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The continuous improvement of the energy and sustainability performances of buildings is stimulated by mandatory rules, economic incentives and voluntary sustainability pathway of which energy efficiency is one of the most important components. The tools to evaluate the energy, sustainability, automation and energy metering performances of buildings, to check the status and lead the investments, are often complex, slow, expensive and related to the specific Countries, making difficult the job for the facility management departments of national or international organizations in EU. The present paper wants to give a contribute to existing literature by providing a new energy, sustainability, automation and energy metering label system to quickly, simply and economically evaluate the performances of office buildings in Europe. This tool has been tested on a case study, a research center of the European Space Agency (ESA-ESRIN) in Rome, Italy. The results of the test show that the tool has been successfully applied on the buildings of the research center using the data provided by the facility management department of ESA-ESRIN and the energy audit of the center. The labels can correctly represent the state of the buildings in a more cost-effective way if compared to the national energy certification and to international sustainability protocols. This study provides the facility management departments of public and private companies in EU - especially if they manage buildings in different EU nations - a reliable tool to quicky evaluate the energy, sustainability, automation and energy metering performances of their buildings. [Display omitted] • Energy and sustainability performances of buildings are evaluated through protocols. • Facility managers need quick tools: the proposed labeling tool for offices can help. • It labels energy, sustainability, automation and energy metering performances. • This tool considers Trans-national European Union differences (primary energy, CO 2). • The first application has been on the European Space Agency Italian research center. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The opportunistic network is a type of ad hoc network that relies on the chance encounters between nodes to transmit messages. It also uses store-and-carry-forward techniques for data transfer between nodes. Developing effective message forwarding strategies based on opportunistic network characteristics and node behavior poses a significant challenge. In this paper, we delve into the mobility and social characteristics of nodes using historical encounter information. Furthermore, we calculate the migration degree and community relations to build the Meta Meeting Mountain, which representing node encounter characteristics. Moreover, we introduce the concept of Forwarding Degree to measure the nodes' ability to deliver messages, enhancing the predictability of message delivery. Furthermore, a new forwarding strategy is proposed, which is equipped with Meta Meeting Mountain and Forwarding degree to improve the delivery rate. Our experimental scenarios include Infocom06, Rome taxi, and Helsinki. Therefore, the impact of buffer size and TTL is discussed in detail regarding the different opportunistic routing algorithms. Finally, extensive experimental results show that the proposed algorithm outperforms UBPR, MaxProp, PRoPHET, Spray And Wait and RAPAR in terms of delivery rate in the above scenarios by 127.905%, 93.7525%, 138.6888%, 175.3663%, and 281.4625%, respectively, while keeping the hopcount value less than 5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper the results of a wide investigation on a geothermal-integrated air HVAC system are reported: in the first part, the energy performances of an Earth to Air Heat eXchanger (EAHX) operating in Pomezia (a locality of the area of Rome, Italy) are carried out through a comprehensive numerical two-dimensional model based on the finite element method and the system is forced under real time-changing weather conditions over 1 year. The model is able to reproduce the time- and space- dependent thermo-fluid-dynamic behavior of the EAHX system, the humid air flux and the surrounding soil, as well as to account for the mass of condensed water in the tubes. In the second part of the investigation, the EAHX is coupled to an air handling unit of a company building for office use and tested while operating both in cooling and heating mode. The hourly results, in terms of power savings and energy consumption were reported for representative days of all the months belonging to the cooling or the heating working seasons, monthly and seasonal assessment. The convenience in terms of seasonal energy savings is +40.8% in cooling mode and +44.1% in heating mode. Then, the economic impact in terms of payback time and net present value was investigated through a cost analysis to examine the return of the economic investment under two possible soil morphologies and different prices of electrical energy in Italy. The simple payback with the real price of energy in Italy (0.50 €/kWh) is 3.3 years for the tufa-soil and 5.8 years for soft