RICERCA ITALIANA     

Mediterranean sites: signs, codes, ordering elements, indicators and models for a multiscale and multidimension representation of mediterranean architectures, urban environments and landscapes

Università degli Studi "Mediterranea" di Reggio Calabria

Abstract

The research project aims to face the theme of ‘lanscape’ under the point of view of representation sciences, a multiscale approach ranging from architecture to urban environment to territory. It’s quite a topical theme, but still it is an idea that is quite difficult to catch, since the synthetic perception of interaction between ‘man’ and ‘nature’ can be considered an ever changing matter, not only under the influence of mutations of physical reality, but also of the one of accumulation of historical events, of different displacement and concentration of economical and social interests and different stakeholders, witch, by the way, also influence the scale of environmental perception and the possibility itself of defining ‘places’.

The research group is made by four local units with a long term tradition of common work, that can guarantee a completely interdisciplinary approach trough the jointed work of different specialists in diverse disciplines. Single contributes are though characterized by a strong co-participation, leading to a 360 degrees analysis and converging toward the reaching of solid and sharable results through:

- an historical study on stratifications reviewed through a signs system capable to translate into graphic elements the description essentials, toward the building of models for a comparative framework aimed to describe an identity map of places;
- the cataloguing of different Italian landscapes to point out typological categories and define images describing the different souls of Mediterranean identity, leading to the reconfiguration, valorisation and communication of contemporary Mediterranean landscapes;
- the new techniques and operating methods in surveying, aiming to reach not just an improvement in data collecting and precision, but to the creation of a flexible GIS system capable to integrate up-to-date knowledge and, on the other side, to grant the support for complex and integrated projects;
- multiscale evaluation and appraisal of a system of indicators and indices supplying instruments for the study of the phenomena at different scales.

The research activities will have at disposal innovative surveying equipment belonging to BENECON Laboratory (University of Naples Federico II) allowing the researchers to carry out their jobs with the aid of airborne and underwater digital sensors:
- LEICA ADS40 digital airborne camera;
- ITRES CASI airborne high-resolution hyper-spectral imaging system;
- ITRES TABI airborne broadband thermal hyper-spectral imaging system surveys at territorial scale and detects temperature variations up to on tenth degree and renders high-resolution images;
- LIDAR ALS50II airborne 3D laser Scanner (Laser Imaging Detection and Ranging);
- SLAR airborne system (Side Looking Airborne Radar) allows to detect, research and monitor marine pollution.
- Multibeam RESON SEABAT 8125 system allows to survey and carry out three-dimensional imaging of sea, river and lake beds;
- 3D LEICA HDS4500 Laser Scanner system detects single buildings on three-dimensions and at short range (from 0,40 m to 50 m), as well as portions of urban environment, monuments, landmarks and on-going archaeological excavation sites;
- The ThermaCAM SC 3000 high-speed thermographic system acquires infrared band data for thermal civil-architecture survey, non-destructive factory and product design control and assessment.

The expected results will permit to point out some innovative surveying methods, allowing not only the monitoring of changes and final result of managment policies in architecture, urban environment and territory, but to prime up those participation processes necessary for the modern approach to interpretation and operation models (DPSIR).

The focalization of a framework of quality and quantity indicators and indices could possibly lead to increased chances for promotion and competition of local communities. <<<

Principal Investigator

Massimo Giovannini Università degli Studi "Mediterranea" di REGGIO CALABRIA

Research Objectives

The aims of the Research Program will be pursued through the joint action of each Research Unit. The aims are:

1. Research Unit of Politecnico di Milano – Prof. E. Bistagnino.
1.1 to understand if the present conformation of our landscapes, in continuous transformation, is suitably described in newest and contemporary images incisive for learning, valorization and communication;
1.2 to make a reconnaissance of the many italian landscapes to get to the description of different kind of categories, and to the shaping of images refering the many souls of the mediterranean identity;
1.3 to test hypothesis to reconfigurate, improve and communicate the mediterranean contemporary landscapes

