0000000001141598
AUTHOR
A. Pisciotta
Remotely controlled aerial and underwater vehicles in support to magnetic surveys
This article deals with the creation of a professional magnetometer, a flexible, light and compact instrument that can be installed on aerial and marine drones. The instrument can accurately measure the local magnetic field. Subsequently, it was installed on AUV and a micro ROV to test its effectiveness for archaeological purposes and magnetic surveys. Experimental data show that both systems can be used by filtering disturbances from vehicles.
Evidence of surface faulting in the archaeological site of Santa Venera al Pozzo (Catania-Eastern Sici-ly): first results from geophysical investigations
We present the first results of a preliminary geological and geophysical survey carried out in the archaeological site of Santa Venera al Pozzo (Catania, Italy). The site dates back to the Roman Age, (1st century BC). Geological surveys highlighted a set of remarkable fractures affecting some archeological remains, suggesting the occurrence of a capable fault zone through the area. Multidisciplinary geophysical surveys (seismic refraction and electrical resistivity tomographies, together with aerial photographic and thermographic survey) identified a main tectonic discontinuity ascribable to the fault zone, allowing us to infer that the fractures observed at surface could be the evidence of…
INTERVENTI DI POTATURA VERDE PER LA GESTIONE DELLA MATURAZIONE DELL’UVA NELLA CV MERLOT IN AMBIENTE CALDO ARIDO
Considering the predicted scenarios of climate change for the near future, Mediterranean vineyards, may face substantial shifts in precipitation, atmospheric conditions and temperature, resulting in higher winter rainfall, together with drier and hotter summers. All potentially contributing to an uncoupling of technological and phenolic ripeness in Vitis vinifera grapevines, due to berry ripening taking place in the hottest month of the year, resulting in wines with high alcohol content and low titratable acidity. A reduced sugar accumulation rate in the berry may delay berry maturation and subsequently counteract these effects. The aim of this study was to delay berry maturation in cv Merl…
Low-cost remotely operated underwater and unmanned aerial vehicles: New technologies for archaeo-geophysics
In this paper we present a device for magnetic survey devoted in particular for archaeological purposes. The device is able to perform accurate measurements of the total magnetic field, it is a flexible device, programmable by the users to be suitable for any specific need. The device relies upon microcontroller, a digital three axes Fluxgate magnetometer, a GPS, and a Real Time Clock (RTC) module. The device is compact and lightweight to be assembled on aerial and marine drones. Recently, Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) gained great potential for archaeo-geophysics because of their versatility and low cost, therefore the magnetometer represents a very us…
New ultraportable data logger to perform magnetic surveys
This article presents the realization of a device for magnetic surveys It is a flexible, user-reprogramable, lightweight, and compact tool that can be easily integrated with aerial and marine drones. The device can accurately measure the local magnetic anomalies. It is based on the Atmega 2560 microcontroller and a digital 3-axis fluxgate magnetometer.
Assessment of nitrate contamination risk: The Italian experience
16 páginas, 19 figuras, 10 tablas.-- El PDF es el manuscrito aceptado para su publicación.-- et al.
A multidisciplinary non-invasive approach in geoarchaeology conducted on the archaeological area of Selinunte
Southwestern Sicily is an area of infrequent seismic activity. Only an earthquake occurred in the Belice valley on 13 January 1968 is reported in the historic earthquake catalogues (see e.g. [1]) as severe event, that is characterized by moderate-high energy (M=6.5) and significant epicentral and local macroseismic intensities (Io=X and I=VII-VIII of the MCS scale). Nevertheless, some studies (e.g. [2]) suggest that probably at least two earthquakes struck this area, between the fourth century B.C. and the early Middle Ages, with energy able to damage and produce collapse in some temples of Selinunte. In this framework, we propose the use of non-invasive approaches in geoarchaeology for det…
Evaluation of graft success of grapevine after incubation room by means of thermographic, electrical and mechanical techniques
Grafting is an important technique for getting good yields in plant multiplication. Understanding the success of the graft after the incubation stage is important to the evaluation of the suitable grafting for the open field (nursery). Successful grafting in vines requires the development of a functional vascular system between the scion and the rootstock. The graft compatibility and its augmentation depend upon various natural factors like environment, soil conditions and protective measures. The present study examines the capability of thermographic, mechanical and electrical techniques to assess the graft quality and success after the incubation stage. The trial was carried out at Vivai …
A Lightweight Prototype of a Magnetometric System for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Detection of the Earth’s magnetic field anomalies is the basis of many types of studies in the field of earth sciences and archaeology. These surveys require different ways to carry out the measures but they have in common that they can be very tiring or expensive. There are now several lightweight commercially available magnetic sensors that allow light-UAVs to be equipped to perform airborne measurements for a wide range of scenarios. In this work, the realization and functioning of an airborne magnetometer prototype were presented and discussed. Tests and measures for the validation of the experimental setup for some applications were reported. The flight sessions, appropriately programm…
Integrated Geophysical Investigations at the Greek Kamarina Site (Southern Sicily, Italy)
Kamarina, located in southern Sicily (Italy), was an important Greek colony since its foundation in the sixth century BC. Archaeological excavations, carried out since the twentieth century, uncovered only limited portions of the site so far. Despite the importance of the Greek colony, the presence of remarkable buildings that archaeologists expected to bring to light has not found fully correspondence in the archaeological excavations. Consequently, the integrated geophysical prospection carried out in the study area is aimed to support and address the future archaeological investigations. After the photographic and thermographic survey obtained by an unmanned aerial vehicle, we performed …
