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Food is usually the major source of human exposure to environmental contaminants like heavy metals and synthetic compounds. This study proposes a quick and simple approach to combine the estimate of the intake of certain pollutants with the diet, in combination with different nutritional plans (Mediterranean diet, weight loss and for athletes). The estimation of the intake of three heavy metals and two perfluoroalkyl substances was carried out by entering the type and quantity of the foods provided by each of the three selected dietary plans in the UltraBio® app. Recurring elements are high levels of Cd and Pb and very low levels of PFASs, for all the plans considered. The Mediterranean diet scheme was the one with the lowest intake of all contaminants, which, in any case, remains within the safety limits by a large margin. The high protein diet leads to exceeding the limits for two metals and critical values for the third. The advantages of this approach are mainly represented by the possibility of having a personalized risk assessment of the intake of important food contaminants for the prevention of exposures that, over time, could put health at risk.

Gli Autori esaminano criticamente alcuni costrutti antropologici e filosofici della psicopatologia transculturale per migliorare le proprie prassi terapeutiche nei confronti di persone migranti con sofferenza psichica. Gli Autori hanno selezionato dall’amplissimo corpus di conoscenze antropologiche e filosofiche sull’alterita culturale i contributi dell’antropologo Mondher Kilani e quello di Ludwig Wittgenstein, capaci di porre il tema dell’altro culturale come un esercizio possibile. L’altro non e penetrabile, non possiamo immedesimarci completamente nell’altro. L’altro possiamo inventarlo, possiamo ipotizzare alternative al nostro modo di vedere le cose, possiamo mettere in crisi il nostro repertorio culturale. E possibile incontrare la sofferenza di persone appartenenti ad altre culture nella peculiare condizione migratoria perche queste persone non sono totalmente altre e quindi incomprensibili, nello stesso tempo non possiamo nemmeno considerarle analoghe agli altri utenti dei servizi che appartengono alla nostra cultura. Successivamente vengono proposte brevi vignette cliniche di migranti insieme ad alcune strategie terapeutiche desunte dal lavoro degli Autori come psichiatri del Dipartimento di Salute mentale e come consulenti del Sistema di Protezione per Richiedenti Asilo e Rifugiati (SPRAR) di Modena, che esemplificano e confermano le precedenti evidenze teoriche.

Summary The research focuses on structural monitoring and movements identification applied to cultural heritage protection. The final purpose is the integration among different and independent technologies for analyzing and investigating the geometry changing over time of ancient leaning towers. The paper deals with a novel strategy implemented to compute differential vertical displacements starting from results obtained by repeated high-precision leveling network adjustments. These results usually aim at monitoring the subsidence phenomenon, while their use in engineering applications is more or less absent in literature. Moreover, the multidisciplinary approach is also able to analyze subsidence gradients in order to extrapolate the trend of the vertical axis and compute structure's rotations. The approach is applied to the Ghirlandina Tower, Modena (Italy), in order to identify the leaning and the subsidence trend. About 30 years of leveling campaigns provide a useful dataset to test the methodology, which is finally validated by the independent observations collected by a pendulum. The approach allows to compute the mean total displacement since 1984 of about 4.7 cm with 30% occurring over the last 6 years. In the same period, the total overhang of the tower (1.30 m in 2007) increased by about 19.1 and 10.4 mm towards southwest. The approach is also able to identify anomalous behavior of the tower such as the reversal tilting trend due to the scaffolding in the years of restoration and the permanent deformation suffered after the 2012 Emilia Romagna earthquake (failure of 4 mm in 6 months). Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A slow moving compound rock slide located in the northern Apennines of Italy was mapped and monitored through the integration of Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS), multi-temporal long-range Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS), and Automated Total Station (ATS) measurements. Landslide features were mapped using a High Resolution Digital Terrain Model (HR-DTM) obtained by merging ALS and TLS data in an Iterative Closest Point (ICP) procedure. Slope movements in the order of centimeters to a few decimeters were quantified with Differential TLS (D-TLS) based on a Surface Matching approach and supported by ATS data to define stable reference surfaces. The integrated approach allowed mapping of the composite geomorphic features of the rock slide under examination, revealing its complex dynamic nature and further proving that laser scanning is a versatile and widely applicable tool for slope process analysis. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A large and morphologically spectacular rock slope instability is detected in the northern Apennines of Italy. Ten of metres of blocks and columns, in calcareous rock formation, slide and spread on clay shale, dipping down slope 30°. The geological structures and the morphological features of the slope deformation have been identified with use of high-resolution digital elevation models obtained from ground based laser scanner and airborne LiDAR. The actual morphological setting of the slope is characterized, also far away form the main scarp, by some metres high columns in vertical position. This suggests that the main deformations are parallel to the slope. Inside the landslide, rock falls are also frequent, due to the failure of large blocks and columns through set of joints. The origin of the instability is probably related with the erosion of the clay formation, at the foot of the slope, by the close torrent. From the analysis of aero-photographs of the past fifty years is possible identified an enlargement of the mass instability in the up slope direction. A destructive event was recognized in the Seventies, when the road and the bridge below the landslide were destroyed. During the event was documented the passage between slow to very fast moving. In the summer 2009, after the increase of the slope deformations of the last years, a continuous monitor system was installed. The system is a robotic station that every two hours measures 20 benchmarks fixed in the rock blocks and columns in the landslide area. Today, tens centimetre of displacements are recorded. The data show an increase of the deformations rate with the distance from the main scarp. At the moment, the evolution of the slope is controlled by continuous creeping processes and by period with accelerates deformations. These last correlate with wet and snow melt periods, which are responsible of the variation in the groundwater regime and of the changes in the material behaviour within the sliding zone