rock-soil; the economic return in terms of net present value is around 500 k€ for both the morphologies (560 k€ for the tufa; 446 k€ for the soft rock), per effect of the energy saving and, consequently, for a reduced expense of electrical energy. Therefore, in all the considered cases the installation of EAHX systems in support of traditional systems would generate both energy and economic advantages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stone monuments in outdoor environments are subjected to biodeterioration due to the growth on their surfaces of biofilms responsible of aesthetic, physical and chemical damages. In recent years, the encapsulation of antimicrobial agents into inert matrices has aroused considerable interest thanks to the drastic reduction of the biocide amount needed to counteract the growth of biopatinas. In this study, two biocidal hydrogels containing thyme essential oil (thyme EO) or sodium dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC), previously tested in the laboratory, were applied on three selected areas of the Depero's mosaic located in the EUR district of Rome (Italy). A simple method to prepare the biocidal hydrogels directly in situ and their easy application on large and vertical surfaces were developed. Before and after the treatment, photographic, colorimetric, and microscopic analyses were performed to highlight the hydrogels' biocidal effectiveness in removing all colonizers. Only one treatment was enough to completely remove the microbial patina constituted of various prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms. This paper is dedicated to the memory of Laura Bruno, who passed away during the peer-reviewed. [Display omitted] • Biocidal hydrogels were used to remove biopatinas on Depero's mosaic. • Thyme essential oil and sodium dichloroisocyanurate were used as biocides. • A simple preparation and application protocol of the biocidal hydrogel was developed. • The hydrogel effectiveness was evaluated on different areas of the mosaic. • The efficacy of the hydrogels was evaluated by optical microscopy and colorimetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The ultimate condition of complex continuous masonry structures is addressed. • An energy-based methodology is developed to estimate the ultimate condition. • The methodology works also when strength degradation rules cannot be utilized. • The methodology is tested on a real historic masonry bell tower in Rome. • Results prove that the methodology is general, effective, and easy to use. Performance-based assessment procedures for existing structures based on pushover-like nonlinear static analyses require the definition of progressive damage states on the pushover curve, which may be associated with proper limit states for safety verification purposes. In Codes, the "ultimate condition" of the structure, i.e. a damaged state in which the structure is conventionally supposed to be no longer able to carry vertical and horizontal loads, is typically identified when the base shear shows a decay higher than a given threshold (usually 15–20%). In the case of masonry structures, this issue is not always straightforward depending on the complexity of the structure and the failure mode activated. The challenge especially arises in case of monumental buildings, such as complex continuous structures (e.g. towers) and buildings composed of many macro-elements (e.g. churches), dominated by flexural failure modes (e.g. overturning mechanisms). Indeed, in these cases, pushover curves may not show a significant softening for large horizontal displacements (e.g. masonry crushing is not activated). Accordingly, the application of the aforementioned approach results impossible. In this paper, an energy-based methodology to estimate the ultimate condition of masonry structures is introduced. Although the procedure is potentially applicable to any typology of masonry structure, it is tentatively applied here to continuous tower-like structures. A preliminary calibration phase to set the energy ratio thresholds is addressed by considering various simplified benchmarks subjected to several load scenarios. To this aim, the model is subdivided into several portions, and the ratio between the dissipated energy and the total energy is tracked in each portion of the structure along with the pushover analysis. The ultimate condition of the structure is then found as soon as such ratio reaches a pre-defined threshold in a portion, calibrated in such a way to highlight where in the structure the damage is mainly localized. The methodology is then tested on a real case study application, i.e., the bell tower of the San Francesco da Paola church in Rome, modelled through a suitable nonlinear continuum modelling approach. Results prove that the methodology is general, effective, and easy to use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subterranean heritage includes both natural and built sites with a strong cultural and historical fingerprint, some of each being enriched with painted surfaces. These semi-confined environments shelter specific and fragile biodiversity. This paper is focused on the case of a Roman painting (2nd-3rd century AD) located in an underground archaeological site in Marino Laziale, near Rome, which was opened to the public for the first time in 2021. The painted Mithraic scene is in a good state of conservation. The methodological approach included on site and laboratory investigations aimed to screen the main biological components associated to this hypogeum monument. The observed biodiversity included heterotrophic and chemolithotrophic microorganisms, and a mesofauna composed of eutroglophile and subtroglophile species, characteristic for many subterranean environments. The ecological mechanisms and the conservation state of the work of art were analyzed for planning the best fruition practices. The aesthetic change, the possible mechanical damages induced by various organisms, and the presence of significant amounts of organic matter, represent the main risks for painting conservation. These aspects, beside the new possible risks associated with the presence of visitors, are under a constant and ongoing conservation surveillance program. • The Mithraeum of Marino fesco is one of the best-preserved scenes come down to our day. • Its microclimate and biological diversity is similar to that of caves. • Chemolithotrophs, heterotrophs and troglophiles are the main biocenosis components. • The site should be valorized by keeping its ecological equilibrium. • Its continuous monitoring supports decision policies for a sustainable fruition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The relative capabilities knowledge-based, machine learning-based, and mechanistic surrogate models are compared to estimate the life-cycle seismic loss of concrete frame buildings based on their geometry and design parameters. • Two scenarios of incomplete (early design) and complete (design development) design information are considered to evaluate the impact of design data availability on surrogate models' prediction. • A sequential framework is proposed to implement surrogate models with lower fidelity in earlier stages of design exploration, where each prior model guide parametrization of the posterior model. • Data-driven models are a versatile tool to demarcate seismic loss under incomplete design data. Mechanistic surrogate models can better extract the relationship between design parameters and seismic loss as the scale of analysis shrinks. A performance-based early design must assess the life cycle performance of a sizable design space at low computational cost and limited data. This paper evaluates the relative capabilities of three surrogate modeling approaches to estimate seismic loss under complete and incomplete design information scenarios. Three surrogate models of knowledge-based (i.e., from prior published assessments), data-driven (i.e., support vector machine trained on a simulation-based building inventory), and physics-based (i.e., equivalent single-degree-of-freedom systems) are systematically used to estimate bounds on direct seismic loss for four hypothetical concrete office construction projects in Charleston, South Carolina. Subsequently, a framework is presented that implements these surrogate models as a sequence to explore design alternatives consistent with divergence-convergence cycles of early design exploration. The results show that all different surrogate models provide reasonable accuracy for the complete design information case, whereas data-driven models provided higher accuracy than the other models. For incomplete design information, the data-driven models demarcated the performance space and estimated the same median loss values as detailed loss analysis. In contrast, physics-based surrogate models were more accurate in capturing the relationship between loss and design parameters for smaller sets of design alternatives. Nevertheless, all different surrogate modeling techniques were inadequate to capture loss variability between different designs of the same geometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Divertor Tokamak Test (DTT) is a new experimental facility whose construction is starting in Frascati, Rome, Italy; its main goals are improving the understanding of plasma-wall interactions and supporting the development of ITER and DEMO. DTT will be equipped with a Neutral Beam Injector (NBI) based on negative deuterium ions, designed to inject 10 MW of power to the tokamak. A fundamental system for the good operations of the DTT NBI will be its Gas injection and Vacuum System (GVS). Indeed, the efficiency of the entire NBI strongly depends on the good performance of its GVS. The GVS for DTT NBI will be composed of two systems working in parallel: a grounded section connected to the main vacuum vessel, and a high voltage part connected to the ion source vessel and working at −510 kV voltage. The grounded part will feature a fore vacuum system (given by screw and roots pumps) plus a high vacuum system based on turbo-molecular pumps located on the side walls of the vessel and Non-Evaporable Getter (NEG) pumps located inside the vessel on the upper and lower surfaces. On the other hand, the high voltage part will feature a fore vacuum system (given by two compact screw pumps mounted on the