogenous ones (i.e., market variation). The MCDA supports the identification of the relative importance of these factors using a panel of local experts and stakeholders. The Spatial HP explores the impact of urban parks on real estate prices. The current study found the abilities of MCDA and HP to reduce the assumptions of ABM by generating quali-quantitative information of citizens' behaviors and estimating price increase. Moreover, the model highlights the importance of considering both supply and demand sides when analyzing gentrification. The specific results of the case study show the influence of the park in the formation of green gentrification. • A flexible and replicable scheme is proposed to analyze gentrification. • The mixed method combines agent-based model (ABM) and multicriteria analysis. • The MCDA provides quanti-qualitative data from the stakeholders as inputs in the ABM. • The bottom-up approach simulates the supply and demand of the real estate market. • The model can be used for hypothesis-testing and scenario-evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When dealing with cultural built heritage, the enhancement strategies are generally rooted on the history and based on the embedded values of cultural goods themselves, rather than on the multiplicity of their tangible and intangible values. Furthermore, the current state of the art in cultural heritage management lacks of an appropriate legislation and adequate instruments to be used by decision makers in order to achieve a holistic vision of the problem. Traditionally, decisions are made just by allocating resources case by case and by adopting policies based on simplifications of reality. In addition to dissipation of resources and unsuccessful results, this approach highlights the need of using an evaluative framework starting from the early stages of the decision-making processes. In the above perspective, the paper explores the use of multicriteria-spatial decision support systems (MC-SDSS) in order to define enhancement strategies for cultural built heritage. The integration among different evaluation methodologies (SWOT analysis and analytic network process) and tools with spatial analysis strengthens the explorative role of this kind of approaches. In this research the MC-SDSS has been applied to a system of thirteen castles in a mountainous region in the North of Italy. The study has been carried out with a special attention to the mutual relationship among this system of goods and the surroundings, according to a multidimensional structure of analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reuse of historical buildings can be seen as a complex decision problem because of the presence of different objectives to be pursued, the public/private nature of the goods under investigation, the existence of several values (historical, artistic, cultural, economic, etc.), the presence of different actors (public government representatives, architects, architectural historians, developers and owners). In decision problems related to the reuse of historical assets conflicts can arise and the availability of analytical frameworks able to support the process is getting more and more important. It has been generally agreed that Multicriteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) can offer a formal methodology to deal with such decision problems, taking into account the available technical information and stakeholders’ values. This paper considers the problem of sustainability assessment in cultural heritage projects using the Multi-Attribute Value Theory (MAVT) approach, which is a particular kind of MCDA technique. Starting from a real case concerning the reuse of historical buildings in the metropolitan area of Torino (Italy), the paper aims at exploring the contribution of MAVT for decision problems in the field of cultural heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• System Dynamics Model (SDM) for urban resilience assessment. • Multi-dimensional and comprehensive evaluation framework. • Literature review of SDM application in urban studies and urban resilience assessment. • Defining and describing urban elements through mathematical formulas. The global ambition of making cities resilient is leading to growing attention towards evaluation frameworks that can assess and communicate the performance of cities in terms of resilience. This perspective requires appropriate approaches and tools which consider complexity, multidimensionality and dynamic behaviour of urban resilience over time. In this context, the System Dynamics Model (SDM) is a suitable tool to analyse and evaluate urban resilience as part of its main characteristics. This paper firstly provides a literature review on the application of SDM in the field of urban resilience assessment in order to underline both the strengths and the weaknesses that characterise the implementations currently available in the literature. Secondly, the article proposes a methodological framework to build a comprehensive multidimensional SDM to assess urban resilience. The final part of the paper provides a specific literature review that collects in a single framework the existing applications of SDM that analyse and model urban resilience issues related to economic, social, environmental and infrastructure dimensions of urban systems. This review is helpful to understand how different urban elements can be characterised and described through mathematical equations. Thus, it provides a basis for a multidimensional