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The general research here introduced concerns the phenomenon of urban sprawl unfolding in the last century and defined as “the physical pattern of low- density settlement in urban areas”. The focus, as part of the more general research cited, is the relationship between sprawl and public transportation. The specific study here present is a possible approach to planning and managing policy responses to urban sprawl through the integration of consolidated settlement systems (with a view to their re-revitalization) with rail green public transportation in the framework of TOD (Transit-Oriented Development). A paramount issue emerges about sprawl: there are prototype case in which TOD and rail green public transportation help concentrate settlement instead of sprawl? No cases have been found. Instead the most recent literature recommends to perform new researches concerning solutions through real world applications, given the total shortage of case studies. The general research framework has been applied in a specific Case Study to support the community of Calabria, the southernmost Mediterranean region of mainland Italy in European Union, within the most urbanized sub-regional sub-area, in analyzing the rampant phenomenon of sprawl and, possibly, in addressing and mitigating it relying on TOD and rail green public transportation. In the Case Study of the present research there are three alternatives in sub regional public transportation: A1; A2; A3. A1 is the status quo. A2 is the upgrading of the railway which, although existing, is illogically neglected. A3 is an unexpected new project by the railway managing body for a new route in the south of the area completely away from the most important settlements and outside any transport or mobility or accessibility institutional public plan. The three alternatives were subjected to social discussions well as a qualitative evaluation by a panel of experts. The multiple criteria valuation approach resulted in a preference for Alternative A2 over Alternatives A1 and A3. The preferred Alternative A2 integrates perfectly with the existing settlement by responding to a fundamental criterion placed at the top of the valuation: integrating the urban railway directly into the existing consolidated inhabited centers. This preferable Alternative A2 has among its peculiar characteristics: – directly connects many of the settlements in the area; – can serve approximately MORE THAN 250,000 potential settled residents; – connects coast to coast the narrowest regional and national isthmus; – creates the fastest and shortest possible connection in the national territory between the two fundamental railway backbones Tyrrhenian (Palermo - Milan - Torino) and Ionian-Adriatic (Reggio Calabria - Venice); – thereby helping to connect two of the Trans European Network and pan-European train mega-corridors I (Palermo - Berlin) and VIII (Skopje - Varna). The A2 Alternative has the further distinctive feature of performing both local and supra-local dual service in a unified venue that is both train-tram and long-distance rail, in analogy with continental benchmarks and experiences, such as the German S-Bahn. Subsequently, in the Case Study, the costs of the Alternative A2 for the upgrading (and “modernization”) of the existing railway has an estimated cost of 168 million appraised by the research team with a detailed quantification, and subsequently, in de facto double-blind estimate, surprisingly confirmed by the railway managing body. According to the latest and most up-dated estimates by the same railway managing body, the completely new route project located far south of all the settlements, constituting the Alternative A3, would cost over 485 million, are reported. This is because all the areas have to be acquired and because the route crosses land with technical difficulties to be overcome by carrying out expensive works. In terms of costs, the preferred Alternative 2 seems to be the most balanced, much more even than the status quo Alternative 1 (do nothing). The latter only apparently has no big investment costs, unless ordinary maintenance. In fact it hides enormous private costs and implicit (and not immediately monetary) social suffering, due to: car commuting (un-pooled) of people; their monetizable travel times, enormous due to congestion; air pollution; accident risks; congestion in cities; high private personal costs of using the individual vehicle (car wear; fuel); parking cost and fine risk; etc.