external surface for the ion source vessel) plus a high vacuum system based on turbo-molecular pumps also located on the sidewalls of the ion source vessel. A dedicated deuterium gas injection will feed the process gas to the ion source and the neutralizer. This paper gives a description of the conceptual design of the GVS for DTT NBI, and of the procedure followed to optimize this system considering the operational requirements and the other constraints of the DTT NBI. • A conceptual design for a Gas injection and Vacuum System (GVS) has been developed for DTT NBI. • The current solution features two parts, one at ground potential and one at high voltage. • The design has been optimized in terms of the most relevant aspects. • With the design solution here presented, the main requirements of the vacuum pumping system are satisfied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Four Gerber half-joints specimens have been cast and tested up to failure. Two of them were artificially corroded. • The corrosion morphology and location are analysed in detailed. • The corrosion influence on the ultimate load and on the failure modes is underlined. • The suitability of the application of Strut and Tie models to existing corroded saddles is discussed. The assessment of the Gerber half-joints (or saddles), widespread in the infrastructure heritage of different countries, is nowadays a topical problem since they are often affected by chloride corrosion phenomena due to their positioning under the deck joint. In this paper, the influence of steel rebar corrosion on the experimental response of Gerber half-joints is experimentally analysed and discussed. In particular, four elements were cast in Laboratory of University of Rome "Tor Vergata" two of which subjected to accelerated corrosion, and then tested up to failure. The specimens were designed with typical strut and tie models, with the aim of achieving different failure modes governed by the concrete crush or by the tensile rebar breaking. Particular care was devoted to the corrosion process, in order to simulate decay scenarios typical of these structures. The experimental outcomes, expressed in terms of load–displacement curves, crack patterns and failure mechanisms show that also medium-slight degree of pitting corrosion can cause great reductions in capacity and ductility of the saddles, modifying, in addition, their failure mechanism. Finally, from the experimental outcomes, the sensitivity of these peculiar structures, not only to the corrosion amount, but also to its spatial distribution among the different steel rebars, and its morphology (pitting or uniform corrosion) is clearly underlined. As a consequence, the necessity to accurately and properly account for the corrosion phenomenon in the structural assessment is remarked. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multi-temporal satellite-based differential interferometry (MTInSAR) is a well-known remote-sensing technique aimed at detecting displacements of persistent scatterers (PSs) on the terrestrial surface. Recent studies motivate research effort on developing efficient and automatic procedures for structural monitoring via MTInSAR. This paper proposes a methodology for the portfolio-scale detection of structural deformations of bridges via MTInSAR. The displacement time-series associated with persistent scatterers on the investigated bridges are used to supply a geoprocessing chain leading to the automatic interpretation of bridge-specific deformation scenarios and the definition of monitoring/assessment priority classes. The methodology is applied to two highway networks in Roma and Bari (Italy) by using Sentinel-1 (C-band) and COSMO-SkyMed (X-band) satellite datasets. Although most of the bridges can be assumed stable, a relevant number of bridges affected by ongoing deformation phenomena are associated with high inspection priority. The PSs and the deformation scenarios related to some specific test bridges subjected to subsidence phenomena are analysed and described in detail. Finally, the deformation scenarios detected through the proposed methodology for two collapsed bridges in Italy are illustrated. • state-of-the-art on MTInSAR for structural monitoring of bridges is presented. • a methodology (SABRI) for portfolio-scale bridge monitoring via MTInSAR is proposed. • MTInSAR detects several bridges subjected to relevant deformation scenario in Rome. • PS displacement time series on selected test bridges are shown and discussed. • the results of MTInSAR applied on two recently collapsed bridges are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy efficiency of cultural heritage is not only an engineer issue. Many professionals and Institutions have to be involved in the design process. Furthermore, the building survey plays a crucial role in providing opportunities to the designers to find the most compatible solution. This paper shows the “Galleria Borghese” case study, in Rome, which is one of the most important Italian museum. Recent literature defined the energy efficiency of listed buildings dedicated to museum as the most challenging environment. For this reason, this study explored the available