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Artificial intelligence, in particular a supervised and unsupervised machine learning approach, has been becoming an interest in the field of measurement and instrumentation. Many problems of classification can be faced by a machine learning approach. We know machine learning is a broad area of artificial intelligence that comprises some other lines of research and activities such as deep learning. Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) measurements by means of its sensors are of great interest in environmental monitoring, in particular in land classification. This paper presents findings related to measurements and characterization through land classification of an environmentally sensitive area in Italy over two different time periods in order to assess changing parameters. A deep learning algorithm has been designed and implemented, and a comparison has been established with a spectral density approach.

We investigated the roles of different shading strategies on plant growth, antioxidant activity and phenolic profile of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), a widely used herb with culinary and medicinal properties. Sweet basil plants were cultivated in a commercial multi-span tunnel-greenhouse covered with an EVAC plastic film, shaded from solar radiation in five different ways: n. 1, by calcium hydroxide whitening; n. 2, installing up - or n. 3, under - the greenhouse roof, a PE-HD white reflective net with 36% shading factor; n. 4, installing up - or n. 5, under - the greenhouse roof, a PE-HD white reflective net with 58% shading factor. The remaining part of the greenhouse (n. 6 - control) was unshaded. In each trial, yield traits, antioxidant activity and contents of phenolics of sweet basil plants were assessed to evaluate the influence of the shading strategy on these parameters. The antioxidant capacity was evaluated by using three different in vitro assays: DPPH scavenging activity, reducing power (FRAP) and lipid peroxidation inhibition (BCB). To compare the data obtained by the different chemical methods, the relative antioxidant capacity index (RACI) was calculated. The yield was highest in unshaded plants. The control trial, in which the incoming solar radiation was filtered only by the film which covers the greenhouse, showed the highest RACI value (0.98), indicating that the antioxidant capacity was probably influenced by higher light and temperature conditions. Phenolic quantification, determined by HPLC-DAD, enabled to observe a correlation between the antioxidant power and the identified metabolites.

Agriculture, one of the main economic pillars in Europe, plays a growing important role towards the environmental sustainability of the extra-urban land, in which the agricultural activities may proactively contribute to control and regulate the whole ecological conditions. Modern agriculture currently needs big quantities of agrochemicals, which are necessary for the growth and protection of crops and animals. These agrochemicals are commercially distributed to consumers in many types of containers. The most widely used packaging solutions usually employ plastic materials (e.g., containers for liquid pesticide; sacks for granular fertiliser; etc.). These materials, after the use of the agrochemical, need to be decontaminated, before being entrained in a recycling process, in the framework of a circular economy. In the present paper the main results coming from a EU-funded international project are reported, with specific reference to a pilot station that was realised in Italy with the aim to implement and test a codified system for the decontamination of these plastic containers for agrochemicals. The experimental tests were supported by relevant laboratory analysis, which have confirmed that the triple-rinsing decontamination procedure - traditionally employed by farmers for washing and decontaminating these containers - may be effective only under some well-defined conditions. Triple rinsing by farmers has indeed led to an only partial decontamination of the plastic containers, if farmers did not follow an appropriate triple-rinsing protocol, or did not triple-rinse the containers immediately after their emptying.

Plant roots play a key role in erosion control by increasing soil resistance to shear stress. Root tensile strength data have been published for natural systems, less is available on cultivated crops. Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus L.) is raising a growing interest as multipurpose crop for marginal lands. In this work we measured cardoon roots tensile strength, topsoil root area ratio, root length density and estimated soil reinforcement potential. Root samples were collected in late spring and at the beginning of fall and were subjected to tensile strength tests in laboratory. Tensile strength (σmax) ranged between 1.57 and 254.78 MPa, decreasing with by a power-law relationship with high determination coefficients (>0.75), with differences between summer and fall roots. We measured root length density (RLD) and root area ratio (RAR) in surface soil (top 5 cm) at different positions in the row and inter-row. RAR was used to calculate soil reinforcement potential (Cr = 1.2 * Σσmax (kPa) * RAR (cm² cm¯²)). Average RLD was quite high 8.68 cm cm¯³ with a mean value of 9.183 cm cm¯³ on the row and 8.179 cm cm¯³ on the inter-row, though differences between row and inter-row, were not significant. RAR was on average 0.017 cm² cm¯². Average soil reinforcement was 194 kPa with values ranging from 67.34 kPa to 265 kPa. This is not to be interpreted as absolute reinforcement values, due to drawbacks of the simple model used, but they are useful for comparisons within the framework of crop choices. Cardoon produces a dense mat of fine roots that can contribute to increase soil cohesion, thus providing important ecosystem services.

