Mountain Lab
A.Y. 2022/2023
Learning objectives
The aim of the course is to equip students with the elements for understanding, predicting and quantifying natural hazards in mountain environments (such as forest fires, rockfall and avalanches, shallow landslides and debris flows); for designing risk mitigation activities, in particular by strengthening the protective role of forests; and for carrying out a cost-benefit assessment of risk reduction activities
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course the student should:
- be able to analyze the ecological processes in the main types of mountain forests.
- be able to interpret forest planning documents.
- know how to measure and quantify the effectiveness of the protective function of forests against rockfall and avalanches.
- be able to assess the danger related to forest fires.
- know how to formulate management decisions to increase the resistance and resilience of forests to natural hazards.
- know how to locate intervention priorities.
- know how to interpret and draw up the main lines of a plan for safeguarding the territory from hydrogeological risk and forest fires.
- be able to analyse the main natural hazards in mountain areas, and to draw up the relative risk maps.
- know how to apply the main methods to assess the characteristics of soils and snow in mountain areas.
- know how to apply the tools for preventing and mitigating the risk deriving from erosion and movements of the snowpack, both slow (snow gliding) and fast (avalanches).
- know how to apply the main methods of assessing externalities (contingent assessment, choice modeling).
- know how to set up a cost / benefit analysis extended to environmental components.
- be able to analyze the ecological processes in the main types of mountain forests.
- be able to interpret forest planning documents.
- know how to measure and quantify the effectiveness of the protective function of forests against rockfall and avalanches.
- be able to assess the danger related to forest fires.
- know how to formulate management decisions to increase the resistance and resilience of forests to natural hazards.
- know how to locate intervention priorities.
- know how to interpret and draw up the main lines of a plan for safeguarding the territory from hydrogeological risk and forest fires.
- be able to analyse the main natural hazards in mountain areas, and to draw up the relative risk maps.
- know how to apply the main methods to assess the characteristics of soils and snow in mountain areas.
- know how to apply the tools for preventing and mitigating the risk deriving from erosion and movements of the snowpack, both slow (snow gliding) and fast (avalanches).
- know how to apply the main methods of assessing externalities (contingent assessment, choice modeling).
- know how to set up a cost / benefit analysis extended to environmental components.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Prerequisites for admission
Using electronic spreadsheets and GIS.
English language - level B1.
English language - level B1.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The final evaluation (max 30 points) will be based on an oral exam, consisting of a 45-minute exposition of a written project for the assessment and reduction of forest fire, avalanche and hydrogeological risk, which will be handed in before the exam (0-18 points). Another 0-12 points will be awarded for in.course labs assigned by all teachers, with specific assessment criteria that will be communicated on MS Teams.
The evaluation criteria are: effectiveness and completeness of the risk reduction proposal, correctness of calculations and maps, correct use of simulation tools, completeness of the cost / benefit assessment.
The evaluation criteria are: effectiveness and completeness of the risk reduction proposal, correctness of calculations and maps, correct use of simulation tools, completeness of the cost / benefit assessment.
Sustainable management of mountain forestry
Course syllabus
- Mountain forests: types, dynamics and ecosystem services (0.5 CFU)
- Elements of sustainable forest management: management models and schedules (0.5 CFU)
- Elements of forest planning at regional, catchment and ownership scale (0.5 CFU)
- Direct protection forests against rockfall and avalanches: identification, characteristics and sustainable management (0.5 CFU)
- Forest fires: causes, effects, recovery processes (0.5 CFU)
- Elements of forest fire prevention and planning (0.5 CFU)
- Simulation of forest fire behavior and effects (0.5 CFU)
- GIS Lab (0.5 CFU)
- Exercises: mapping of protective forests, evaluation of protective efficacy, simulation of natural hazards and proposal for silvicultural intervention (1 CFU); characterization of forest fuel, simulation of fire behavior and preliminary design of fire prevention actions (1 CFU)
- Elements of sustainable forest management: management models and schedules (0.5 CFU)
- Elements of forest planning at regional, catchment and ownership scale (0.5 CFU)
- Direct protection forests against rockfall and avalanches: identification, characteristics and sustainable management (0.5 CFU)
- Forest fires: causes, effects, recovery processes (0.5 CFU)
- Elements of forest fire prevention and planning (0.5 CFU)
- Simulation of forest fire behavior and effects (0.5 CFU)
- GIS Lab (0.5 CFU)
- Exercises: mapping of protective forests, evaluation of protective efficacy, simulation of natural hazards and proposal for silvicultural intervention (1 CFU); characterization of forest fuel, simulation of fire behavior and preliminary design of fire prevention actions (1 CFU)
Teaching methods
a) lectures and dialogues (24 hours) with the aim of providing students with the theoretical concepts and encouraging critical thinking through discussion;
b) two field trips to consolidate knowledge learned during lectures and develop applied forest management and field measurement skills (16 hours);
c) in-course exercises, with the aim of consolidating and verifying the acquisition of knowledge and acquiring skills in the use of software.