High-Resolution Digital Elevation Models (HR DEMs) obtained with Light Detection and Ranging technology, (LiDAR) have proved to be useful in the analysis of landslide processes in mountainous terrains, for different purposes and at different spatial scales, including improvement of landslide inventories, susceptibility assessment and appraisal of landslide geomorphic features. The application of laser scanning techniques results in data sets with enormous data size, extremely high accuracy (up to cm-scale) and very high spatial resolution. The exploitation of HR DEMs in landslide analysis can be manifold, comprising automated spatial data processing as well as expert knowledge - supervised procedures. First goal of this paper is to stress the advantages given by the usage of Shaded Relief datasets obtained from HR DEMs in geomorphological mapping of complex landslides. Through the use of such datasets, surveyors gain an enhanced capacity to identify slope-scale geomorpho-dynamic units, the possibility to increase the precision of scarps and detachment areas zonation, the capacity to identify and map compressive and extensional features all across the landslide body, and the possibility to retrieve other relevant geomorphological indicators of movement. These advantages are exemplified by presenting maps of large-scale earth slide – earth flows and deep seated rock slides located in the Alps and in the Apennines, that have been obtained by making use of shaded relief maps calculated from regional and local datasets using different scene illumination parameters. Second goal of this paper is to exemplify the usage of Differential HR DEMs is mass-wasting analysis applied to active earth slides - earth flows located in the northern Apennines. This simple DEM subtraction procedure can be carried out using multi-temporal airborne or terrestrial surveys, or by fusing airborne and terrestrial data. Examples are presented of landslides for which mass wasting at the slope scale and total volumetric magnitude of the events have been assessed using both single-type and fused-type data sources. Disregard possible uncertainties, these pieces of information helped in depicting possible future scenarios. Moreover, considering that earth slides – earth flows moving at a rate up to 10 m/day are difficult to be monitored with classical in situ instrumentation, the results suggest that LiDAR systems could also be used, under certain organizational conditions (temporal resolution of the surveys, costs, post-processing efforts etc.), as a near-real time monitoring system during and after reactivation events.

The 3D reconstruction with a metric content of a submerged area, where objects and structures of archaeological interest are found, could play an important role in the research and study activities and even in the digitization of the cultural heritage. The reconstruction of 3D object, of interest for archaeologists, constitutes a starting point in the classification and description of object in digital format and for successive fruition by user after delivering through several media. The starting point is a metric evaluation of the site obtained with photogrammetric surveying and appropriate 3D restitution. The authors have been applying the underwater photogrammetric technique since several years using underwater digital cameras and, in this paper, digital low cost cameras (off-the-shelf). Results of tests made on submerged objects with three cameras are presented: © Canon Power Shot G12, © Intova Sport HD e © GoPro HERO 2. The experimentation had the goal to evaluate the precision in self-calibration procedures, essential for multimedia underwater photogrammetry, and to analyze the quality of 3D restitution. Precisions obtained in the calibration and orientation procedures was assessed by using three cameras, and an homogeneous set control points. Data were processed with © Agisoft Photoscan. Successively, 3D models were created and the comparison of the models derived from the use of different cameras was performed. Different potentialities of the used cameras are reported in the discussion section. The 3D restitution of objects and structures was integrated with sea bottom floor morphology in order to achieve a comprehensive description of the site. A possible methodology of survey and representation of submerged objects is therefore illustrated, considering an automatic and a semi-automatic approach.