SDM to assess urban resilience and identify the mutual interdependences among the considered urban variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Multicriteria analyses (MCAs) are used to make comparative assessments of alternative projects or heterogeneous measures and allow several criteria to be taken into account simultaneously in a complex situation. The paper shows the application of different MCA techniques to a real decision problem concerning the choice of the most sustainable wastewater treatment (WWT) technology, namely Anaerobic digestion, Phytoremediation and Composting, for small cheese factories. Particularly, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and its recent implementation, the Analytic Network Process (ANP), have been considered for prioritizing the different technologies. The models enable all the elements of the decision process to be considered, namely environmental aspects, technological factors and economic costs, and to compare them to find the best alternative. The AHP and ANP techniques are applied through specific software packages with user-friendly interfaces called Expertchoice and Superdecision, respectively. A comparison of the merits obtained from the different models shows that Phytoremediation results as the most sustainable WWT technology for small cheese factories and that the use of the ANP method, which allows more sophisticated analysis to be made, succeeds in offering better results. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• A risk analysis interface is developed to assess unmovable cultural heritage. • It includes the asset risk evaluation cards, factsheets, and multicriteria model. • The results are integrated to obtain a risk index for fire, earthquake, and flood. • A comparative assessment of two unmovable cultural assets is performed. • The interface can support the implementation of actions pre and post-events. The present article illustrates the application of the Risk Analysis Interface (RAI), which was developed within the European project ResCult. This assessment model is focused on the risk evaluation of immovable cultural assets and their different components, that need to be preserved and managed in case of extreme events. In detail, this article describes the application of this risk assessment model to the two selected pilot case studies of the project, the Church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli in Venice and the Convent of San Nicola in Tolentino (Italy). This article highlights the application procedure and the results obtained by its implementation in the two pilot case studies. The focus of this article is underlying and explaining in-depth the functioning of the specific evaluation tools, to underline their suitability to be applied in ex-ante, in-itinere, and ex-post phase of a disaster occurrence. The outcome of this article is providing information about how applying the RAI developed within the ResCult project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different evaluation protocols were proposed to calculate the degree of sustainability of buildings and large-scale projects. In parallel, many studies focused on estimating the economic benefits delivered by green buildings according to the consumer choices using specific econometric models. The study aims to investigate the awareness of the benefits deriving from Green Mark-labeled buildings in Singapore through the application of the hedonic pricing method. In particular, the impact of the Green Mark was assessed in the multi-family building sector, starting from a transaction dataset of approximately 300,000 units sold between 2005 and 2017. Given the spatial complexity of the multi-family buildings market, spatial autocorrelation models were recommended. In particular, the spatial lag model (SAR) and the spatial error model (SEM) were applied. The paper implements the property valuation literature in the field of spatial econometrics related to sustainable certification. Besides, the research provided an assessment of the sustainability scheme over time, highlighting consumer behavior in different phases of the real estate market in Singapore. The results highlighted how spatial models filter the autocorrelation effect. As for the impact of Green Mark on the sale price of the apartments, the results confirmed that a green premium exists. • Econometric models investigate the appreciation of green buildings in Singapore. • Rosen's theory-based models were used to estimate buildings' green premium. • Spatial hedonic models control the phenomenon of spatial autocorrelation. • Consumers are aware of the benefits of Green Mark-rated buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to assess the territorial resilience of a socio-ecological system through an innovative integrated evaluation framework to aid the decision-making process in the planning of transformation scenarios. This framework employs a set of resilience indicators through a Multicriteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) coupled with a Lotka-Volterra mathematical model of cooperative type. The set of indicators aims to calculate a composite index of Territorial Resilience (TRI), whereas the mathematical model is an extension of an existing model, aimed to predict possible long-time scenarios. The proposed operational framework for rural and vineyard landscapes aims to bridge the existing gap between territorial resilience theory and practice, with an innovative Decision Support System able