Circular economy aims to create a system that allows an optimal reuse of products and materials. According to an appropriate planning hierarchy, agricultural and agro-food co-products, by-products and wastes should be primarily employed to re-balance soil fertility, and afterwards valorized as new secondary raw materials used in the same agricultural sector or in different industrial chains (e.g., cosmetics, nutraceuticals, etc.). Finally, only at the end of this process, they could be conveyed to energy production through co-generation. In this paper, different residues generated by the wine production chain have been considered with reference to the Basilicata region (Southern Italy). These biomasses have been quantitatively assessed and qualitatively classified, in order to find the most rational and convenient solution for their valorization from a technical, economic and environmental point of view. From the spatial analysis&mdash, elaborated by implementing a Geographic Information System&mdash, some thematic maps have been obtained, which allow us to highlight the areas with the highest concentration of residues. In this way, focusing the analysis on these areas, some possible strategies for their management and valorization have been proposed, so as to restore soil fertility and contribute to the sustainable preservation of the rural landscape.

Circular economy aims to create a system that allows an optimal reuse of products and materials. In this context, the contribution provided by the valorization of residual biomass is fundamental for the production of renewable biological resources and their conversion into new added-value products. Indeed, according to an appropriate planning hierarchy, agricultural and agro-food co-products, by-products and wastes should be primarily employed to re-balance soil fertility, then valorized as new secondary raw materials used in the same agricultural sector or in different industrial chains (e.g., cosmetics, nutraceuticals, etc.). Only at the end of this process, they could be finally conveyed to energy production through co-generation. In this paper, the different residues generated by the wine production chain have been considered with reference to the Basilicata region (Southern Italy). These biomasses have been quantitatively evaluated and qualitatively classified, in order to find the most rational and convenient solution for their valorization from a technical, economic and environmental point of view. From the spatial analysis elaborated by implementing a Geographic Information System, some thematic maps have been obtained. These maps have allowed to highlight the areas with the highest concentration of residues. In this way, possible strategies for their management and valorization may be formulated, even with the support of an Internet of Things network system, aimed to allow a constant monitoring of their life cycle.

In the last decades, Mediterranean rural landscapes have undergone significant changes, with relevant considerable environmental and socio-economic impacts. These phenomena are often triggered by agricultural abandonment, especially in environmentally-sensitive areas, which are usually located in marginal and less profitable regions, and which could indeed irremediably compromise the identity and role of these Mediterranean landscapes. On the other hand, the progressive increase of available multi-source geodata allows to reconstruct the landscape original structure, providing new tools able to prevent negative impacts on environment. Hence, thanks to the development of increasingly advanced and open-source GIS tools, it is possible to implement several geodata typologies that can be mutually integrated in an increasingly efficient approach. In this paper the process of landscape reshaping pattern is analyzed in a study area of Basilicata region (Southern Italy) using remote sensing. In particular, the vegetation component of a landscape has been assessed by means of SAR images by using an artificial intelligence approach, that is machine learning to understand landscape dynamics in two different time periods. In this way, it has been possible to integrate data of different source and composition into landscape analysis methodologies, hence developing a suitable tool for planning and managing the rural landscape.