2. Research Unit of Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II" - Prof. M. Dell’Aquila.
2.1 to develop the analysis of Mediterranean identity, deepening the study on possible connectors of relations and on existing reciprocities.
2.2 to identify the historical legacies of Mediterranean and the the indelible traces that the Greek and Roman civilizations left on the territories;
2.3 to identify descriptors input of places, going back to the Roman common matrix, finding out homogeneous elements, specificity and plural identities, namely those intrinsic values that characterize individual territories, but also are significant for a comprehensive knowledge on the Mediterranean landscape;
2.4 to analyze the places that will be the subject of the study, with the dual purpose to infer from the real the identity that distinguish them and to ascend to matrices of the Roman era, translating into drawings the elements that can describe reality.

3. Research Unit of Seconda Università di Napoli - Prof C. Gambardella.
3.1 to deepen the analysis and experimental applications of innovative methodologies in scientific investigations of survey and representation of environment and territory;
3.2 to create a flexible Geographic Information System, used to manage complex and integrated projects joining different scientific knowledge to improve development preserving the identity and the culture of the people;
3.3 to establish an integral of the knowledge that, by investigating the reasons of the modifications on the temporal axis, will manage to produce an unitary representative event of a new season based on the appropriate use of the territorial resources;
3.4 to promote a systematic generation of knowledge and competence to involve specific stakeholders (Universities, Enterprises and Public Authorities) and other local players in order to increase the accuracy and the efficiency of the decision-making process.

4. Research Unit of Università Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria – Prof. M. Giovannini.
4.1 to critically reflect on semantic foundation and effectiveness of the system of codes and signs that are in use to communicate architecture, urban environment and territories. Not just a theoretical reflection, but a one based on measurable, practical and sharable data;
4.2 to collect and arrange of surveys, researches an so on produced in previous PRIN, international masters, PhD, etc. leading to the comparison of calabrian environment, which is signed by strong and deep contradictions, and other Mediterranean realities;
4.3 to define an evaluations of ' variables' and 'constants’ in architecture, urban environment and territory with particular attention to the quantification and the measurability of different phenomena, to their ricoursivness, emblematic value, significance etc., referring to the perception of quality parameters that can carry to define the term "landscape";
4.4 to elaborate a system of indicators and indices supplying instruments for the study of the phenomena at different scales; to define homogeneous scopes to verify results through an innovative technology. <<<

First Results

This project aims to develop a direct contribution from representation disciplines in the current debate about the general idea of “Lanscape”, meant as the synthesis, at different scales, of architecture, urban environments and territories that become recognizable through a complex system of signs and codes of perception and communication able to promote identification processes.

It’s meant to update the disciplinary approach and bring concrete contribution to the progressive focalization of the same idea of “Landscape”, concerned with the increasing importance that these problems are gaining for the definition of local communities and environment knowledge, protection and management policies.

The theme of ‘landscape’ has become somehow central in modern thought about territory management. Although it’s deeply rooted in common sense, still it is an idea that is quite difficult to catch, since the synthetic perception of interaction between ‘man’ and ‘nature’ can be considered an ever changing matter, not only under the influence of mutations of physical reality, but also of the one of accumulation of historical events, of different displacement and concentration of economical and social interests and different stakeholders, witch, by the way, also influence the scale of environmental perception and the possibility itself of defining ‘places’


The fundamental expected results upcoming from the research project will be connected with the following four main sectors.

1. Evaluation of the central role that the idea of Mediterranean environment carries for the definition of the process of ‘places identification’ trough a given structure of signs and constants in the different landscapes system.

2. Deepening of structural, linguistic and semiological analysis in the framework of representation sciences, dealing with the concept of ‘landscape’.

3. In field experimentation of potential of surveying and 3D modelling instruments and techniques.

4. Multiscale appraisal of a system of indicators and indices supplying instruments for the study of the phenomena at different scales.


