This page has only limited features, please log in for full access.
Winter pruning is a cultivation practice necessary for maintaining the balance between the vegetative and the productive activity of plants and requires many working days using hand scissors. This operation involves the subjects carrying out a series of gestures that are repeated with considerable frequency, which are all musculo-skeletal disorders risk factors (MSDs) for the hand-wrist area. The aim of this study was to investigate the forces applied to pruning tools. Using a sensor matrix, peak and average forces were measured which are exerted while cutting branches of 3 different diameters, from 5 wine-grape cultivars. Samples were tested on 8 participants using sensored scissors to record, in 6 hand areas, the forces necessary to cut. Results showed that while cutting, the factors which can impact the force employed (peak and average forces) by the subjects are branch diameter and percentage of branch humidity. Cut duration was inversely related to the size of the subject's hand. The middle finger area of the hand recorded the highest force average and peak levels, while the hand region least affected during the cuts was the farthest from the thumb. The study enabled the highlighting of which factors influence the forces employed by the operator while cutting grape branches, and to identify the hand regions where muscle activation is at its most. These findings can be relevant in preventing MSDs. Further studies need to be conducted with a larger number of subjects.
Elio Romano; Luciano Caruso; Domenico Longo; Ermanno Vitale; Giampaolo Schillaci; Venerando Rapisarda. Investigation of hand forces applied to a pruning tool - pilot study. Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine 2019, 26, 472 -478.
AMA StyleElio Romano, Luciano Caruso, Domenico Longo, Ermanno Vitale, Giampaolo Schillaci, Venerando Rapisarda. Investigation of hand forces applied to a pruning tool - pilot study. Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine. 2019; 26 (3):472-478.
Chicago/Turabian StyleElio Romano; Luciano Caruso; Domenico Longo; Ermanno Vitale; Giampaolo Schillaci; Venerando Rapisarda. 2019. "Investigation of hand forces applied to a pruning tool - pilot study." Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine 26, no. 3: 472-478.
Boosting innovation and research in the agricultural sector is crucial if farmers are asked to produce more with less. Precision agriculture offers different solutions to assist farmers in improving efficiency and reducing labor costs while respecting the legal requirements. Precision spraying enables the treatment of only the plants that require it, with the right amount of products. Our research group has developed a solution based on a reconfigurable vehicle with a high degree of automation for the distribution of plant protection products in vineyards and greenhouses. The synergy between the vehicle and the spraying management system we developed is an innovative solution with high technological content, and attempts to account for the current European and global directives in the field of agricultural techniques. The objectives of our system are the development of an autonomous vehicle and a spraying management system that allows safe and accurate autonomous spraying operations.
Luciano Cantelli; Filippo Bonaccorso; Domenico Longo; Carmelo Donato Melita; Giampaolo Schillaci; Giovanni Muscato. A Small Versatile Electrical Robot for Autonomous Spraying in Agriculture. AgriEngineering 2019, 1, 391 -402.
AMA StyleLuciano Cantelli, Filippo Bonaccorso, Domenico Longo, Carmelo Donato Melita, Giampaolo Schillaci, Giovanni Muscato. A Small Versatile Electrical Robot for Autonomous Spraying in Agriculture. AgriEngineering. 2019; 1 (3):391-402.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuciano Cantelli; Filippo Bonaccorso; Domenico Longo; Carmelo Donato Melita; Giampaolo Schillaci; Giovanni Muscato. 2019. "A Small Versatile Electrical Robot for Autonomous Spraying in Agriculture." AgriEngineering 1, no. 3: 391-402.
Angela Calvo; Elio Romano; Christian Preti; Giampaolo Schillaci; Roberto Deboli. Upper limb disorders and hand-arm vibration risks with hand-held olive beaters. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics 2018, 65, 36 -45.
AMA StyleAngela Calvo, Elio Romano, Christian Preti, Giampaolo Schillaci, Roberto Deboli. Upper limb disorders and hand-arm vibration risks with hand-held olive beaters. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics. 2018; 65 ():36-45.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAngela Calvo; Elio Romano; Christian Preti; Giampaolo Schillaci; Roberto Deboli. 2018. "Upper limb disorders and hand-arm vibration risks with hand-held olive beaters." International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics 65, no. : 36-45.