Farm buildings constitute a witness of the economic and productive organization of a specific rural territory. Designed over the centuries in order to fulfil their primary agricultural role, they now constitute a widespread heritage, which in some cases possesses an irreplaceable architectural value. Moreover, they also play a central role for the sustainability of the rural environment, since they can influence natural and semi-natural habitats, both in terms of their structure and biodiversity. Mostly in some southern European countries, these rural structures have been built basing on agricultural needs and land characteristics. Considering the land abandonment occurred during the last centuries, most of these historical farm buildings have been abandoned, causing a possible loss of the historical-cultural heritage of the rural landscape. In this paper, the potential of a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to assess the impact of farm buildings on the surrounding agroforestry landscape has been explored with reference to a protected area of Basilicata Region, which has been considered as a case study. Through the implementation of a GIS, the land cover changes over the past 30 years—focusing mainly on the afforestation processes—have been identified and connected to the position of the geo-localized rural buildings.

Due to several growing environmental constraints, renewable energy sources currently play an increasingly crucial role that, owing to their high temporal and spatial variability, needs a careful planning approach. It is important therefore to develop a framework that examines the distribution of different energy sources in a spatio-temporal context. From an energy point of view, a regional territory, such as an internal southern Italian region (the Basilicata Region), can be considered as a paradigmatic case study, because it is characterized by significant sources of renewable energy (e.g., biomass, wind, solar, hydro) connected to its morphological and environmental structure, as well as to its agricultural and food productions. The present paper in based on an analysis of the spatial supply and relationships between renewable energy potentials and rural land, through the use of a Geographic Information System that has been implemented with the aim to analyze the energy system, as well as to optimize the valorization of biomass resources that may be still unutilized within the bioenergy production chain. This study has been carried out even to bridge the gap between energy systems modeling and landscape planning. Within this context, an “Energyscape” may be considered as the effect resulting on the rural landscape from a combination of the supply, demand and infrastructure for energy. This framework could be therefore a starting point for an interdisciplinary analysis able to figure out optimal solutions in decision-making processes, which duly respect the protection and restoring of endangered ecosystems, supporting the decision about an optimal spatial localization of energy plants as well.

The apparent features of a rural landscape are the final result of the interaction among several natural and anthropic factors. The analysis of a landscape, as well as the identification of its best management strategies, can be improved when useful information about its modifications along a wide time period is available, so as to assess the effect of the transformations that have taken place there. The implementation within a geographic information system (GIS) of geographical information derived from ancient historical maps, combined with modern digital cartography and recent remote sensing images may provide a very powerful tool for a better-informed analysis and targeted decision-making strategies about the most appropriate rural landscape planning. With the purpose to detect the land use changes in a typical rural landscape in the Basilicata Region (Southern Italy), spatial analysis using free and open-source GIS tools, in which data covering a period of about two centuries, from 1829 to 2017, were implemented. This multi-temporal analysis was carried out to investigate the landscape structure transformations through the assessment of land use change and the implementation of a methodology for the identification of areas in which there has been a natural evolution of the rural landscape. Then, using landscape metrics and spatial analysis tools, some areas in which the landscape has naturally evolved without any anthropic intervention during these 188 years have been identified, and changes occurred on the rural landscape were assessed quantitatively.

The low-density polyethylene films used for greenhouse roof were naturally weathered for 9 months in harsh climatic conditions (Tiaret region, Algeria). The changes in the mechanical properties have been measured by tensile and creep-recovery tests. The measurements were carried out for both monolayer and tri-layer films. The anisotropic character of the films is preserved during ageing. The improvement in the creep resistance via cross-linking for both monolayer and tri-layer films affects different deformations. The results revealed that the degradation performance of these new tri-layer films is found to be quite better than that of the monolayer film, with regard to the mechanical properties.