rooms to guarantee Indoor Environmental Quality, architecture preservation and sustainability. The disruption caused by some plant breakdowns climate that have occurred in recent years provided stress to the visitors comfort and overall exhibited works unsuitable for their preservation. From an analysis of the current situation and the calculation of winter and summer thermal loads of the building and the ventilation air flow rates, the study shows some viable proposals having as objective: the reduction of the heat load of the building in summer, a better air exchange and overall a modernization of the plant expansion. A participatory process allowed to involve in the design architectural elements by converting them to a new role such as the chimney of fireplaces as part of the new HVAC system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the early Imperial age Roman unroofed theatres were endowed with velaria . Velaria were awnings made of sailcloth, in either canvas, linen or cotton, attached to spokes of rope that could be extended or retracted with ropes and pulleys over the cavea . Their main purpose was to provide shade for the spectators who watched the show in blistering sun and heat. The aim of this paper is to understand if velaria , beside their primary function, could affect the acoustics of the theatres. A specific study was carried out with the use of a commercial software for the prediction of room-acoustics characteristics of halls. Actually, numerical simulations were aided by acoustic measurements performed in two existing theatres, namely the “Teatro Grande” in Pompeii and the “Teatro Romano” in Benevento as they are in the present state. Both theatres are used rather regularly for public shows including music of various genres and drama. Like other ancient theatres not in a good state of conservation both theatres are deficient of natural reverberation because of the lack of structural elements important for this acoustic feature. To overcome inherent drawbacks electroacoustic means are used. However, there are instances where these remedial measures are not appropriate. The results of this study show that the use of suitable awnings can improve the reverberation in these venues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Pyramid of Caius Cestius in Rome is a funerary architecture erected between 272 and 279 AD. The Pyramid is composed by a nucleus in opus caementicium covered by Luni marble slabs. The marble surface has been colonized by a biocoenosis of microorganisms. The most frequent alteration found on the surface of the stone is the grey-black microbial crust, consisting of three different systematic groups: coccoid and filamentous Cyanobacteria, belonging mainly to the genera Chroococccus , Gloeocapsa and Tolypothrix , and green algae often associated with microscopic fungi or lichenized. The present work is aimed to establish which taxa present in the black crust are epilithic and which ones are endolithic. The cyanobacterium Chroococcus lithophilus is the most abundant and frequent taxon in all the samples collected; its growth is epilithic, chasmoendolithic, cryptoendolithic and euendolithic. The resin embedding-casting technique allowed to define the traces produced by this cyanobacterium highlighting its ability to actively dig tunnels into the marble. The present paper is a significant contribution to the knowledge of the important role of C. lithophilus in the biodeterioration of stone monuments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cooperative ad-hoc UAV networks have been turning into the primary solution set for situations where establishing a communication infrastructure is not feasible. Search-and-rescue after a disaster and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) are two examples where the UAV nodes need to send their collected data cooperatively into a central decision maker unit. Recently proposed SDN-based solutions show incredible performance in managing different aspects of such networks. Alas, the routing problem for the highly dynamic UAV networks has not been addressed adequately. An optimal, reliable, and adaptive routing algorithm compatible with the SDN design and highly dynamic nature of such networks is required to improve the network performance. This paper proposes a load-balanced optimized predictive and adaptive routing (LB-OPAR), an SDN-based routing solution for cooperative UAV networks. LB-OPAR is the extension of our recently published routing algorithm (OPAR) that balances the network load and optimizes the network performance in terms of throughput, success rate, and flow completion time (FCT). We analytically model the routing problem in highly dynamic UAV network and propose a lightweight algorithmic solution to find the optimal solution with O ( | E | 2) time complexity where | E | is the total number of network links. We exhaustively evaluate the proposed algorithm's performance using ns-3 network simulator. Results show that LB-OPAR outperforms the benchmark algorithms by 20% in FCT, by 30% in flow success rate on average, and up to 400% in throughput. 