As reported in literature the production of biodiesel should lead to a lower energy consumption than those obtainable with its use. So, to justify its consumption, a sustainable and “low input” production should be carried out. In order to assess the sustainability of Linum usitatissimum, Camelina sativa and Brassica carinata cultivation for biodiesel production in terms of energy used compared to that obtained, the index EROEI (Energy Return On Energy Invested) has been used. At this aim, an experimental field was realised in the south-eastern Sicilian land. During the autumn-winter crop cycle, no irrigation was carried out and some suitable agricultural practices have been carried out taking into account the peculiarity of each type of used seeds. The total energy consumed for the cultivation of oil bearing crops from sowing to the production of biodiesel represents the Input of the process. In particular, this concerned the energy embodied in machinery and tools utilized, in seed, chemical fertilizer and herbicide but also the energy embodied in diesel fuels and lubricant oils. In addition, the energy consumption relating to machines and reagents required for the processes of extraction and transesterification of the vegetable oil into biodiesel have been calculated for each crops. The energy obtainable from biodiesel production, taking into account the energy used for seed pressing and for vegetable oil transesterification into biodiesel, represents the Output of the process. The ratio Output/Input gets the EROEI index which in the case of Camelina sativa and Linum usatissimum is greater than one. These results show that the cultivation of these crops for biofuels production is convenient in terms of energy return on energy investment. The EROEI index for Brassica carinata is lower than one. This could means that some factors, concerning mechanisation and climatic
A. Restuccia; Sabina Failla; D. Longo; L. Caruso; I. Mallia; G. Schillaci. Assessment of energy return on energy investment (EROEI) of oil bearing crops for renewable fuel production. Journal of Agricultural Engineering 2013, 44, 1 .
AMA StyleA. Restuccia, Sabina Failla, D. Longo, L. Caruso, I. Mallia, G. Schillaci. Assessment of energy return on energy investment (EROEI) of oil bearing crops for renewable fuel production. Journal of Agricultural Engineering. 2013; 44 (2):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleA. Restuccia; Sabina Failla; D. Longo; L. Caruso; I. Mallia; G. Schillaci. 2013. "Assessment of energy return on energy investment (EROEI) of oil bearing crops for renewable fuel production." Journal of Agricultural Engineering 44, no. 2: 1.
Topping, trimming, consolidation, securing and felling are very common operations in arboriculture, in city park as well as in forests. In case of very large trees, these operations are often not possible from ground level using ladders or Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs) because of excessive height or uneven/inaccessible terrain. In past years, different people start applying techniques, materials and procedures normally used in mountaineering and caving, to climb trees and these techniques start to be applied to forestry management operations; these techniques are now worldwide used. Work activities at height, as tree-climbing for forestry management purpose, are regulated in Italy by Legislative Decree 81/08 about safety in the workplace, as this activity expose operators to fall from height and many other risks. Moreover, as this activity involves the use of specific tools, operators must be trained (with periodic refreshment) and tools must been periodically checked by authorised operators. The objective of this work is to present and synthesise regulations and some technical aspects in order to allow operators to better understand different issues and general principles related to this activity.
D. Longo; L. Caruso; A. Conti; D. Camillieri; G. Schillaci. A survey of safety issues in tree-climbing applications for forestry management. Journal of Agricultural Engineering 2013, 44, 1 .
AMA StyleD. Longo, L. Caruso, A. Conti, D. Camillieri, G. Schillaci. A survey of safety issues in tree-climbing applications for forestry management. Journal of Agricultural Engineering. 2013; 44 (2s):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleD. Longo; L. Caruso; A. Conti; D. Camillieri; G. Schillaci. 2013. "A survey of safety issues in tree-climbing applications for forestry management." Journal of Agricultural Engineering 44, no. 2s: 1.
G. Schillaci; R. Bonsignore; L. Caruso; E. Cerruto; E. Romano. A MULTIFUNCTION STRADDLE TOWED FRAME FOR THE CULTIVATION OF GOBLET VINEYARDS. Acta Horticulturae 2013, 377 -384.
AMA StyleG. Schillaci, R. Bonsignore, L. Caruso, E. Cerruto, E. Romano. A MULTIFUNCTION STRADDLE TOWED FRAME FOR THE CULTIVATION OF GOBLET VINEYARDS. Acta Horticulturae. 2013; (978):377-384.
Chicago/Turabian StyleG. Schillaci; R. Bonsignore; L. Caruso; E. Cerruto; E. Romano. 2013. "A MULTIFUNCTION STRADDLE TOWED FRAME FOR THE CULTIVATION OF GOBLET VINEYARDS." Acta Horticulturae , no. 978: 377-384.
D. Longo; A. Pennisi; R. Bonsignore; G. Schillaci; G. Muscato. A SMALL AUTONOMOUS ELECTRICAL VEHICLE AS PARTNER FOR HEROIC VITICULTURE. Acta Horticulturae 2013, 391 -398.
AMA StyleD. Longo, A. Pennisi, R. Bonsignore, G. Schillaci, G. Muscato. A SMALL AUTONOMOUS ELECTRICAL VEHICLE AS PARTNER FOR HEROIC VITICULTURE. Acta Horticulturae. 2013; (978):391-398.
Chicago/Turabian StyleD. Longo; A. Pennisi; R. Bonsignore; G. Schillaci; G. Muscato. 2013. "A SMALL AUTONOMOUS ELECTRICAL VEHICLE AS PARTNER FOR HEROIC VITICULTURE." Acta Horticulturae , no. 978: 391-398.