Groundwater nitrate risk assessment using intrinsic vulnerability methods: A comparative study of environmental impact by intensive farming in the Mediterranean region of Sicily, Italy
Abstract Groundwater contamination by nitrate and other nutrients is a major problem throughout the world, often occurring as the result of anthropogenic activities, lack of management, and over-exploitation of groundwater resources. In the last few decades in the majority of the Italian regions, the nitrate concentrations in groundwater have dramatically increased, mainly as a consequence of the large-scale agricultural application of manure and fertilizers. This excessive use of chemicals and fertilizers increases the risk of surface and groundwater pollution from diffuse sources, which have an important impact on human health and the environment. Sicily is located in the central Mediterr…
CO2 degassing at La Solfatara volcano (Phlegrean Fields): Processes affecting and of soil CO2
Abstract The soil CO2 degassing is affected by processes of isotope exchange and fractionation during transport across the soil, which can deeply modify the pristine isotope composition. This has been observed in the Solfatara volcano, upon a field survey of 110 points, where the CO2 flux was measured, together with temperature, CO2 concentration and oxygen and carbon isotopes within the soil. Furthermore, in some selected sites, the measurements were made at different depths, in order to analyze vertical gradients. Oxygen isotope composition appears controlled by exchange with soil water (either meteoric or fumarolic condensate), due to the fast kinetic of the isotopic equilibrium between …
Carta della Vulnerabilità integrata degli acquiferi della "Piana di Palermo": note illustrative
In un'ottica di protezione e gestione delle risorse idriche sotterranee cone da DLGs 152/99 ed in conformità alle Linee Guida nazionali (ANPA 2001), viene qui illustrata l'applicazione del metodo SINTACS per la redazione della Carta di Vulnerabilità degli acquiferi soggiacenti l'intera area della "Piana di Palermo". Sono stati inoltre censiti e georeferenziati tutti i CDP (centri di pericolo) e FDP (fonti diffuse di pericolo), riduttori, preventori e soggetti a rischio presenti nell'area, ottenendo così una Carta di Vulnerabilità integrata. Viene, inoltre, descritto l'uso del GIS sia per l'acquisizione e l'elaborazione di singoli parametri, che per la restituzione cartografica finale.
Effect of solid waste landfill organic pollutants on groundwater in three areas of Sicily (Italy) characterized by different vulnerability
The aim of this study was to obtain information on the presence and levels of hazardous organic pollutants in groundwater located close to solid waste landfills. Eighty-two environmental contaminants, including 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), 20 volatile organic compounds (VOCs), 29 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 7 dioxins (polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, PCDDs) and 10 furans (polychlorinated dibenzofurans, PCDFs) were monitored in areas characterised by different geological environments surrounding three municipal solid waste landfills (Palermo, Siculiana and Ragusa) in Sicily (Italy) in three sampling campaigns. The total concentrations of the 16 PAHs were always below t…
Multidisciplinary investigations at the Kamarina archaeological site (southern Sicily, Italy)
Multidisciplinary geophysical investigations have been carried out in a small area of the Greek archaeological site of Kamarina, in southern Sicily, in order to support some hypotheses, derived from historical and archaeological bases. After an aerial photographic and thermographic survey, a small area near to the Agora has been considered for magnetometric and GPR investigations. Obtained results show a good correlation and allow to highlight some structures oriented in agreement with the uncovered remains. The use of integrated geophysical techniques allowed a more robust interpretation of the detected anomalies in order to better address the choices for new excavations.
Coseismic Damage at an Archaeological Site in Sicily, Italy: Evidence of Roman Age Earthquake Surface Faulting
Archaeoseismology can provide a useful chronological tool for constraining earthquakes and documenting significant evidence that would otherwise be lost. In this paper, we report a case of surface faulting on ancient man-made structures belonging to the archaeological site of Santa Venera al Pozzo situated along the eastern flank of Mt. Etna volcano in eastern Sicily (southern Italy), which is affected by well-developed tectonic faults. Geological surveys highlight a set of fractures affecting the archaeological ruins, suggesting the occurrence of a capable fault zone across the area. An integrated geophysical survey was carried out in order to identify the main subsurface tectonic disconti…
Complications in radical cystectomy and their prevention
We wish to dedicate this review article on radical cystectomy, its complications and their prevention to the memory of Prof. Luciano Giuliani. The article is based on a work written originally by Jim Montie and many other authors for the consensus meeting on bladder cancer held in Antwerp in 1994 and recently published in a booklet entitled “Global strategy for bladder cancer” (1). With the consent of Montie and the other co-authors, we have prepared on updated Italian version, inserting some parts (such as vascular complications) which were treated more superficially in the preliminary text.
Integrated use of unmanned aerial vehicle photogrammetry and terrestrial laser scanning to support archaeological analysis: The Acropolis of Selinunte case (Sicily, Italy)
Southwestern Sicily is an area of infrequent seismic activity; however, some studies carried out in the archaeological Selinunte site suggest that, between the fourth century BC and the early Middle Ages, probably at least two earthquakes strucked this area with enough energy to damage and cause the collapse and kinematics of much of the architecture of Selinunte. Take into account that, in 2008, a noninvasive archaeological prospection and traditional data gathering methods along the Acropolis north fortifications were carried out. Following these first studies, after about 10 years, a new geophysical campaign was carried out. This second campaign benefited from the application of modern t…