1. Central role of the idea of Mediterranean environment.

The term Mediterranean involves a concept of centrality respect to the lands that surround it, lands that design and define its surface, that is an area virtually traced from paths and is characterized by a dense texture of opportunities related to cultural, religious and political exchanges. The same term Mediterraneanity, has a sense of mediation, that can be related to the opportunity to connect diversities and implies a potential communication between people living in the countries overlooking the basin.

Dealing about identity of Mediterranean lands, appears a living matter, considering the dichotomy that the same countries live, as territories which share common historical roots, but at the same time appear fragmented into national identities, that very often emphasize cultural, ethnic and religious differences.

The approach to the subject must necessarily take account of this duality, deepening the analysis on possible connectors of relations and on existing reciprocities. In particular, the historical legacies provide different elements common to the Mediterranean: the Greek and Roman civilizations offer significant evidence of a presence that has left deep traces on the cultural, political and religious heritage. It is therefore necessary, to operate a discernment in order to identify, in the changes occurred, the indelible traces that these civilizations left on the territories.

The use of the innovative survey instruments with high technological content, of sophisticated software for solid modelling and the construction of virtual images is here applied with the aim to acquire and transmit "knowledge" and not just information, to seek and to highlight the ordering elements of architecture, landscape, places but also and above all the ordering elements of scientific thought.
The methodology will allow the definition of a process rather than the simple data registration. In this way the operative unity are going to give a contribution to identify a methodological course that will be more broadly.


2. Structural, linguistic and semiological analysis

The research project will introduce some tools to think about contemporary Italian landscapes (natural, architectural, artistic, social, etc.) being a precious memory of complex cultural stratifications. First of all, about the problem if our Country still reveals an aesthetic and cultural identity to continue to generate in contemporary traveller a “total submission” or if the territorial modifications of last decades have violate the ‘natural’ space of our landscapes, and their relate codes, obscuring the main characteristics of the “Italian earth” among which the signs of the Mediterranean identity of our Country.
Moreover we want to understand if the present conformation of our landscapes, in continuous transformation, is suitably described in newest and contemporary images incisive for learning, valorisation and communication.

It’s time, then, for representation specialists, to critically reflect on semantic foundation and effectiveness of the system of codes and signs that are in use to communicate architecture, urban environment and territories. Not just a theoretical reflection, but a one based on measurable, practical and sharable data.


3. In field experimentation of potential of surveying and 3D modelling instruments and techniques.

The offspring of the research, namely the combination of innovative technologies to the aforementioned patent is theorized in an cutting edge ICT platform (Information and Communication Technology) to form a network of specialized competencies that, once integrated, can support and transfer technologies to corporate systems, local production chains, and foster synergies with public and private partners, in a joint structural pursuit of strategic research.
The goal is a systematic generation of knowledge and competence to involve specific stakeholders (Universities, Enterprises and Public Authorities) and other local players in order to increase the accuracy and the efficiency of the decision-making process.
The expected outcome is expected to be accomplished in two phases: initially, the multi-dimensional analysis above shall single out strengths and weaknesses in the territory; secondly, a design model will be devised to govern modifications based on the use of an Information and Communication Platform to the data derived from a cognitive survey of the territory, meant as manageable asset since it is derived from knowledge.

It follows that the model is a systemic approach able to form a consolidated local development based on local resources, considered as a profit and loss account whose Delta is a higher and higher preservation and valorisation of the environment, the landscape, of cultural heritage and quality of life and work.


4. Multiscale evaluation of a system of indicators and indices supplying instruments for the study of the phenomena at different scales.

Policies for territory and environment management, but in a wider sense the whole idea of reaching general consent toward a democratic government approach, deal with DSS (decision support system) based on a set of indicators and indices toned up by international specialists confrontation and ‘good practices’ developing bottom-up contributions and participation. The common sharing of decisions criteria and the monitoring of the final results, as well as the central role of the idea itself of ‘participation’ in planning processes, have become a fundamental part in the success of government policies.