Programmes of education for sustainable development are important to reformulate and revise educational programmes in Sustainable Agriculture. Higher education institutes emerge as learning places to integrate sustainable development into the educational system, through graduation and MSc programmes, to provide a more effective response to the higher environmental and agriculture concerns. The aim of this study was to identify the best practices to be included in a MSc programme of education for sustainable development in agriculture based on a questionnaire prepared and distributed to agrarian sciences experts. The questionnaires were developed in order to define the fundamental competences/expertise, to identify the best practices and the methods of training/learning that should be taken in consideration in a MSc programme in Sustainable Agriculture. The results showed that the fundamental expertise of MSc programmes should be based on knowledge transfer of agricultural measures to mitigate the impact of climate change on agricultural systems. MSc programmes in Sustainable Agriculture should include interdisciplinary courses related to sustainability and agro-environmental technologies, such as Precision Agriculture, and incorporate adaptive and mitigate practices as those used in the Circular Economy strategy. Traditional face-to-face training methods are considered the most important forms of training/learning in a MSc programme in Sustainable Agriculture. However, due to COVID-19 pandemic, online learning methods, traditionally considered not suitable for MSc programme in Sustainable Agriculture, became important by providing online education. Information and communication technology and technological tools showed to be important skills to effectively implement online learning and to improve the efficient access and use of up-to-date information of the agricultural sector.

The Mediterranean area is characterized by hot summers that, especially inside greenhouses, can determine non-optimal conditions for the growth of vegetable crops. In Southern Italy, the use of shading nets or the application of calcium hydroxide (whitening) on the cover material of the greenhouse is often used by farmers to improve micro-climatic conditions for crops and to obtain a healthier environment for workers. In recent years, thanks to their cheaper price accompanied by improved photo selective properties, plastic nets are often used for shading purposes, combining the shade effect with their specific features useful for the crop growth. Like other vegetable crops in the Mediterranean area, sweet pepper cultivation in greenhouses can benefit by shading during the late spring and summer months. With the aim of determining the effects of different greenhouse shading methods on the cultivation of sweet pepper, a trial was carried out in Battipaglia (Campania Region - Southern Italy), comparing cover whitening, made by slaked lime, with two plastic nets, a reflective aluminized cloth having 50% of shade level (Aluminet) and a photo-selective red net having 30% of shade level (red Chromatinet), resulting the colored shading nets most used by farmers in the study area. In addition, an unshaded greenhouse was utilized as a control. The plastic nets, as well as allowing a shading effect, contributed to avoid the decrease in the greenhouse temperature overnight (Aluminet), as well as to modify the spectrum of the transmitted light (Chromatinet). In order to investigate the influence of the studied nets on the growth of sweet pepper, yield quantitative and qualitative traits were performed. Furthermore, spectro-radiometrical and mechanical characterizations of nets, through laboratory tests, were carried-out. The results obtained by these tests, confirming the relationship between the porosity of a net and its transmittance in the solar range, allow to evaluate the different shading and transmittance effects.

The recent increase in the sensitivity about the concept of sustainable development is stimulating the valorisation of the locally available material for agricultural construction, both for housing purpose and for some single components. This traditional building technique has indeed interesting consequences on the rural landscape perception – since the color is similar to the countryside surroundings – as well as on the agricultural environment – this material being, at the end of its useful life, recyclable in the same context. Traditional material could be employed in other agricultural components, e.g. for food aging, a technique used since Roman times, involving the use of earthenware amphorae, buried in the soil and used for storing wine and oil. In the present paper, the most diffused traditional building materials currently rediscovered are analyzed, focusing on their utilization opportunities. One of the most interesting traditional construction material is the sun-dried earth brick, made of raw clay soil (so-called, “adobe”), often improved by the addition of fibers to control cracking while drying in the sun. After a general overview about the diffusion of earthen construction within agriculture, the results of experimental tests on adobe bricks reinforced with a natural fiber – Spanish Broom (Spartium junceum L.) – are reported.