1 1 DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A: Approved for Public Release; distribution unlimited AFRL-2021-1606 on 25 May 2021. Other requests shall be referred to AFRL/RIT 525 Brooks Rd Rome, NY 13441. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A glazing (AGS) with aerogel granules and opaque hollow silica is studied. • Thermal and lighting performance of the AGS are analysed in an experimental field. • The air temperatures with AGS are lower than the ones with a standard glazing. The excellent thermal insulation properties of aerogel glazing systems make them an interesting building solution, especially in cold climates. When aerogel glazing systems provide less solar heat gain factor, they could be useful in warm and hot regions (such as Tokyo, Rome and so on) because buildings in such areas are often designed to minimize cooling energy demands. If a sort of opaque powder is mixed with aerogel granules, able to stick to each granule and to cover the aerogel surface discontinuously, the mixture can thus reduce solar transmittance, contributing to daylight usage with less glare risks and cooling energy demand reduction, without shade or blinds, keeping as high thermal performance as aerogel. This innovation is examined in the present paper, by presenting the following solution: a double glazing unit with a mixture of silica granular aerogel and hollow silica powder in the gap (AGS), in order to reduce the solar factor. The solution is tested through in-field experimental campaigns and numerical analyses, making available a set of data not found in literature, where mixtures of aerogel and powder were never studied. The air temperatures in the test Room with AGS, especially the peak values, are lower than the ones in the reference one with installed a standard glazing system (SGS). The same behaviour is observed in several experimental campaigns in different seasons: in mid-season 1 the highest differences are of about 6–7 °C, whereas in summer they reach 12–16 °C. Significant differences in terms of illuminance are also observed: the calculated Useful Daylight Illuminance (UDI) shows AGS values 57% higher than SGS, highlighting the aerogel ability to diffuse light and to reduce glare. Experimental data were used for energy analyses of a reference building in Tokyo. AGS outperforms a low-e glazing in terms of heating energy demand: the reduction varies in the 22% (North) − 62% (South) range. The lighting energy demand is quite similar: electricity demand increases in the 3–6% range. Finally, the internal shade on the reference glazing has a significant impact on the estimated energy demand, both for cooling and heating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• TT PS-TIM smart window provides dynamic regulation of solar admission. • Impacts of design factors of TT PS-TIM window on building performance are presented. • Evaluated an office performance with TT PS-TIM window using an inclusive approach. • Applying TT PS-TIM window results in energy saving of up to 27.1%. • The TT PS-TIM window offers significant improvement in daylight performance. With the increasing awareness of building energy efficiency, indoor environment quality for human wellbeing and working efficiency, efforts have intensified in to inventing intelligent building components. This paper provides a first step in developing a novel multi-effect smart window system, which achieves enhanced energy efficiency and an improved indoor luminous environment by integrating a Transparent Insulation Material (TIM) structure incorporating a Thermotropic material. This system automatically regulates the admittance of solar heat and natural light into the building by responding to a changing environment while taking advantage of the increased thermal resistance and scattered daylight of window integrated TIM. A comprehensive workflow via EnergyPlus and RADIANCE was used to accurately predict the luminous and energy performance of applying the smart window system on a typical south-facing office under selected climates (London, Stockholm, Rome and Singapore). The effect of the optical properties and transition temperature of thermotropic material on building performance was explored in detail. Annual simulation results predict that, with a careful selection of the Thermotropic material properties, installing the TT PS-TIM window system is able to yield up to a 27.1% energy saving when compared with a conventional double glazed window, under the modelled Rome climate. TT PS-TIM windows also provide dynamic daylight control, resulting in increased daylight availability with the percentage of working hours that fall into the UDI 500–2000 lx range increasing to 62.3%. The results of this research provide guidance for the next step of the material design and development that seek to balance energy efficiency and solar and daylight control through the use of thermotropic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A 3D microclimatic model in ENVI-met is used to simulate a misted urban area. • The model predicts accurately the horizontal and vertical air temperature distribution. • Wind speed plays a major role both in terms of cooling capacity and influence area. • Water flow rate and height of injection can