The research project aims to enrich the evaluation models with a new subset of indicator and indices directly derived from representation sciences, starting from the consideration that communication and representation are becoming more and more important.

Modelling reality puts under influence not just perception, but also, and, maybe, above all, the chance to recognize, in a wider sense, the places themselves, the ability of a ‘place’ to distinguish itself in the new global dimension not just on some physical (or geographical) parameters base, but with regards of its capability to carry and develop the different interests also by means of the potential of its representation.

The measurability of named indicators subset will be defined according with the accomplishment of evaluation parameters of the project quality plan (Ref. point n. 16 in this model A). <<<

Timescale

24 months

National and international background

Each member of the Research Units has a long experience in the field of survey, analysis and evaluations in order to recovery programs about architectures and environment. They belongs to the UID (Drawers Italian Union), an association internationally appreciated, that operates since more than twenty-five years. The UID organize an yearly convention to compare research and didactics systems in the schools of Architecture, Engineering and Industrial Design.
The research group wants to face the complex theme of the "Mediterranean area" through the reading of Architectures and specific, peculiar places, in order to:
- compare its common invariants determining its “diffused” qualities;
- assess its state of the art;
- foresee its transformations and projects.
Therefore, the research will aim at promoting an activity of analysis for the control of a sustainable development of the territory, that is at discretizing and measuring its material and immaterial values through a multicriteria analysis of the natural and built environment.
The research will focus on South Italy and Maghreb – areas being rich in history, culture and local traditions – in order to contribute to provide new economic stimulations through the proposal of a cultural and environmental model encouraging the development of the whole studied area. Such a specific work is based on information coming from a continuous monitoring providing elements for the verification and the control of modifications.

The Research Unit of Reggio Calabria, coordinator for the proposed program, has been engaged since 1990 in numerous researches aiming to come to a deeper knowledge and documentation of architectural and urban features of some of the countries in the Mediterranean area, including the southern part of Italy.
On these topics, in 1998 and 2001 were organized in Reggio two international forums, titled “Mediterranean Cities”, with the participation of some of the world wide major experts. At the same time, the activities of the Final Synthesis Lab. of the Faculty of Architecture of the Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria and the PhD on “Survey and representation of the Mediterranean architecture” has lead to the development of interdisciplinary themes about architectures and locations in the southern Mediterranean area.
The Research Unit of Reggio Calabria (jointed with the Universities of Milano, Brescia, Genova, Napoli) has carried out between 2003 and 2005 a PRIN project titled “Architectures and places in Mediterranean area: Survey, analysis, story, understanding, evaluation in order of the government of transformation processes” coordinated by the University of Reggio Calabria with a direct contribution on “Mediterranean alphabets. Architectures and Living Places”.
On the behalf of the scientific proceedings, the University of Reggio Calabria (AACM Department) has been granted the access to the "Integrated Development Programme: the Saharan and South Tunisian areas - Pilot intervention in Nefta", a joint programme between the Universities of Reggio Calabria and the Ecole Nationale d’Architecture de Tunisie, as a part of the so-called “fondo a dono” given by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Tunisian Government - Cooperation Development - 2005/2008, an interdisciplinary project with the coordination of Massimo Giovannini. The project contents are primarily the development of local uman resources, the manteinance of environment, the realization and the empowerment of local development processes and the economical, social and cultural growth.
Between 2005 and 2007 the Research Unit (University of Reggio Calabria jointed with the Universities of Naples Federico II, Naples SUN, University of Bari) has leaded the researches to further developement through a PRIN project titled “Mediterranean Spaces and Cultures. Measurement, Analysis, comprehension, Evaluation and History for the Knowledge and Monitoring of Transformative Processes in the Mediterranean Area”, coordinated by the University of Reggio Calabria with a direct contribution on “Architectures and places in the Mediterranean Basin. Survey, representation and identity”.
The results of these studies - central themes of some scientific publishing - have been presented during Italian and international conferences and reviewed by credited journals.

