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This paper explores the predominantly male-dominated aviation sector and highlights the benefits of increasing female representation. The key objectives are to analyze the gender pay gap, assess the current gender imbalance, and explore how addressing these issues could contribute to the sector's sustainability and operational success. A combined quantitative and qualitative methodology is employed, including scenario-building based on monetary indicators and achievements from other industries where female workforce participation has been enhanced. The results demonstrate that closing the gender pay gap and boosting female participation in air transport operations, in line with supranational recommendations, can lead to significant financial gains and operational improvements. The study concludes that promoting gender equity is not only a social imperative but also a crucial factor for achieving sustainability goals within aviation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examines the integration of novel Transportation Ecology principles into transit operations, aiming to address the environmental impacts associated with surface services in urban areas and with the purpose of creating a comprehensive agenda for integrating ecological principles into transit planning and management. The research problem is to quantify the tangible benefits for transit operators, particularly in the context of mitigating wildlife-vehicle collisions and improving overall operational efficiency as a motivator for transit managers to adopt Transportation Ecology principles. The study design, after analyzing the regulatory requirements, implements scenario-based methodology, utilizing data from an average Italian bus fleet to estimate potential monetary savings and benefits. Key parameters, such as maintenance costs, insurance premiums, and collision-related expenses, are analyzed to provide a realistic assessment of the economic advantages of implementing Transportation Ecology measures. The findings reveal that significant cost reductions can be achieved by minimizing accidents involving wildlife, alongside other operational improvements. The scenario demonstrates that even a small fleet, when adopting these principles, can yield substantial financial benefits, thereby making a compelling case for broader implementation. The paper concludes that while the qualitative nature of the analysis necessitates conservative estimates, the results underscore the value of incorporating ecological considerations into transit planning and management. These insights are vital for transit operators and policymakers seeking to balance environmental sustainability with operational profitability and protect urban ecosystems. This also implies the need for a more holistic and interdisciplinary approach to transportation planning and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Urban planning is a key tool to promote health in cities. The COVID-19 emergency accelerated several social, environmental, and digital challenges, stressing the importance of some issues regarding housing, urban mobility, green areas, and health service networks, urban health policies, and actions. These issues were the subject of an intensive residential course (the 57th) held in Erice, Sicily, in June 2021 in the "International School of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine G. D'Alessandro", and the main findings are described here. Methods. Lectures presented the topics, subsequently developed them, and argued them in parallel practical sessions using the World Café technique, since it is well suited for the interaction of participants and the involvement of groups. Results. The World Café provides new insights into how to improve the livability and health of urban spaces, and a set of strategies and actions were proposed for each topic. Discussion and Conclusions. All attendees agreed on the importance of participation in the planning processes, but also on the need for strong political support to ensure the resources needed and a full integration of health with other local policies. A multidisciplinary approach to developing systemic operational capacities and health literacy is considered pivotal to raising awareness and participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper moves from the scientific literature on Road Ecology and Railway Ecology to merge related concepts and criteria under a single definition: Ecology of Transportation Infrastructure (ETI). Common traits are the negative impacts generated by road and rail infrastructure on natural ecosystems, resulting in habitat loss or fragmentation for flora and fauna. Although not much addressed within transportation studies, the ETI contribution is crucial when addressing the enforcement of regulations in the fields of strategic environmental evaluation for transportation projects and planning, with a focus on landscaping issues. To this end, evaluation criteria are proposed to meet the regulations requirements, along with the main measures to implement. The goal is to increase awareness among transportation researchers and operators of the need to introduce ETI in studies and practice on construction, maintenance and evaluation of railway infrastructures, as a criterion to meet the environmental requirements. Thus, the paper is structured as follows: the development of the fundamental concepts and the related literature review is reported (Section 1) and the relevance within the regulatory tools on environmental assessments at landscape scale is stressed along with some factors of complexity affecting the process (Section 2); eventually, ETI criteria and measures to implement ETI with a focus on railways lines and artifacts are described (Section 3), and guidelines to assess their effectiveness within planning decision-making processes are proposed (Section 4). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]