Monitoring the time history of structures and infrastructures has always been an important area of application of geodetic and geomatic methods. Here we shall concentrate on the item of monitoring ancient buildings because, beyond its intrinsic interest, it provides a good illustration of some of the most recent monitoring techniques. Identifying the overhang, progressive changes of inclination, differential movements of the structure and detailing the study of structural elements are just some examples of the many fundamental and necessary information for structural engineers. Those data are required to study and analyze the behavior of a structure with the purpose to assess the stability. Looking at the several methods offered by Geomatics, laser scanning appears to be the best technology to provide an effective 3D solution to those requirements. Surveying by means of a terrestrial laser scanner, allows to detect a huge number of 3D information with high accuracy in a relatively short time and high accuracy. Just analyzing the point clouds, interesting information along with useful products can be obtained in order to draw some considerations about the investigated structure. This research aims at suggesting a new philosophy for using 3D models in a diagnostic perspective in order to study structures along with their actual dimensions, their stability and so on. Traditionally, indeed, laser scanning is chosen for artistic and architectural studies and the resulting three-dimensional model represents what often is of concern. Furthermore, the use of more classic techniques, such as total station and digital leveling, and LST is fundamental as an integrated approach for the monitoring of ancient buildings. The integration of different techniques allow a redundancy of observation and the possibility to verify the results obtained form independent techniques as is shown throughout some experimental applications.

High resolution topography, by involving Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) and further accurate techniques for a proper displacement identification, is a valuable tool for a good and reliable description of unstable slopes. By comparing multitemporal surveys, the geomorphology of a landslide may be analyzed as well as the changes over time, the volumes transportation and the boundaries evolution. Being aware that a single technique is not sufficient to perform a reliable and accurate survey, this paper discusses the use of multi-platform, multi-source and multi-scale observations (both in terms of spatial scale and time scale) for the study and monitoring of unstable slopes. The final purpose is to highlight and validate a methodology based on multiple sensors and data integration, useful to obtain a comprehensive GIS (Geographic Information System) which can successfully be used to manage natural disasters or to improve the knowledge of a specific phenomenon in order to prevent and mitigate the hydro-geological risk. The novelty of the present research lies in the spatial integration of multiple remote sensing techniques such as: integration of Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) and Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) to provide a comprehensive and accurate surface description (DTM) at a fixed epoch (spatial continuity); continuous monitoring by means of spatial integration of Automated Total Station (ATS) and GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) to provide accurate surface displacement identification (time continuity). Discussion makes reference to a rockslide located in the northern Apennines of Italy from 2010 to 2013.

The proposed work concerns the analysis of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), also known as drones, UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) or UAS (Unmanned Aerial System), on hydrogeological contexts for civil protection purposes, underlying the advantages of using a flexible and relatively low cost system. The capabilities of photogrammetric RPAS multi-sensors platform were examined in term of mapping, creation of orthophotos, 3D models generation, data integration into a 3D GIS (Geographic Information System) and validation through independent techniques such as GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System). The RPAS used (multirotor OktoXL, of the Mikrokopter) was equipped with a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver, digital cameras for photos and videos, an inertial navigation system, a radio device for communication and telemetry, etc. This innovative way of viewing and understanding the environment showed huge potentialities for the study of the territory, and due to its characteristics could be well integrated with aircraft surveys. However, such characteristics seem to give priority to local applications for rigorous and accurate analysis, while it remains a means of expeditious investigation for more extended areas. According to civil protection purposes, the experimentation was carried out by simulating operational protocols, for example for inspection, surveillance, monitoring, land mapping, georeferencing methods (with or without Ground Control Points - GCP) based on high resolution topography (2D and 3D information).

Rapid assessment of landslide activity is important in case of adverse climatic conditions leading to civil protection’s alerts that require increased surveillance of risk areas. GB-InSAR is nowadays becoming a consolidated near-sensing monitoring technique for slope movements. It can be installed rapidly and it can rapidly provide results in the form of displacement maps. However, it has never been thoroughly tested in radar-hostile conditions such as these posed by large-scale earth slides – earth flows covered by a canopy of trees bushes and meadows, that are the typical landslides in Emilia Romagna Apennine. As sparse small villages, buildings, roads and other lifelines are often built on these landslide bodies, they are of particular concern for civil protection, especially during prolonged rainfall periods that determine attention/alerting conditions. To test the possibility to achieve improved surveillance capability in case of attention needed, a series of GB-InSAR spot campaigns lasting from a week to a month, was carried out in 2010–11 in several landslides of Emilia Romagna Apennine using a commercial interferometric radar. The aim was to evaluate the performance of the technique for rapid assessment of landslide activity, even in case of partly vegetated soil coverage conditions. The paper deals with the results obtained in 3 out of the 11 monitored sites.

