In the frame of a national project funded by Eni S.p.A. and developed by three institutes of the National Research Council (the Institute of Methodologies for Environmental Analysis, the Institute of Research for Hydrogeological Protection and the Institute for Electromagnetic Sensing of the Environment), a multidisciplinary approach based on the integration of satellite, aero-photogrammetric and in situ geophysical techniques was applied to investigate an area located in the Montemurro territory in the southeastern sector of the High Agri Valley (Basilicata Region, southern Italy). This paper reports the results obtained by the joint analysis of in situ geophysical surveys, aerial photos interpretation, morphotectonic investigation, geological field survey and borehole data. The joint analysis of different data allowed us (1) to show the shallow geological and structural setting, (2) to detect the geometry of the different lithological units and their mechanical and dynamical properties, (3) to image a previously unmapped fault beneath suspected scarps/warps and (4) to characterize the geometry of an active landslide affecting the study area.

This paper deals with a geophysical survey carried out in some critical urban areas of the historical city of Matera (Southern Italy). Matera has a very complex shallower stratigraphy characterized by both anthropic and natural “targets” and is affected by geological instability. Therefore, Matera represents an ideal and very challenging outdoor laboratory for testing novel approaches for near-surface explorations in urban areas. Here, we present the results of a near-surface survey carried out by jointly applying Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) methods. The survey was implemented in three different critical zones within the urban area of Matera (Piazza Duomo, Piazza San Giovanni, Villa dell’Unità d’Italia). These test sites are of great interest for archaeological and architectonical studies and are affected by ground instability phenomena due to the presence of voids, cavities and other anthropic structures. The effectiveness of the survey was enhanced by the exploitation of advanced 3D tomographic approaches, which allowed to achieve 3D representation of the investigated underground and obtain information in terms of both the location and the geometry of buried objects and structures and the characterization of shallow geological layers. The results of the surveys are now under study (or have attracted the interest) of the Municipality in order to support smart cities programs and activities for a better management of the underground space.

A procedure for a simplified evaluation of bridges is proposed based on census and visual inspections. The structural–foundational, seismic, landslide, and hydraulic risks are considered, the hazard, vulnerability, and exposure factors of which are quantified with an index that can assume integer values from 1 to 5. Polynomial functions are then defined combining these indices, calculating an index for each risk and finally a multi-risk index of attention. The procedure follows a mathematical approach, less influenced by subjective choices, leading to a more gradual and efficient classification that managers can directly utilize. Specific needs and requirements result in specific configuration and calibration of the mathematical model coefficients. In this study, the authors calibrated coefficients to obtain results that were compliant with the Italian guidelines for existing bridges. The procedure, tested on a set of 86 bridges, does not replace an accurate evaluation, which is necessary in some cases and represents a higher level of knowledge, nor does it claim to provide a definitive result. It provides a more efficient classification, useful for establishing a rational decision-making process to prioritize any subsequent retrofit interventions.

The transition towards energy efficiency measures and green energy sources is strongly fostered by the European Union. Italy is among the EU countries that have heavily invested in renewable energy sources, more than doubling their share in gross final energy consumption. In particular, biogas has a pivotal role in the generation of electricity and can also be upgraded into biomethane, with a higher and more stable energy content. In this study, the sustainability of the supply chain of electricity from biogas in Italy has been thoroughly analyzed in the broader framework of the ARCADIA (Life Cycle Approach in Public Procurement and Italian LCA Database for Resource Efficiency) project. The environmental assessment, carried out by means of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), provides a two-fold perspective. Firstly, it allows us to identify the main hotspots of the investigated system, such as the cultivation of dedicated crops, and to provide useful insights for improving environmental performance. Furthermore, a focus on the modeling of the dataset related to the production of electricity from biogas within the Italian electricity mix represents a step ahead in the LCA research, filling the lack of site-specific databases for reliable LCA results.

Anaerobic digestion is a mature technology that can provide a domestic source of biomethane, supporting the decoupling of the energy system from imported fossil fuels and advancing the transition towards energy system decarbonization. Additionally, it promotes nutrient recycling in agricultural systems, reducing reliance on fossil-based fertilizers. The main objective of this study is to estimate the Italian technical potential for advanced biomethane production, focusing on feedstocks eligible under the European Union's Renewable Energy Directive for advanced biofuels production. These feedstocks include agro-industrial residues, livestock manure, sewage sludge, cheese whey, and the organic fraction of municipal solid waste. The technical potential represents the maximum amount of biomethane that could be produced from available feedstocks, without considering economic feasibility or competition with other uses. Regional data on processes generating these residues and statistical data on waste streams have been processed and aggregated to create geographically explicit maps of substrate availability. The substrates' availability has been converted into technical potential of advanced biomethane production using specific coefficients. The results indicate a technical potential of advanced biomethane of 5.6 billion m³ in 2022, equivalent to approximately 8 % of Italy's total national natural gas consumption in the same year. This estimate could nearly meet the planned national production targets for 2030 by utilizing only biowaste and residues. Relying exclusively on waste and residues instead of energy crops avoids competition for food, feed, and fibre, and mitigates greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts associated with agricultural practices, including fertilizer and pesticide use. At the same time, nutrient recycling is effectively achieved.

Urbanization poses significant challenges for fault investigation, as it can obscure or even hide surface fault expressions and limit access to potential study sites. This paper reports the preliminary results of Electrical Resistivity Tomography combined with geological field surveys in the urbanized area of Villa d’Agri (Marsicovetere, Basilicata Region, Southern Italy), which has undergone significant expansion in recent decades. This area is located at the northeastern border of the High Agri Valley, characterized by the Eastern Agri Fault System, one of the fault systems believed to have caused the M 7.0 earthquake in 1857 in Southern Italy. The combined use of Electrical Resistivity Tomography and geological field investigations in previously inadequately explored areas, along with the reprocessing of data provided by the technical office of Marsicovetere, allowed imaging of a previously unknown fault and reconstruction of sedimentary cover and substratum geometries, particularly in the urban and peri-urban sectors of Villa d’Agri. These preliminary findings provide valuable insights for geological and structural studies and have prompted the attention of the municipal decision makers, supporting further research aimed at enhancing urban management and seismic risk assessment.