to assist Decision Makers and territory planners in the planning and management of resilient territorial systems. This integrated evaluation framework is applied to a famous wine region in Portugal, the Douro Valley, where Port-wine grows. Such framework, especially in a context of adaptive governance, proves to be a suitable support in the field of landscape and urban planning to evaluate the dynamics of socio-ecological systems and to envision long-term policies and actions. Unlabelled Image • A novel and original Decision Support System is proposed for the assessment of the territorial resilience; • This Decision Support System is applied to the Douro Valley wine region (Portugal). • Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis is used for aggregating indicators into a composite index of Territorial Resilience; • An extension of a Lotka-Volterra cooperative type PANDORA model is developed to predict future ecological scenarios; • GIS-based spatial maps are produced to aid Decision Makers to interpret territorial resilience in local territories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Identification of suitable areas for Castor fiber reintroduction in Piedmont region. • An integrated approach is proposed combining SWOT and Spatial Multicriteria Analysis. • Characteristics of beaver's habitat and related environmental impacts. • Suitable approach to support reintroductions and species management. The Castor fiber or Eurasian beaver can change its habitat by building dams and creating ponds. For this reason, Castor fiber is known as an "ecosystem engineer" for aquatic and riparian environments. Despite its ecological importance, at the beginning of the 20th century the population was reduced to only 1200 beavers in Europe and Asia, due to uncontrolled hunting. Recently, some reintroductions and translocations have partly re-established the population. In Italy, however, the beaver disappeared in the 16th century and no action has been taken despite the recommendation of the Council of Europe to perform a feasibility study. This research evaluates beaver reintroduction and identifies suitable areas in Italy and, in particular, in the Piedmont region. In order to achieve this, a SWOT analysis combined with a Spatial Multicriteria Analysis was performed. Firstly, the zoological and ethological aspects concerning this rodent were studied, as well as the historical reasons that led to its disappearance in Italy and near extinction in Eurasia. Secondly, Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) of the territory were identified for beaver reintroduction. The SWOT analysis was implemented, as the starting point for the spatial multicriteria analysis. Thirdly, the Multicriteria Spatial Decision Support System (MC-SDSS) was structured into two criteria, i.e. Potentials and Criticalities, representing the spatialization of strengths and weaknesses. The final result of the MC-SDSS is a map showing suitable areas for beaver reintroduction in Piedmont. This map is the weighted sum of the maps of criticalities and potentialities, performed through a set of GIS operations and weighted through a pairwise comparison of criteria by experts. The analysis was conducted for the Piedmont region, but the integrated approach and the set of criteria can also be applied in other regions. Moreover, this mixed-method approach takes into account the characteristics necessary for the choice of suitable beaver habitats and also includes economic and social aspects. Therefore, it is an improvement on the Habitat Suitability Index (HIS), generally used in reintroductions. The aspects considered in the analysis are fundamental for the future development of a shared action plan, which considers both technical and social motivations and acts for the long-term on a wide area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common side effect after prostate cancer stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). We aimed to assess the correlation between the dose to the penile bulb (PB), internal pudendal arteries (IPA), and crura with the development of ED after ultrahypofractionation as part of a phase 2 clinical trial of urethra-sparing prostate SBRT. Among the 170 patients with localized prostate cancer from 9 centers included in the trial, 90 men with Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.03 grade 0 to 1 ED (ED–) at baseline treated with 36.25 Gy in 5 fractions were selected for the present analysis. Doses delivered to the PB, crura, and IPA were analyzed and correlated with grade 2 to 3 ED (ED+) development. The effect on quality of life, assessed by the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC QLQ-PR25) questionnaire, was reported. After a median follow-up of 6.5 years, 43% (n = 39) of the patients developed ED+, and 57% (n = 51) remained ED–. The dose delivered to the crura was significantly higher in ED+ patients than in ED– patients (7.7 vs 3.6 Gy [ P =.014] for the D mean and 18.5 vs 7.2 Gy [ P =.015] for the D 2% , respectively). No statistically significant difference between ED+ and ED– patients was observed for the dose delivered to the PB and IPA. The median ED+-free survival was worse in patients receiving a crura D mean ≥ 4.7 versus < 4.7 Gy (51.5% vs 71.7%, P =.005) and a crura D 2% > 12 versus ≤ 12 Gy (54.9% vs 68.9%, P =.015). No ED+-free survival differences were observed for doses delivered to the PB and IPA. Decline in EORTC QLQ-PR25 sexual functioning was significantly more pronounced in patients with