Satellite images are a tool increasingly used in environmental monitoring and in recent years have become also strongly used in the field of archaeology. In this study it was conducted an experimental analysis on the identification of wetlands from satellite images in order to identify sites of interest from the archaeological point of view because probable sites of ancient settlements. The studied area is the Plan de la Limagne which is located in North-East of the French city of Clermont-Ferrand. For wet areas identification were used two ASTER satellite images and pre-existing carthography. Different indexes have been used to identify wet areas. First of all, it was used the NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) to discriminate bare soils. Secondly, through the Tasseled Cap transform, other indexes were obtained, such as the Greeness Index, the Brightness Index (SBI – Soil Brightnes Index) and the Wetness Index. Then it has been used the ATI index (Apparent Thermal Inertia) that provides information on the thermal inertia of soils. Through these indexes, visual inspection and the study of spectral signatures, it has been tried not only to identify wetlands within the images, but also to find repeatable processes for the detection of these areas. Some “anomalous” areas, that are probably wet areas, have been identified with this procedure. The identification of wet areas has been carried out in a raw way, this is surely a first approximation analysis. Certainly the in situ analysis would provide the possibility of a better evaluation, in fact field measurements could be used to calibrate the model and then find an effective and repeatable procedure for identifying wetlands.

Among the many open-source software solutions recently developed for the extraction of point clouds from a set of un-oriented images, the photogrammetric tools Apero and MicMac (IGN, Institut Géographique National) aim to distinguish themselves by focusing on the accuracy and the metric content of the final result. This paper firstly aims at assessing the accuracy of the simplified and automated calibration procedure offered by the IGN tools. Results obtained with this procedure were compared with those achieved with a test-range calibration approach using a pre-surveyed laboratory test-field. Both direct and a-posteriori validation tests turned out successfully showing the stability and the metric accuracy of the process, even when low textured or reflective surfaces are present in the 3D scene. Afterwards, the possibility of achieving accurate 3D models from the subsequently extracted dense point clouds is also evaluated. Three different types of sculptural elements were chosen as test-objects and "ground-truth" data were acquired with triangulation laser scanners. 3D models derived from point clouds oriented with a simplified relative procedure show a suitable metric accuracy: all comparisons delivered a standard deviation of millimeter-level. The use of Ground Control Points in the orientation phase did not improve significantly the accuracy of the final 3D model, when a small figure-like corbel was used as test-object.

This paper discusses critical issues related to the reliability of topographic monitoring systems such as ATS (Automated Total Stations), GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) and Ground Based ...

Identifying the overhang, progressive changes of inclination, differential movements of the structure and detailing the study of structural elements are just some examples of the many fundamental information for structural engineers. Those data are required to study and analyze the behavior of a structure with the purpose to assess the stability . Laser scanning appears to be the best technology to provide an effective solution to those requirements. Surveying by means of a terrestrial laser scanner (TLS), allows to detect a huge number of information with relatively short time and high accuracy. Those data, then, do not necessarily need to be used to reconstruct the three dimensional surface model. Just analyzing the point clouds, interesting information along with useful products can be obtained in order to draw some considerations about the investigated structure. This research aims to suggest a new philosophy for using TLS in a diagnostic perspective in order to study structures along with their actual dimensions, their stability and so on. This new approach, characterized by a welladvanced vision, is really different from the traditional one because of the engineering point of view with respect to the usual application of TLS. Traditionally, indeed, laser scanning is chosen for artistic and architectural studies and the resulting three-dimensional model represents what often is of concern. The research focuses on the Cathedral of Modena, one of the most important pieces of Romanesque culture in Europe (UNESCO World Heritage List since 1997). The overall motivation of this research is to preserve the cultural heritage we are responsible for, as long as spectators. Thus, the final purpose is to illustrate the methodology to compute anomalies in structural geometry by means of TLS in order to provide an accurate description of the structure that is particularly useful for structural engineers, architects and art historians. Both outdoor as well as indoor TLS surveys were performed. The geometry of the structure was properly described by analyzing point clouds; specific measurements were focused on constituent elements with the aim of detecting anomalies of the geometric configuration. Geometric anomalies might be read as the result of deformations occurred in the past or as future deformations due to an abnormal geometric configuration. Investigations about the identified anomalies will be presented together with differential movements obtained by high precision leveling focused on a network of benchmarks that were installed along the outside perimeter. The integration of independent techniques allows to check for consistency of results.

We had the opportunity to make surveying of some middle age towers located in Emilia Romagna region (Italy): Ghirlandina tower (Modena), “Della Sagra” tower (Carpi, Modena) , Asinelli tower (Bologna). Those towers are very interesting by architectural and artistic point of view; Ghirlandina and Asinelli are Cultural Heritage site of UNESCO. Terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) instrument has been used with an accuracy at 1 cm level in order to obtain good restitution in absolute coordinates, even with a precise topographic determination of GCP (Ground Control Points). Tridimensional restitution of the towers is here presented; we would like to point out the attention on the way that we use the TLS for enhancing the geometrical characteristics, particularly the height of the towers and the axis development that were determined through the trajectory of barycenter of transversal sections. The determination of actual geometry is essential for the study of the buildings and it is a first fundamental step for monitoring the towers.