This study is to describe the degradation behavior of the optical constants (refractive index $$ \bar{n} $$ and extinction coefficient $$ \bar{\sigma } $$ ) of PE-LD sheets during exposure to an arid climate. Values of $$ \bar{n} $$ and $$ \bar{\sigma } $$ are used to determine the solar radiative properties of any PE-LD cover at any time without the need of measurements. Different greenhouse models were covered with PE-LD films and exposed for 1 year to an arid climate, and values of $$ \bar{n} $$ and $$ \bar{\sigma } $$ were investigated. Exposing films to the arid climate for 1 year increased the values of $$ \bar{n} $$ from 1.58 to 2.86 and $$ \bar{\sigma } $$ from 3.86 to 8.1 mm−1, resulting in a decrease in transmittance from 0.42 to 0.12. Two correlations for predicting the degradation rate of $$ \bar{n} $$ and $$ \bar{\sigma } $$ for PE-LD covers were developed.

The sustainable agriculture concept emerges from the necessity to ensure food production to feed the human growing population, while the natural resources, water and soil quality, ecosystems and others are preserved. One way to implement the know-how and techniques in sustainable agriculture is through educational courses in the universities, such as MSc programme, by promoting communication between academics, researchers, agricultural workers and other experts. This paper examines the best practices to serve as a guide to develop a MSc programme in sustainable farming. A questionnaire was prepared and distributed to academics’ expert in agrarian sciences in Greece, Italy and Portugal. The questionnaires were developed in order to define the fundamental competences/expertise, to identify the sustainable agricultural practices and the methods of training/learning that should be taken in consideration in a MSc programme in sustainable farming. The results allowed to identify the relevant best practices, the fundamental competences/expertise, the most important sustainable farming practices adequate forms of training/learning and the more efficient training methods that should be taken into account when developing the MSc programme.

The transmitted radiation into the conventional net-houses is very low in the early morning and late afternoon that may not fulfill the crop growth requirements. To solve this problem, two types of net-house models (polygon and curved-arch net-houses) were newly designed, each having seven surfaces made up of different net types. The spectral radiative properties of 32 nets were examined and three nets were selected to cover the surfaces of each model. The two designs showed high transmittance in the morning and afternoon, and low at around noon (U shape). The polygon style was scaled-up and an experiential net-house was constructed with a floor area of 28 m2. An evaporatively-cooled greenhouse with a floor area of 28 m2 was used for comparison; each floor was planted with 500 potted Chrysanthemum plant. The results showed that the PAR and microclimate in the net-house and cooled greenhouse were similar. The net-house reduced water consumption by 13 kg m−2 day−1 in summer and by 0.94 kg m−2 day−1 in winter; and reduced electric energy consumption by 0.26 kw-h m−2 day−1 in summer and by 0.18 kw-h m−2 day−1 in winter compared to the greenhouse.

This work aims at studying the degradable effect of artificial ageing on tri-layer stabilised low-density polyethylene (PE) films used as greenhouse cover in the North Africa environment. The film was supplied by Agrofilm company, Algeria. Colour additives and infra-red and ultraviolet stabilisers were used. Optical, thermal, surface and mechanical properties have been investigated for virgin sample and samples exposed to sand wind for different exposure periods (1, 2, 4 and 8 h) of artificial ageing at a temperature of 40°C simulating Saharan environment. The findings of this study show that the harsh environmental conditions of exposure to temperature and sand wind have significant degradable effects on the properties of the PE film. The transmission of the film and its mechanical properties have reduced significantly due to exposure to sand wind and temperature. The study revealed also that the degradation parameters measured are directly related to the criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of agri...