Climate change is the most lethal crises facing Humanity. The majority (99%) of scientists agree that climate change is caused by humans. According to empirical evidence this ecological tragedy is rooted primarily in world-wide enormous fossil energy production and consumption. The civil sector, including settlements, is the world’s “largest fossil energy consumer and polluter”. Green building is the only way to ensure sustainable development and to overcome climate change by decarbonizing the constructions. The aim of the research is to test a strategic solution, applied to the civil sector, valuated through new assessment tools including the novel BIM in updated platforms. Some significant Building Energy Performance Simulation Programs (BEPSPs) are comparatively tested in a Case Study experimented in the simplest Prototype Building. One goal of the present research is to valuate if the ecological coat produces a saving of up to at least 40% of energy consumption in the building in the short-medium terms i. e. by 2030 as required in the EU Directive 2018/844 and if it is economically feasible. The passivation of brown common inefficient Prototype Building is implemented using bio ecological panels made from natural materials. By simply using a six or ten centimeters thick panel coat, the energy saving for heating is around 71% or 82%, way above the set objective of 40% by 2030 as required in the EU Directive 2018/844. The building global energy saving is always more than 55%. The research achieved the general objective and the specific goal set, obtaining the empirical evidence of the extraordinary impacts/benefits produced by insulation using extremely small panels/boards made from local natural cork in a local circular economy structure. Since the economic and financial impacts are of great relevance for the feasibility of the Strategy “Green Building” Strategy, a financial estimate has been developed. It immediately also highlighted the economic profitability, pecuniary convenience and financial feasibility convenience of the Sustainable Scenario. Research appraised a favorable monetary Pay Back\recovery (within only five years from the ecological intervention) of the differential additional upfront cost due to passivation additional works. There is a gap in the real world and a strong request in the research world (Hopkins, 2016) of appraisal concerning financial feasibility of the “Green Building” Strategy. The presented research aims to contribute to answer these demands of economic valuation. Il cambiamento climatico è la crisi più letale che l’umanità deve affrontare. La maggior parte (99%) degli scienziati concorda sul fatto che il cambiamento climatico è causato dall’uomo. Secondo l’evidenza empirica, questa tragedia ecologica è radicata principalmente nell’enorme produzione e consumo di energia fossile a livello mondiale. Il settore civile, compresi gli insediamenti, è il «più grande consumatore di energia fossile e inquinatore con conseguenti emissioni di CO2» al mondo. La bioedilizia, e quindi la decarbonizzazione degli edifici con l’efficienza energetica e quindi il risparmio anche mediante cappotto ecologico, è l’unico modo per garantire uno sviluppo sostenibile e per superare il cam- biamento climatico. Tale approccio è definibile: Strategia “Green Building”. L’obiettivo della ricerca è quello di testare una soluzione strategica, applicata al settore civile, valutata attraverso nuovi strumenti di valutazione tra cui le nuove piattaforme BIM. Sono stati testati comparativamente alcuni importanti programmi di simulazione delle prestazioni energetiche degli edifici in un caso di studio sperimentato in un semplice edificio prototipo. Uno dei passaggi specifici della presente ricerca è quello di valutare se il cappotto ecologico produca un risparmio fino ad almeno il 40% dei consumi energetici dell’edificio nel breve-medio termine, ovvero entro il 2030, come previsto dalla Direttiva UE 2018/844, e se sia economicamente fattibile. La passivazione dell’edificio prototipo comune ed inefficiente è realizzata utilizzando pannelli bioecologici realizzati con materiali naturali. Utilizzando semplicemente un pannello di sei o dieci centimetri di spessore, il risparmio energetico per il riscaldamento si aggira intorno al 71% o 82%, ben al di sopra dell’obiettivo fissato del 40% entro il 2030 come previsto dalla Direttiva UE 2018/844. Il risparmio energetico globale dell’edificio è sempre superiore al 55%. La ricerca ha raggiunto l’obiettivo generale e l’obiettivo specifico prefissato, ottenendo l’evidenza empirica degli straordinari impatti / benefici prodotti dall’isolamento con pannelli di dimensioni estremamente ridotte realizzati con sughero naturale locale in una struttura di economia circolare locale. Poiché gli impatti economici e finanziari sono di grande rilevanza per la fattibilità della Strategia “Green Building”, è stata elaborata una stima finanziaria che ha immediatamente evidenziato anche la redditività economica e la convenienza di fattibilità finanziaria dello Scenario Sostenibile, valutando un favorevole Pay Back\recupero monetario (entro soli cinque anni dall’intervento ecologico) del differenziale costo aggiuntivo dovuto alle opere aggiuntive di passivazione. C’è una lacuna nel mondo reale e una forte richiesta nel mondo della ricerca (Hopkins, 2016) di valutazione riguardante la fattibilità finanziaria della Strategia “Green Building”, e la ricerca presentata mira a contribuire a rispondere a queste esigenze di valutazione economica.

Objective. This research aims to drown up guidelines and a methodological approach for natural cultural heritage preservation and landscape planning in order to support the setting up and the enforcement of new policies to mitigate paysage destruction and soil consumption. Methodological Steps. The first step is the detection of “landscape values” in the territories. The second step is to provide georeferenced information in a double geographic and valuation system The third step is the Multi Criteria Analysis valuation of categories and sub-categories of paysage resources in order to classify the landscape elements in each category. Case Study. The framework and the methodology have been tested in a real world case study located in one of the most amazing area of Southern Italy. Outcomes. The outcome is an extensive survey of the paysage, classification, and valuation. A multi-dimensional valuation procedure has established a priority classification. Planned interventions should be dictated by resource ranking and hierarchy in the classifications described below: the safeguarding of the elements of greatest value; the preservation of the elements of great value; the ecological conservation of medium valued elements. La valutazione per promuovere la tutela dei paesaggi. Valorizzare nuovi elementi con la pianificazione paesaggistica Obiettivo. Il contributo ha l’obiettivo di delineare le linee guida e un approccio metodologico per la valorizzazione del paessaggio e la pianificazione di politiche per mitigare la distruzione dei valori paesaggistici provocata dal continuo consumo di suolo agricolo, forestale, naturale. Metodologia. Prima tappa è l’individuazione dei valori paesaggistici nei territori. Seconda tappa è il geo riferimento dei dati sia nel sistema informativo geografico, sia nel sistema valutativo. Terza tappa è la valutazione paesaggistica a Criteri Multipli Di elementi e la loro classificazione gerarchica. Case Study. La Strategia e la Metodologia sono state testate in Casi di Studio applicate ad alcune delle più suggestive aree paesaggistiche dell’Italia Meridionale. Risultati. I risultati sono esteso censimento totale, tassonomia, valutazione dei valori paesaggistici. La classificazione gerarchica dei valori è elaborata con la multi criteria valuation. Ne consegue una gerarchia e gradualità di tutele sintetizzata come segue (a soli fini esemplificativi): protezione elementi con massimi valori paesaggistici; tutela elementi con buoni valori paesaggistici; conservazione elementi con medi valori paesaggistici.

Objective. There are many measures that individual consumers, families, companies, contractors, real estate developers, household owners and governments can take to promote post-carbon cities. Thermal insulation is definitely one of the most important investment to make in order to achieve these future goals. Method and solutions Insulation can be carried out by using ecological cork panels. Cork is a natural and renewable material, which in itself, is the result of a CO2 sequestration, and it can also store C. Therefore it can effectively contribute to the design of the Post-Carbon City by reducing energy waste, improving the quality and the insulation of buildings. The expansion of the area occupied by the cork oak forests would permanently increase the absorption and sequestration of carbon. Forest policy guidelines must aim at the restoration of the existing cork oak forests, as well as the rehabilitation of cork oak forests destroyed by man. This will increase and strengthen the contribution made by forest resources to the construction of the Post Carbon City. Outcomes and benefits Some benefits of such policy are as follows: the sequestration of CO2 eliminated from the atmosphere (creating carbon credits), because it is used for the growth of trees and the creation of cork bark; the availability of cork planks which are the raw material for bio-building; the positive consequences of using cork panels and granules in Bio Green Buildings, such as energy saving for heating and cooling and the consequent reduction of CO2 emissions. Risparmio energetico negli edifici mediante adozione di eco materiali e tecniche di Bio Edilizia Obiettivo. L’obiettivo di ridurre i sovra consumi energetici negli edifici e promuovere le città post-carbone può essere raggiunto adottando diverse misure ad opera di individui, famiglie, imprese, costruttori, promotori immobiliari, governi. L’isolamento termico degli edifici, o “passivazione” risulta essere uno dei più importanti investimenti per raggiungere questi risultati. Metodi e soluzioni. L’isolamento termico (o “passivazione”) può essere realizzato con pannelli di sughero. Il sughero è un materiale naturale e rinnovabile. Esso stesso è il risultato della eliminazione (sequestration) della CO2 . Non solo, è un depositi di C. Può quindi efficacemente contribuire a realizzare concretamente la Post Carbon City migliorando l’ isolamento e la qualità degli edifici ed eliminando lo spreco di energia. Ampliare le aree occupate da sugherete aumenta in modo permanente l’assorbimento e la eliminazione definitivo ovvero il sequestro della CO2 . Per questa ragione la policy urbana può essere integrata con la policy ambientale e forestale, propugnando il restauro delle sugherete esistenti e il re impianto di quelle compromesse dall’azione antropica. In tal modo si rafforza il contributo natura-based alla costruzione della Post Carbon City. Risultati e benefici Solo alcuni dei primi benefici derivanti dalla policy integrata natura-based sopra sintetizzata: la CO2 non solo si sequestra e si elimina dall’atmosfera ma addirittura viene utilizzata dalle sughere per crescere e per produrre il sughero;si rendono disponibili nuovi quantitativi di sughero grezzo, come materia prima versatile; utilizzando i lavorati per la passivazione dei Bio Edifici Verdi, non solo si risparmia significativamente energia, ma anche si abbattono le conseguenti emissioni di CO2.

This study concerns the determination of empirical evidence of a real estate market premium for Green Buildings and of an aware role of the private real estate market as driver to foster-up urban and architectural sustainability and energy efficiency. In real estate markets, there is growing relevance of Green Buildings, especially in cities where the greater part of residential buildings is built before the first regulations on energy performance. Through policies oriented towards sustainable practices, a twofold goal can be achieved: energy consumption mitigation respecting the historical value for existing buildings, direct economic impacts on real estate values. In some metropolitan or urban contexts, the “green premium” for buildings can be understood as a real “gold premium”. This result has been highlighted and quantified with a real estate market analysis developed for a central area of an Italian mid-size city, pursued through the innovative tool of Evolutionary Polynomial Regression (EPR). The study highlighted a higher sale price for properties characterized by the best ecological characteristics and energy efficiency (+41.52%).

Pollution, environmental disruption, oversized urban development and infrastructure new construction jeopardize landscape integrity and people’s quality of life. Research deals with the landscape protection and enhancement providing governments and decision makers with a comprehensive Decision Support System to assess the quality of natural and cultural heritage and address planning measures and policy actions for landscape treasuring. Research set-up a methodology relying upon GIS tools, to spatially discover, detect and define landscape units, so called “Landscape Elements” (“Elementi di Paesaggio”, EdP), along with their endowment such as natural, ecological, historic, cultural, and urban resources. Then evaluate them through a Multi Criteria Analysis (MCA) tool set-up by the research team and integrated with a GIS. Research developed a Case Study in the European Mediterranean Basin, validating the whole census system and the performance and support of valuation tools. Results achieved open the possibility to generalize the prototype application at the regional, country and federation levels and therefore support the planning implementation for landscape enhancement.