As reported in literature the production of biodiesel should lead to a lower energy consumption than those obtainable with its use. So, to justify its consumption, a sustainable and “low input” production should be carried out. In order to assess the sustainability of Linum usitatissimum, Camelina sativa and Brassica carinata cultivation for biodiesel production in terms of energy used compared to that obtained, the index EROEI (Energy Return On Energy Invested) has been used. At this aim, an experimental field was realised in the south-eastern Sicilian land. During the autumn-winter crop cycle, no irrigation was carried out and some suitable agricultural practices have been carried out taking into account the peculiarity of each type of used seeds. The total energy consumed for the cultivation of oil bearing crops from sowing to the production of biodiesel represents the Input of the process. In particular, this concerned the energy embodied in machinery and tools utilized, in seed, chemical fertilizer and herbicide but also the energy embodied in diesel fuels and lubricant oils. In addition, the energy consumption relating to machines and reagents required for the processes of extraction and transesterification of the vegetable oil into biodiesel have been calculated for each crops. The energy obtainable from biodiesel production, taking into account the energy used for seed pressing and for vegetable oil transesterification into biodiesel, represents the Output of the process. The ratio Output/Input gets the EROEI index which in the case of Camelina sativa and Linum usatissimum is greater than one. These results show that the cultivation of these crops for biofuels production is convenient in terms of energy return on energy investment. The EROEI index for Brassica carinata is lower than one. This could means that some factors, concerning mechanisation and climatic
A. Restuccia; S. Failla; D. Longo; L. Caruso; I. Mallia; G. Schillaci. Assessment of energy return on energy investment (EROEI) of oil bearing crops for renewable fuel production. Journal of Agricultural Engineering 2013, 44, 1 .
AMA StyleA. Restuccia, S. Failla, D. Longo, L. Caruso, I. Mallia, G. Schillaci. Assessment of energy return on energy investment (EROEI) of oil bearing crops for renewable fuel production. Journal of Agricultural Engineering. 2013; 44 (2):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleA. Restuccia; S. Failla; D. Longo; L. Caruso; I. Mallia; G. Schillaci. 2013. "Assessment of energy return on energy investment (EROEI) of oil bearing crops for renewable fuel production." Journal of Agricultural Engineering 44, no. 2: 1.
Topping, trimming, consolidation, securing and felling are very common operations in arboriculture, in city park as well as in forests. In case of very large trees, these operations are often not possible from ground level using ladders or Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs) because of excessive height or uneven/inaccessible terrain. In past years, different people start applying techniques, materials and procedures normally used in mountaineering and caving, to climb trees and these techniques start to be applied to forestry management operations; these techniques are now worldwide used. Work activities at height, as tree-climbing for forestry management purpose, are regulated in Italy by Legislative Decree 81/08 about safety in the workplace, as this activity expose operators to fall from height and many other risks. Moreover, as this activity involves the use of specific tools, operators must be trained (with periodic refreshment) and tools must been periodically checked by authorised operators. The objective of this work is to present and synthesise regulations and some technical aspects in order to allow operators to better understand different issues and general principles related to this activity.
D. Longo; L. Caruso; A. Conti; D. Camillieri; G. Schillaci. A survey of safety issues in tree-climbing applications for forestry management. Journal of Agricultural Engineering 2013, 44, 1 .
AMA StyleD. Longo, L. Caruso, A. Conti, D. Camillieri, G. Schillaci. A survey of safety issues in tree-climbing applications for forestry management. Journal of Agricultural Engineering. 2013; 44 (2s):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleD. Longo; L. Caruso; A. Conti; D. Camillieri; G. Schillaci. 2013. "A survey of safety issues in tree-climbing applications for forestry management." Journal of Agricultural Engineering 44, no. 2s: 1.
In the last few decades the cultivation of cactus pears represents an important element in the economy of subtropical regions with scarce water resources. The increasing market competition from other countries has forced Sicilian producers to modernise the packing houses where the fruit is processed. The study carried out has shown that the technology employed in the newest packing lines is of a high level and that a low level of human, material and energy resources are necessary; moreover, packing and despining need further innovations. Trials conducted with an instrumented sphere IS100 has permitted critical points on the packing lines to be identified and to identify materials on which the fruit impacts during the processing.
Luciano Caruso; Sabina Iole Giuseppina Failla; Giuseppe Manetto; G. Schillaci. Resources employed and innovation requirements in cactus pear packing lines. Sensor Review 2001, 21, 204 -211.
AMA StyleLuciano Caruso, Sabina Iole Giuseppina Failla, Giuseppe Manetto, G. Schillaci. Resources employed and innovation requirements in cactus pear packing lines. Sensor Review. 2001; 21 (3):204-211.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuciano Caruso; Sabina Iole Giuseppina Failla; Giuseppe Manetto; G. Schillaci. 2001. "Resources employed and innovation requirements in cactus pear packing lines." Sensor Review 21, no. 3: 204-211.