A large quantity of plastics is utilized by floriculture and especially for the production of flowering potted plants, where the pot is a very important component of the whole marketable product. Among these, poinsettia ( Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch) is a typical example of ornamental potted-plant characterized to have a relatively long crop cycle, a strong demand, especially in Europe and North America, concentrated in the Christmas period and a short shield life. Its cultivation produces a huge quantity of plastic pots to be managed in the right way to avoid environmental risks. A solution of this problem could be the use of biodegradable pots instead of traditional ones. Nevertheless, it is necessary to verify if these materials, although having biodegradability properties, are able to ensure comparative levels of technical use as traditional plastic materials. In this paper, three different kinds of biodegradable pots (biodegradable polyester, plain or added with plant fibers) plus a traditional one (polypropylene, PP) were tested in two cultivation cycles of poinsettia ( E. pulcherrima cv Premium red). The trial was carried out in a heated greenhouse located in Southern Italy (40° 38′N; 14° 55′E; 50 m a.s.l.). Agronomical response of plants as well as the mechanical and colorimetric behavior of pots over time were studied. Result have shown that poinsettias growth in pots charged with plant fiber have had good values of some agronomical qualitative and quantitative indexes. Mechanical tests have pointed out that pots made by 100% biodegradable polyesters have a good mechanical resistance, with a decrease of the maximum tensile strength ( σ max ) of just 32.2% during the trial, and a fixed color over time. Pots made of biodegradable polyesters variously added with plant fibers do not seem appropriate for poinsettia cultivation especially for the fast falling of the σ max that, in the case of the biodegradable pot added with 20% of plant fibers, that decreased of 81.3% during the trial.

Agrochemical containers shall undergo decontamination before being considered for recycling. This study provides an assessment on the feasibility of the triple-rinsing decontamination procedure, while evaluating the appropriateness of the material’s quality for recycling. To achieve the objectives of the study, (1) the effectiveness of the decontamination procedure was investigated; (2) containers´ long storage times and changes on the polymer´s structure were assessed; and (3) the quality of the recycled material was tested. Results showed that the triple-rinsing procedure was ineffective for the container´s complete decontamination, yet a further washing step – performed during the simulation of the recycling process – allowed for an improved degree of decontamination for recycling. Photo-oxidation imposed significant changes on the chemical structure of the polymer, where the active ingredient could be detected by FTIR, even after the application of rinsing and extraction. The chemical structure of the bulk material has not changed, indicating that the pesticide mobilization was only confined to the surface. The mechanical tests showed material quality appropriateness, where tensile strength values were within the suggested ranges, providing a possibility for further utilization of this material when appropriate decontamination is applied.

Over the centuries, farm buildings, which accompany the development of agriculture, have played an important role in defining spatial and environmental planning. In some European countries in particular, these rural structures have been built based on traditional agricultural needs and typical land characteristics. Considering the land abandonment that has occurred over the last five decades, with farmers moving to more comfortable residences in neighboring urban settlements, historical farm buildings have often been abandoned, thus causing a leakage of the historical-cultural heritage of the rural landscape. Nowadays, open data and geographic technologies together with advanced technological tools allow us to gather multidisciplinary information about the specific characteristics of each farm building, thus improving our knowledge. This information can greatly support the protection of those buildings and landscapes that have high cultural and naturalistic value. In this paper, the potential of Geographic Information Systems to catalogue the farm buildings of the Basilicata region (Southern Italy) is explored. The analysis of these buildings, traditionally known as masserie, integrates some typical aspects of landscape studies, paving the way for sustainable management of the important cultural heritage represented by vernacular farm buildings and the rural landscape.

The effect of sand wind ageing simulation performed under different conditions for a five-layer film consisting of polyethylene, poly-vinyl-acetate and various additives has been investigated. The mechanical properties of the five-layer films after several treatments were evaluated, together with their surface morphology - analysed by using Fourier transform infrared and contact angle - and gas permeation properties. The experimental analysis indicated that these treatments had a significant influence on the surface of the film only. An attempt has been done to compare the properties of the five-layer films with the monolayer and tri-layer films with or without air bubble under similar conditions.

The increased use of plastic material in many different agricultural applications causes high volumes of waste. The mechanical recycling of postconsumption plastic is a suitable system for the recovery of these materials. With the aim of evaluating the mechanical and physical characteristics of plastic bars’ profiles, obtained by recycling different polymeric mixtures of agricultural plastic film. Experimental tests were performed on different blends of heterogeneous material. Bars, made from recycled agricultural plastic film were produced through mechanical recycling, mixed with calcium carbonate, high density polyethylene, ‘densified’ polyethylene from scrap material, wood powder, and glass fibers.