The Research Unit of Politecnico of Milan suggest a theme based on all the studies and projects concerning about the Mediterranean culture that is fundamental to elaborate an idea/image of the many Italian landscapes such as:
- the natural landscape;
- the architectural and urban one;
- the landscape of interior architetcture;
- the landscapes of art and design;
- the landscape of communication, etc.

The Research Unit of University of Naples “Federico II” analyzes Architectural and Urban Representation topics, Architectural and Urban Survey in the larger field of census, of documentation, of the construction of a database, to requalify architectural, environmental, cultural properties.
The various experiences made by the research group among national and international studies in the didactic area of Representation and Survey, have been always referred to practical expectations, to easy comprehension requests and to deeply cultural features of our contemporary times, which pull to diversification of knowledge ambits.
The field in which the research wants to experiment the possibility to inquiry linked to the use of new technologies is the architectural and urban representation one, relieved with informatic methods and viewed with multimedial procedures help.
These experiences have been considered until now as an objective to try and inquiry a more and more larger complexity of reality, using instruments given by computer revolution, to define new techniques to survey, to improve the data memory, to construct solid models and virtual pictures representing the existing and to prefigure a new places condition, given by a planning phase, to permit the animation, the dynamic use, the physical experimentation, the rendering view, but always having on mind the possibility to find base structures similar for every element, for every place, which permit, in the analysis phase, and then, in the new solutions finding one too, the reduction to grids and layouts, facilitating the comprehension and permitting, without limits, the revelation of common order elements, the levels of the actual recognizability, to made clear their identities.
In the ambit of these objectives have been developed the research activity, and in this way is oriented to go on with its complete inquiry of reality, always saving for itself the possibility, in itinere, to experiment new theoric methods in approach and in evaluation phase of the problem, and new practice instruments to answer, with their innovations, to main referred objectives.

The Research Unit of Seconda Università di Napoli has leaded, in the last four years, basic and applied research activities on projects financed with about 20.000.000,00 Euros, thanks also to two PRIN projects, namely, between 2003 and 2005: “The Amalfi Coast Eco-geometrical unit survey: multicriteri@ analysis for the measurement and the management of tangible and intangible resources” and between 2005 and 2007 “Natural and Artificial environment Multicriteri@ analysis methodology: the Maghreb Region”. The outcome of said studies is base to the assumptions to this research project.
The results from the previous researches were published and presented at the International Research Forum “Le Vie dei Mercanti”, a yearly gathering of diverse competences aimed at searching the issue of artificial and natural environment measurement and control.
The Research Unit will also include researchers from the Operative Units of the Centro Regionale di Competenza Benecon - Beni Culturali Ecologia Economia to eco-sustainable recovery and support design of culturally valuable environmental systems, in the scope of the activities carried out by the Dipartimento di Cultura del Progetto, whose Scientific Director is Prof. Carmine Gambardella (www.benecon.it).
The Centro Regionale di Competenza Benecon founded the ARS (Ambiente/Rappresentazione/Strutture_ Environment/Representation/Structures) Laboratory, equipped with 9.600.000,00 Euros worth of machinery, also used during and for the purpose of this Research Project. The Research Laboratory activities and competencies in the aforementioned areas are the following:
- environmental Diagnosis and Analysis to detect Physical, Chemical and Biologic Impact Presence and Intensity;
- territorial and environmental image based on the Benecon Carta Uni.Te.Mi.Ca -patent multicriteri@ scientific methodology (Survey Map of Territorial Minimum Catalogued Unit);
- structural, Functional and Technologic adaptation and consolidation, restoration and seismic safety of architectural object and infrastructures.
The elements above are a necessary condition to carry out the research project through the competencies used to describe, measure and survey the natural and architectonic heritage and render it as an ever-implementable knowledge asset to the stakeholders in the area (Local Enterprises and Public Authorities). <<<