be tuned to regulate the cooling capacity. Among water-based mitigation strategies against urban overheating, dry mist systems are especially promising, given their local impact, cost-effectiveness and controllability. Intense cooling capacity has been reported under a variety of climates, however, there is a growing need to define specific design guidelines towards an informed and optimized use of the technology. Parametric analysis on validated models would assist in determining type and degree of correlation between key parameters, as well as magnitude and predictability of the cooling capacity. In this paper, for the first time, a 3D microclimatic model in ENVI-met is used to simulate a misting system installed in Rome, Italy, with high prediction accuracy for the air temperature (R2≃0.87, RMSE≃0.84 °C). The calibrated ENVI-met model is used then to perform parameterizations on the water mist system, focused on the role of three key design variables: i) water flow rate, ii) injection height and iii) local wind speed. Results show that the most significant thermal drops tend to occur close but out of the misted perimeter following the wind direction, with cooling effects further stretched for tens of meters. The cooling capacity increases with the total water flow rate (+0.2 °C per 10 l/h increment) and in presence of calm air (+35–40% per 0.8 m/s deceleration). Lower injections intensify the cooling a pedestrian height, which could be especially beneficial under windy conditions. Further research would target climate dependencies to extend the applicability of the above results and build up cohesive guidelines at the hands of urban planners and practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assessment of landslide hazards and design of strategies for managing the related risk have been widely studied topics in the scientific community due to the settlements, infrastructures and tourist and cultural heritage sites that may be threatened by deformations involving unstable slopes. Engineering geological and geophysical techniques have been recently integrated in multidisciplinary approaches to study gravity-induced slope instabilities and monitor their evolution. The slope that hosts the Peschiera Springs drainage plant (Central Italy) is involved in a mass rock creep process associated with deep karst dissolution. Due to the importance of this infrastructure, which provides water to the Rome aqueduct, an accelerometric network was installed in 2008, and a nanoseismic array was added in 2014. In this paper, data recorded by the nanoseismic array were used to locate 397 microseismic events related to the slope instability process, distinguished into two types with different waveforms: 16 failures and 381 collapses. The failures were distributed throughout the slope, while the collapses exhibited two spatially separate clusters below the groundwater level, at a depth where karst processes produce cavities. The clusters were analysed as two distinct microseismic sources characterised by specific frequency-magnitude curves of events that describe their attitude to produce events of different magnitudes. Regarding the accelerometric network, an automated procedure was developed for quickly analysing the seismic records, which include signals from teleseisms and near- to far-field earthquakes that can induce deformation in the landslide-involved slope. The results obtained by the two seismic monitoring systems were integrated with the aim of implementing a landslide hazard matrix based on the statistical frequency of the occurrence of such events and their probability of exceedance during a reference period, providing a useful tool for managing the related landslide risk. • Analysis of microseismic events recorded by two seismic systems in an unstable slope. • Assessing of landslide hazard by microseismic event analysis. • Implementation of an automatic procedure to analyse microseismic events. • Integration of seismic systems to manage the drainage plant located within the slope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Located between the deltaic plain and the subaqueous delta, base level is one of the most important factors that affect depositional elements and the sedimentary architecture of river deltas. In this respect, its changes are essential to reconstruct delta evolution during the Holocene. In this paper, we study three cores drilled in the Tiber delta (Italy). Palaeoenvironmental analyses were performed and included new sedimentological data (laser grain size, loss-on-ignition, magnetic susceptibility), new data from bioindicators (ostracods and macrofauna), and 11 new radiocarbon dates. The three cores were analysed and replaced in a cross section between the Inner and Outer Tiber delta, i.e.,in the palaeolagoon and in the progradational delta plain. First, we have mapped the Holocene transgression and progradation of the Ostia area using palaeoenvironmental age-depth modelling techniques (PADMs). PADM charts help to interpret a stratigraphic succession in a river delta. They contribute to the understanding of the links between depositional environments, sedimentation rate, and sea level rise and to