higher doses to the crura. By keeping a D mean and D 2% to crura below 4.7 and 12 Gy, respectively, the risk of developing ED+ after prostate SBRT may be significantly reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Presenting the CIE as method to evaluate urban regeneration projects. • Multiple steps' evaluation integrates the impacts on stakeholders, the time dimension and project's scale of effects. • In the 22@ project the economic impacts were the most significant. Urban regeneration is a complex and multi-faceted process. It can be defined a comprehensive and integrated vision of actions which aims to tackle urban problems and to improve the economic, social and environmental conditions. These strategies also involve several stakeholders which have different powers, interests and objectives in the transformation processes. Integrated evaluation tools are able to consider the multidimensionality of the urban context and the feedback of the different actors involved. These tools are mainly of use for the decision makers. This paper explores the use of Community Impact Evaluation (CIE) which is a multi-actor methodology that aims at defining the convenience of complex projects according to the social preferences expressed by different members of the community. In this paper, the CIE methodology is applied in a peculiar way in order to assess the different impacts generated by the 22@ Barcelona project, considering the effects at the different scales and over time. A synthetic analysis is conducted in order to estimate the nature and the intensity of the impacts among the different stakeholders. The evaluation shows the role of economic interest in urban regeneration processes and how the change in the political local context allowed a review of project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A risk assessment model is proposed for evaluating the cultural heritage. • The model integrates the AREC Cards, the Factsheets and the SMARTER method. • A set of indicators calculates a risk index w.r.t. fires, earthquakes and floods. • The risk assessment model support the decision-making in managing extreme events. Nowadays, the topics related both to the safeguard and the valorization of cultural heritage and cultural assets are getting more attention in the political agenda. Innovative approaches to implement both the risk analysis and the resilience assessment are ever more required. This paper illustrates an original approach, concerning the development of a risk assessment model for cultural assets, with reference to fire, earthquake and flood. The proposed model includes specific evaluation tools, that are based on parameters and indicators related to the factors of hazard and vulnerability for the three considered types of risk. The multi-dimensional set of indicators is used to get synthetics indices, through a multicriteria approach. Furthermore, this evaluation is supported by specific questionnaires to include in the assessment model the opinion of different experts and stakeholders to introduce the indicators weights. The results of this model are represented by specific evaluation tools which can be implemented in the risk assessment of cultural assets in different specific situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ONE SHOT trial is the first phase I/II prospective, multicenter, single-arm study assessing the efficacy and safety of a single-dose SBRT for men with localized prostate cancer. Aim of this paper is to present the phase I results of a 19 Gy single fraction urethra-sparing SBRT with real-time electromagnetic tracking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A resilient city includes multiple energy carriers, high-efficiency infrastructure, lower resource demand to decarbonize and sustain the urban system in accordance with the Paris Agreement, the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the various recovery plans following the COVID-19 pandemic period. To achieve these goals, a key role is played by all urban sectors, which can reduce environmental impacts and accelerate the green transition at larger scale. Intervening on a district scale obviously requires the evaluation of different aspects, taking into account both economic and non-economic criteria, as well as different points of view, involving all stakeholders. This paper proposes a multi-step evaluation procedure that extends the European manual-based Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) to include the extra-economic benefits and the stakeholders' opinion in the evaluation, according to the COmpoSIte Model for Assessment (COSIMA) method. This is the first application of COSIMA in the urban design sectors (i.e. buildings, water, public lighting, transportation and waste management) where different sustainable measures for a real case study located in Turin (Italy) were compared to define the most suitable transformation scenario according to multiple criteria. The results have shown how invasive scenarios allow achieving the greatest benefits, despite the huge initial costs of realization. • Decarbonizing the urban system is a priority nowadays. • Considering an urban regeneration process all urban sectors is necessary. • COSIMA proposes a standardized approach to evaluate projects at the district level. • The multi-step approach evaluates energy, environmental, social performances. • Sectors considered are residential buildings, water, transport, waste management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]