Attendance is strongly recommended.
b) two field trips to consolidate knowledge learned during lectures and develop applied forest management and field measurement skills (16 hours);
c) in-course exercises, with the aim of consolidating and verifying the acquisition of knowledge and acquiring skills in the use of software.
Attendance is strongly recommended.
Teaching Resources
Material shared by the teacher on MS Teams.
For further study of lecture topics:
- Selvicoltura in foreste di protezione (Regione Piemonte e Regione Valle d'Aosta, 2006). Available on http://www.regione.piemonte.it/foreste/images/files/pubblicazioni/selvicoltura_foreste_protez.pdf
- Strumenti e modelli a supporto della pianificazione, prevenzione e difesa dagli incendi boschivi (Università di Sassari, 2015). Available on http://www.proterina.info/wp-content/uploads/prodotti_doc/31_P261.pdf
- Gestione selvicolturale dei combustibili forestali per la prevenzione degli incendi boschivi (Compagnia delle Foreste, 2014). On sale at https://www.ecoalleco.it/gestione/gestione-selvicolturale-dei-combustibili-forestali-per-la-prevenzione-degli-incendi-boschivi-168.html
Non-italian speaking students will have to contact the teacher for materials in English.
For further study of lecture topics:
- Selvicoltura in foreste di protezione (Regione Piemonte e Regione Valle d'Aosta, 2006). Available on http://www.regione.piemonte.it/foreste/images/files/pubblicazioni/selvicoltura_foreste_protez.pdf
- Strumenti e modelli a supporto della pianificazione, prevenzione e difesa dagli incendi boschivi (Università di Sassari, 2015). Available on http://www.proterina.info/wp-content/uploads/prodotti_doc/31_P261.pdf
- Gestione selvicolturale dei combustibili forestali per la prevenzione degli incendi boschivi (Compagnia delle Foreste, 2014). On sale at https://www.ecoalleco.it/gestione/gestione-selvicolturale-dei-combustibili-forestali-per-la-prevenzione-degli-incendi-boschivi-168.html
Non-italian speaking students will have to contact the teacher for materials in English.
Assessment and mitigation of mountain hydrogeological risks
Course syllabus
Italian
The concept of natural danger and risk
Tools for the assessment and mitigation of the risk deriving from natural hazards (1 CFU)
Risk prevention and mitigation (structural, non-structural and biological interventions) from shallow landslides (2 CFU)
a) stabilizing effect of the forest
b) naturalistic engineering works
Risk prevention and mitigation from flood and transport of wood material (0.5 CFU)
a) forest effect
b) nature based solutions
c) isk assessment in a catchment area (0.5 CFU)
Elements of snow and ecology of high altitude soils
- Physical and chemical properties of the snowpack
- Characteristics of soils in periglacial areas
Dynamics of avalanches and risk prevention:
- Classification of avalanches
- The Avalanche Bulletin
- Techniques for managing and reducing exposure to avalanche danger
The concept of natural danger and risk
Tools for the assessment and mitigation of the risk deriving from natural hazards (1 CFU)
Risk prevention and mitigation (structural, non-structural and biological interventions) from shallow landslides (2 CFU)
a) stabilizing effect of the forest
b) naturalistic engineering works
Risk prevention and mitigation from flood and transport of wood material (0.5 CFU)
a) forest effect
b) nature based solutions
c) isk assessment in a catchment area (0.5 CFU)
Elements of snow and ecology of high altitude soils
- Physical and chemical properties of the snowpack
- Characteristics of soils in periglacial areas
Dynamics of avalanches and risk prevention:
- Classification of avalanches
- The Avalanche Bulletin
- Techniques for managing and reducing exposure to avalanche danger
Teaching methods
The hydrological risk module includes 16 hours of lectures, 16 hours of asynchronous exercises (including the preparation of the exam project) and two field trips for a total of 16 hours. Students will prepare an essay on the concept of natural risks, which will be part of final assessment.
The module of soil and snow science includes 32 hours of activities divided into 16 hours of frontal lessons and 16 hours of practice in the field. For the lectures the teacher makes use of multimedia presentations that are available to students. The exercise in the field consists of visiting areas affected by the construction of works for the prevention of avalanches and soil erosion and operational structures that deal with the management of the avalanche danger.
The module of soil and snow science includes 32 hours of activities divided into 16 hours of frontal lessons and 16 hours of practice in the field. For the lectures the teacher makes use of multimedia presentations that are available to students. The exercise in the field consists of visiting areas affected by the construction of works for the prevention of avalanches and soil erosion and operational structures that deal with the management of the avalanche danger.
Teaching Resources
Course material and slides provided by the lecturer.