Rural land has been affected over the years by profound, complex and difficult to understand transformations due to natural events, human intervention and changes in natural cycles. Nowadays, the analysis of rural land as well as the environment and landscape is made easier and more complete through the use of powerful and reliable tools; many changes can be considered to be models of territorial development that may prove useful in the appropriate planning of interventions in a rural area. In this paper the land use changes in a rural area located in Southern Italy were analysed by comparing some historical cartographic supports produced by the Italian Geographic Military Institute at different periods over about 160 years with modern maps, in order to evaluate the morphological and vegetation variations of agro-forestry land. The results in terms of landscape modification of the study area show significant changes: the agricultural and forestry land has been affected by deep transformations. Land use and morphological changes at four time steps were conducted through the implementation of digital terrain models, which were enriched by draping land cover pictures over them; these finally enabled an evaluation in a scenic way of the morphological and vegetation variations of the agro-forestry landscape, allowing a virtual jump back to periods when digital aerial photography was not yet possible. Multitemporal analysis with the support of GIS techniques has great potential for assessing and monitoring landscape diversity and typical changes of vegetation and for planning sound interventions in landscape structures.

The purpose of the present study is a comparative analysis of the characteristics of traditional rural constructions constituted by temporary settlements for animal corrals, employed for vertical transhumance or nomadic pastoralism, spread over the mountain regions of three different Countries of the Adriatic-Ionian area, i.e., Greece, Italy and Montenegro. The main methods applied in this research were the detection and typological survey of some examples of these rural constructions located in Southern Italy, whose typical dimensions, building material and constructive technologies were detected and analysed. Major findings of the research have been the identification of some similarities connecting architecture and building material of these constructions, which revealed common technologies applied by people from different countries that, despite different socio-economical and cultural traditions, have employed similar techniques, implementing simple but very effective constructive building principles. Main conclusions are connected to the possible restoration of these constructions that, designed over the centuries in order to fulfil their primary agricultural role, now constitute a widespread cultural heritage with a significant architectural value, influencing the agricultural environment and the visual perception of its landscape that, within the current re-discover of the agricultural heritage, may play a central role, even though new activities related to rural tourism.

In this work the performance and durability of a new generation of greenhouse covers, in which the cover is composed of five layers, are investigated. A sand wind ageing was performed under different exposure conditions. Surface morphology and chemical, physical, and thermal characteristics were investigated by using optical microscopy, FTIR, and tensile test techniques. In addition, the mechanical integrity of the five-layer film was assessed. The analysis indicated that the sand wind treatments have a significant influence only on the performance of the film. An attempt has been done to compare the properties of the five-layer film with the monolayer and trilayer films with or without air bubble under similar conditions. The results revealed that the five-layer film proved to be a promising greenhouse covering film.

The current characteristics of a rural landscape may be better understood if suitable information related to its past is available. The availability of a Geographical Information System (GIS) can enable the analysis of landscape features in relation to several aspects, e.g., the evolution and mutual inter-relation among different ecosystems, the impact and sustainability of human activities, the visual characteristics of a landscape, etc. The analysis of geographical information, derived from historical maps, within a GIS could, therefore, prove to be a very powerful tool, for a better-informed decision-making and management of a rural landscape. With the aim to identify the land use changes in a rural area located in the Basilicata Region (Southern Italy), a territorial analysis was conducted through a GIS, in which data taken from historical maps—covering a period of 184 years, from 1829 to 2013—were implemented. Three-dimensional reconstruction of the rural landscape during different periods were obtained through digital terrain models (DTM). The land cover changes were also evaluated, demonstrating how they have affected the quality of the forest ecosystem in the area. The final results that were obtained comparing historical documents and current maps enabled the evaluation of the multi-temporal, morphological, and vegetation variations in this rural landscape. The analysis that was conducted has great potential for assessing and monitoring landscape diversity and typical changes of vegetation, even in different geographical locations, where appropriate interventions in landscape structures may be so planned.