reconstruct coastline trajectories. More precisely, they contribute to the interpretation of the consequences of the sea level jumps dated to the 9000–8000 cal. BP period on coastal environments and help to identify progradational phases (around 4 k, and from 2.8 to 2.6 k cal. BP). Second, we identify indirect (freshwater bioindicators) and direct (bedload-derived facies) evidence of fluvial activity in the studied cross section. The studied deep cores indicate that at least one palaeochannel of the Tiber River was already flowing in the middle/southern part of the delta from 4 k cal. BP. Finally, a first map of the lateral mobility of the palaeochannels of the Tiber River is proposed for the last 6 k cal. BP using the new data and a synthesis of all the data available at the scale of the delta. • Reconstruction of coastal transgression and progradation at the transition between the inner and outer delta plain near Ostia; • High sedimentation rates and deepening facies coeval to sea level jumps from the 9-8 k cal. BP; • Strong progradational phases are recorded around 4k cal. BP, and from 2.8 to 2.6k cal. BP; • Identification of the Tiber River influence below and near the area of the archaeological site of Ostia: 4.2 to 4 k, 2.9 to 2.5 k, and 2.5 to 1.7k cal. BP; • PADM chart demonstrates great efficiency in interpreting stratigraphic successions and coastline-trajectoriesin a river delta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Development of Hybrid Renewable Energy System model for off-grid RBS applications. • Definition of a multi-objective optimization methodology for design. • Study of the effects of local weather conditions on system performance. • Lowest LCOE achieved in the order of 0.48 €/kWh with low CO 2 emissions. • Highest LCOE for the worst-case scenario of about 0.66 €/kWh. The previous works on the use of PEM Fuel Cell based power supply system for the operation of off-grid RBS (Radio Base Stations) sites showed a strong influence of system design parameters on the energy conversion performance. In this paper a perturbation of system design is studied with validated models to understand the variability of performance over a full year operation. Moreover, a multi-objective optimal sizing methodology is proposed in terms of the minimization of a functional parameter taking into account costs, RES (Renewable Energy Sources) exploitation and pollutant emission factors. The influence of different weather conditions on the HRES (Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems) performance is analyzed investigating the system behavior for three different locations in Europe. The analysis of three real case studies showed that 20% ratio of the energy produced by fossil fuels over the energy produced by renewables sources can be obtained slightly increasing the PV (PhotoVoltaic) plant size with minor effects on the RES exploitation. Moreover, a lower LCOE (Levelized Cost Of Energy) can be achieved increasing the PV size and reducing battery size with an unavoidable reduction of the RES exploitation. Results for different sites highlighted the obtainment of different optimal sizings for each site. However, similar performance parameters can be obtained in the different case studies for Tilos, Rome and Brighton with an average LCOE of 0.5 €/kWh and a variability in the order of 0.1 €/kWh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Identification of solution sets to reduce construction costs in nearly zero energy houses. • 15% maximum reduction of energy related construction cost in Continental Italy. • 26% maximum reduction of energy related construction cost in Mediterranean Italy. • Net present values up to 163 €/m2 after 50 years building lifetime. Concerning Nearly Zero Energy Buildings, it is important to guarantee energy efficiency, thermal comfort and indoor environmental quality, while keeping construction and operational costs low. In this framework, this paper explores the efficacy of applying different scenarios, for reducing construction costs of new nearly zero energy multi-family houses in a life cycle perspective. Conversely to the standard cost-optimal approach, a real Italian case study building was chosen. Alternative and unconventional combinations of solutions for envelope and technical systems were adopted. Calculations were performed in two Italian cities (Rome and Turin). Three types of analysis were developed thermal comfort, energy performance and financial calculation. Results of the thermal analysis show that the installation of active cooling to prevent summer overheating can be avoided by applying low-cost passive strategies. All the proposed low-cost scenarios (4 alternative scenarios in Rome and 5 in Turin) reached the highest grade of energy performance, with a reduction of the non-renewable primary energy consumption up to 46% compared to the base case in Rome and 18% in Turin. From the economic perspective, all the scenarios in the two climate zones allow both reductions in the construction costs, up to 26% in Rome and 15% in Turin, and a Net Present Value after 50 years up to 163 €/m2 in Rome and 158 €/m2 in Turin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]