Jones HG, Pomeroy JW, Walker DA, Hoham RW "Snow ecology". Cambridge University Press
Gray DM, Male DH "Handbook of snow". The Blackburn Press
Romeo R., Vita A., Manuelli S., Zanini E., Freppaz M. & Stanchi S. (2015) Understanding Mountain Soils: A Contribution from mountain areas to the International Year of Soils 2015. FAO, Rome, 2015. ISBN 978-92-5-108804-3. (http://www.fao.org/3/a-i4704e.pdf)
Geitner C., Freppaz M., Lesjak J., Schaber E., Stanchi S., D'Amico M., Vrščaj B. (2020) I Servizi Ecosistemici del Suolo nelle Alpi. ISBN 978-88-99108-18-2 https://it.alpinesoils.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/00-IT-Soils-Ecosystem_210x270_spread-low.pdf
Jones HG, Pomeroy JW, Walker DA, Hoham RW "Snow ecology". Cambridge University Press
Gray DM, Male DH "Handbook of snow". The Blackburn Press
Romeo R., Vita A., Manuelli S., Zanini E., Freppaz M. & Stanchi S. (2015) Understanding Mountain Soils: A Contribution from mountain areas to the International Year of Soils 2015. FAO, Rome, 2015. ISBN 978-92-5-108804-3. (http://www.fao.org/3/a-i4704e.pdf)
Geitner C., Freppaz M., Lesjak J., Schaber E., Stanchi S., D'Amico M., Vrščaj B. (2020) I Servizi Ecosistemici del Suolo nelle Alpi. ISBN 978-88-99108-18-2 https://it.alpinesoils.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/00-IT-Soils-Ecosystem_210x270_spread-low.pdf
Economic and environmental assessment of forest environment management
Course syllabus
CFU 1: Environment, forests, mountains: framework for economic issues
· Multifunctionality of forests: socio-economic and environmental functions
· Productive and protective forests
· Ecosystem services: general information and classification
· Principles of forest valuation
CFU 2: Methods for evaluating environmental goods and services
· Hedonic prices
· Travel cost method
· Contingent valuation: principles and methods
· Choice models: principles and methods
CFU 3: Support for decisions on public investments
· The evaluation of public investments
· Principles of financial analysis
· Multi-criteria analysis
CFU 4: Cost-benefit analysis
· General principles
· Description of the context
· Definition of objectives
· Identification of the project
· Technical feasibility and environmental sustainability
· Financial analysis
· Economic analysis
· Risk analysis
CFU 5: Environmental policies
· Environment and property rights
· Economic characteristics of public goods
· Public goods and externalities
· Environmental policy tools
CFU 6: Case study: objectives, tools, methods
· Multifunctionality of forests: socio-economic and environmental functions
· Productive and protective forests
· Ecosystem services: general information and classification
· Principles of forest valuation
CFU 2: Methods for evaluating environmental goods and services
· Hedonic prices
· Travel cost method
· Contingent valuation: principles and methods
· Choice models: principles and methods
CFU 3: Support for decisions on public investments
· The evaluation of public investments
· Principles of financial analysis
· Multi-criteria analysis
CFU 4: Cost-benefit analysis
· General principles
· Description of the context
· Definition of objectives
· Identification of the project
· Technical feasibility and environmental sustainability
· Financial analysis
· Economic analysis
· Risk analysis
CFU 5: Environmental policies
· Environment and property rights
· Economic characteristics of public goods
· Public goods and externalities
· Environmental policy tools
CFU 6: Case study: objectives, tools, methods
Teaching methods
The module is divided into 5 CFU of lectures and 1 CFU of exercises. In this way, the provision of adequate moments of practical application of the acquired knowledge is ensured.
The teaching material will be made available on the MS Teams platform: slides of the lessons, recordings of the lessons, reference texts, documents and materials related to the case study.
Attendance is strongly recommended
The teaching material will be made available on the MS Teams platform: slides of the lessons, recordings of the lessons, reference texts, documents and materials related to the case study.
Attendance is strongly recommended
Teaching Resources
No specific texts are provided. Slides of the lessons, articles, documents and other in-depth material will be made available on the MS Teams platform.
Assessment and mitigation of mountain hydrogeological risks
AGR/08 - AGRICULTURAL HYDRAULICS AND WATERSHED PROTECTION
AGR/14 - PEDOLOGY
AGR/14 - PEDOLOGY
Field activity: 32 hours
Practicals: 16 hours
Lessons: 32 hours
Practicals: 16 hours
Lessons: 32 hours
Economic and environmental assessment of forest environment management
AGR/01 - AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS AND RURAL APPRAISAL - University credits: 6
Practicals: 32 hours
Lessons: 32 hours
Lessons: 32 hours
Professors:
Corsi Stefano, Monaco Federica
Sustainable management of mountain forestry
AGR/05 - FOREST MANAGEMENT AND SILVICULTURE - University credits: 5
Field activity: 16 hours
Laboratories: 16 hours
Lessons: 24 hours
Laboratories: 16 hours
Lessons: 24 hours
Professor:
Vacchiano Giorgio
Professor(s)
Reception:
please request an appointment by e-mail
Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali