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Dr. Daniela Smiraglia
Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Rome, Italy

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0 Change Detection
0 Remote Sensing
0 Land degradation
0 Vegetation Ecology
0 Spatial pattern analysis

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Land degradation
Change Detection
Remote Sensing

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Journal article
Published: 24 March 2021 in Remote Sensing
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In the light of the “Biological Diversity” concept, habitats are cardinal pieces for biodiversity quantitative estimation at a local and global scale. In Europe EUNIS (European Nature Information System) is a system tool for habitat identification and assessment. Earth Observation (EO) data, which are acquired by satellite sensors, offer new opportunities for environmental sciences and they are revolutionizing the methodologies applied. These are providing unprecedented insights for habitat monitoring and for evaluating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) indicators. This paper shows the results of a novel approach for a spatially explicit habitat mapping in Italy at a national scale, using a supervised machine learning model (SMLM), through the combination of vegetation plot database (as response variable), and both spectral and environmental predictors. The procedure integrates forest habitat data in Italy from the European Vegetation Archive (EVA), with Sentinel-2 imagery processing (vegetation indices time series, spectral indices, and single bands spectral signals) and environmental data variables (i.e., climatic and topographic), to parameterize a Random Forests (RF) classifier. The obtained results classify 24 forest habitats according to the EUNIS III level: 12 broadleaved deciduous (T1), 4 broadleaved evergreen (T2) and eight needleleaved forest habitats (T3), and achieved an overall accuracy of 87% at the EUNIS II level classes (T1, T2, T3), and an overall accuracy of 76.14% at the EUNIS III level. The highest overall accuracy value was obtained for the broadleaved evergreen forest equal to 91%, followed by 76% and 68% for needleleaved and broadleaved deciduous habitat forests, respectively. The results of the proposed methodology open the way to increase the EUNIS habitat categories to be mapped together with their geographical extent, and to test different semi-supervised machine learning algorithms and ensemble modelling methods.

ACS Style

Emiliano Agrillo; Federico Filipponi; Alice Pezzarossa; Laura Casella; Daniela Smiraglia; Arianna Orasi; Fabio Attorre; Andrea Taramelli. Earth Observation and Biodiversity Big Data for Forest Habitat Types Classification and Mapping. Remote Sensing 2021, 13, 1231 .

AMA Style

Emiliano Agrillo, Federico Filipponi, Alice Pezzarossa, Laura Casella, Daniela Smiraglia, Arianna Orasi, Fabio Attorre, Andrea Taramelli. Earth Observation and Biodiversity Big Data for Forest Habitat Types Classification and Mapping. Remote Sensing. 2021; 13 (7):1231.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Emiliano Agrillo; Federico Filipponi; Alice Pezzarossa; Laura Casella; Daniela Smiraglia; Arianna Orasi; Fabio Attorre; Andrea Taramelli. 2021. "Earth Observation and Biodiversity Big Data for Forest Habitat Types Classification and Mapping." Remote Sensing 13, no. 7: 1231.

Commentary
Published: 28 January 2021 in Land
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Urban growth is a largely debated issue in social science. Specific forms of metropolitan expansion—including sprawl—involve multiple and fascinating research dimensions, making mixed (quali-quantitative) analysis of this phenomenon particularly complex and challenging at the same time. Urban sprawl has attracting the attention of multidisciplinary studies defining nature, dynamics, and consequences that dispersed low-density settlements are having on biophysical and socioeconomic contexts worldwide. The present commentary provides a brief overview on nature and implications of the latent relationship between sprawl, demographic dynamics, and background socio-environmental contexts with special focus on Europe. Empirical evidence supports the idea that spatial planning should cope more effectively with the increasing environmental and socioeconomic exposure of European regions to sprawl and demographic transitions, being progressively far away from a traditional urban cycle with sequential waves of urbanization, suburbanization, counter-urbanization, and re-urbanization. Growing socio-ecological vulnerability of metropolitan regions was evaluated based on a literature review demonstrating how a better comprehension of the intimate linkage between long-term demographic dynamics and urban cycles is necessary to inform fine-tuned policies controlling sprawl and promoting a sustainable management of peri-urban land.

ACS Style

Daniela Smiraglia; Luca Salvati; Gianluca Egidi; Rosanna Salvia; Antonio Giménez-Morera; Rares Halbac-Cotoara-Zamfir. Toward a New Urban Cycle? A Closer Look to Sprawl, Demographic Transitions and the Environment in Europe. Land 2021, 10, 127 .

AMA Style

Daniela Smiraglia, Luca Salvati, Gianluca Egidi, Rosanna Salvia, Antonio Giménez-Morera, Rares Halbac-Cotoara-Zamfir. Toward a New Urban Cycle? A Closer Look to Sprawl, Demographic Transitions and the Environment in Europe. Land. 2021; 10 (2):127.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Daniela Smiraglia; Luca Salvati; Gianluca Egidi; Rosanna Salvia; Antonio Giménez-Morera; Rares Halbac-Cotoara-Zamfir. 2021. "Toward a New Urban Cycle? A Closer Look to Sprawl, Demographic Transitions and the Environment in Europe." Land 10, no. 2: 127.

Commentary
Published: 09 October 2020 in Sustainability
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Land degradation is more evident where conditions of environmental vulnerability already exist because of arid climate and unsustainable forms of land exploitation. Consequently, semi-arid and dry areas have been identified as vulnerable land, requiring attention from both science and policy perspectives. In some regions, such as the Mediterranean region, land degradation is particularly intense, although there are no extreme ecological conditions. In these contexts, a wide range of formal and informal responses is necessary to face particularly complex and spatially differentiated territorial processes. However, the fit of responses has been demonstrated to be different over time and space according to the underlying socioeconomic context and the specific ecological conditions. The present commentary discusses this sort of “entropy” in the policy response to land degradation in Southern Europe, outlining the intrinsic complexity of human–nature dynamics at the base of such processes. Reflecting the need of differentiated regional strategies and more specific national measures to combat desertification, three policy frameworks (agro-environmental, economic, social) with an indirect impact on fighting land degradation have been considered, delineating the importance of policy assemblages. Finally, the importance of policy impact assessment methodologies was highlighted, focusing on the possible responses reinforcing a continental strategy against land degradation. By evidencing the role of participatory planning, developmental policies indirectly addressing land degradation reveal to be an important vector of more specific measures abating desertification risk, creating, in turn, a favorable context for direct interventions of mitigation or adaptation to climate change.

ACS Style

Rares Halbac-Cotoara-Zamfir; Daniela Smiraglia; Giovanni Quaranta; Rosanna Salvia; Luca Salvati; Antonio Giménez-Morera. Land Degradation and Mitigation Policies in the Mediterranean Region: A Brief Commentary. Sustainability 2020, 12, 8313 .

AMA Style

Rares Halbac-Cotoara-Zamfir, Daniela Smiraglia, Giovanni Quaranta, Rosanna Salvia, Luca Salvati, Antonio Giménez-Morera. Land Degradation and Mitigation Policies in the Mediterranean Region: A Brief Commentary. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (20):8313.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Rares Halbac-Cotoara-Zamfir; Daniela Smiraglia; Giovanni Quaranta; Rosanna Salvia; Luca Salvati; Antonio Giménez-Morera. 2020. "Land Degradation and Mitigation Policies in the Mediterranean Region: A Brief Commentary." Sustainability 12, no. 20: 8313.

Journal article
Published: 08 June 2020 in Remote Sensing
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Identifying fire-affected areas is of key importance to support post-fire management strategies and account for the environmental impact of fires. The availability of high spatial and temporal resolution optical satellite data enables the development of procedures for detailed and prompt post-fire mapping. This study proposes a novel approach for integrating multiple spectral indices to generate more accurate burned area maps by exploiting Sentinel-2 images. This approach aims to develop a procedure to combine multiple spectral indices using an adaptive thresholding method and proposes an agreement index to map the burned areas by optimizing omission and commission errors. The approach has been tested for the burned area classification of four study areas in Italy. The proposed agreement index combines multiple spectral indices to select the actual burned pixels, to balance the omission and commission errors, and to optimize the overall accuracy. The results showed the spectral indices singularly performed differently in the four study areas and that high levels of commission errors were achieved, especially for wildfires which occurred during the fall season (up to 0.93) Furthermore, the agreement index showed a good level of accuracy (minimum 0.65, maximum 0.96) for all the study areas, improving the performance compared to assessing the indices individually. This suggests the possibility of testing the methodology on a large set of wildfire cases in different environmental conditions to support the decision-making process. Exploiting the high resolution of optical satellite data, this work contributes to improving the production of detailed burned area maps, which could be integrated into operational services based on the use of Earth Observation products for burned area mapping to support the decision-making process.

ACS Style

Daniela Smiraglia; Federico Filipponi; Stefania Mandrone; Antonella Tornato; Andrea Taramelli. Agreement Index for Burned Area Mapping: Integration of Multiple Spectral Indices Using Sentinel-2 Satellite Images. Remote Sensing 2020, 12, 1862 .

AMA Style

Daniela Smiraglia, Federico Filipponi, Stefania Mandrone, Antonella Tornato, Andrea Taramelli. Agreement Index for Burned Area Mapping: Integration of Multiple Spectral Indices Using Sentinel-2 Satellite Images. Remote Sensing. 2020; 12 (11):1862.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Daniela Smiraglia; Federico Filipponi; Stefania Mandrone; Antonella Tornato; Andrea Taramelli. 2020. "Agreement Index for Burned Area Mapping: Integration of Multiple Spectral Indices Using Sentinel-2 Satellite Images." Remote Sensing 12, no. 11: 1862.

Social science
Published: 01 January 2020 in Journal of Maps
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This paper illustrates a land consumption map for Italy (year 2017) at a scale 1:1,300,000, and the assessment of its changes (2012–2017). We define land consumption as the replacement of a non-artificial land cover to an artificial land cover, both permanent and no-permanent. The maps are a 10 m spatial resolution raster, produced by photointerpretation of very high resolution images and semiautomatic classification of high resolution remote sensing images. An overall accuracy of 97.7% for the map of 2012 and of 99.66% for the map of 2017 was obtained. The results suggest that the method proposed is appropriate to detect land consumption, both for the urban densification and for the sprawling phenomena, from national to local level. Furthermore, because of the high spatial resolution and the classification scheme adopted, it is suitable for an effective monitoring system, compared to other existing classification systems or monitoring programs.

ACS Style

Andrea Strollo; Daniela Smiraglia; Roberta Bruno; Francesca Assennato; Luca Congedo; Paolo De Fioravante; Chiara Giuliani; Ines Marinosci; Nicola Riitano; Michele Munafò. Land consumption in Italy. Journal of Maps 2020, 16, 113 -123.

AMA Style

Andrea Strollo, Daniela Smiraglia, Roberta Bruno, Francesca Assennato, Luca Congedo, Paolo De Fioravante, Chiara Giuliani, Ines Marinosci, Nicola Riitano, Michele Munafò. Land consumption in Italy. Journal of Maps. 2020; 16 (1):113-123.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Andrea Strollo; Daniela Smiraglia; Roberta Bruno; Francesca Assennato; Luca Congedo; Paolo De Fioravante; Chiara Giuliani; Ines Marinosci; Nicola Riitano; Michele Munafò. 2020. "Land consumption in Italy." Journal of Maps 16, no. 1: 113-123.

Article
Published: 13 June 2019 in Environmental Management
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Land degradation leads to almost unpredictable spatial outcomes and environmental dynamics demanding a more integrated monitoring approach. In this framework, we debate on (apparent and latent) connections between land fragmentation and soil degradation by identifying areas with increased levels of soil degradation that underlie distinctive spatial trends of land fragmentation. Moving from land-use maps to an empirical study of desertification, the framework proposed in this work may support environmental monitoring and inform land conservation policies. To assess land fragmentation, a quantitative approach grounded on a comprehensive analysis of landscape metrics available in FRAGSTATS package was illustrated and applied to Italy as a representative case of complex landscape dynamics in the Mediterranean basin. The Environmental Sensitive Area methodology was adopted to monitor the level of soil vulnerability to degradation. Three classes of land vulnerability-unaffected, fragile and critical-were identified and analysed using metrics to investigate possible links between soil degradation and land fragmentation. During the study period (1960-2010), Italy evolved towards a more fragmented landscape, characterised by increasingly smaller and contiguous patches, heterogeneous land-use structures and more irregular patches. We also introduced concepts focusing on syndromes of soil degradation characterised by a variety of attributes that correlate with land fragmentation. The present study makes an important contribution towards an operational system for identifying areas at risk of desertification. Analysis of land fragmentation as a proxy of soil degradation allows the characterisation of general landscape changes and identification of place-specific patterns associated with spatio-temporal dynamics leading to higher risk of desertification.

ACS Style

Daniela Smiraglia; Ilaria Tombolini; Loredana Canfora; Sofia Bajocco; Luigi Perini; Luca Salvati. The Latent Relationship Between Soil Vulnerability to Degradation and Land Fragmentation: A Statistical Analysis of Landscape Metrics in Italy, 1960–2010. Environmental Management 2019, 64, 154 -165.

AMA Style

Daniela Smiraglia, Ilaria Tombolini, Loredana Canfora, Sofia Bajocco, Luigi Perini, Luca Salvati. The Latent Relationship Between Soil Vulnerability to Degradation and Land Fragmentation: A Statistical Analysis of Landscape Metrics in Italy, 1960–2010. Environmental Management. 2019; 64 (2):154-165.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Daniela Smiraglia; Ilaria Tombolini; Loredana Canfora; Sofia Bajocco; Luigi Perini; Luca Salvati. 2019. "The Latent Relationship Between Soil Vulnerability to Degradation and Land Fragmentation: A Statistical Analysis of Landscape Metrics in Italy, 1960–2010." Environmental Management 64, no. 2: 154-165.

Journal article
Published: 01 September 2018 in Science of The Total Environment
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The role that land-use and socioeconomic factors exert on consolidating land degradation (LD) processes is a major research issue. However, intensity and type of the impact played by LD on such land use factors is still underexplored. The present study investigates the role of LD on land-use change (LUC) trajectories of land abandonment (LA) and urban expansion (URB) in the three geographical repartitions (North, Centre, South) of Italy between 1990 and 2012, by means of the Environmental Niche Factor Analysis (ENFA). ENFA is a multivariate approach originally introduced in the analysis of animal ecology allowing to compute habitat suitability (HS) models without requiring presence/absence data. Four environmental quality indices about climate (CQI), soil (SQI), vegetation (VQI) and land management (MQI) have been analyzed for the years 1990 and 2000 and related to the trajectories of LA and URB, respectively, for the time periods 1990–2000 and 2000–2012. Empirical results have indicated that different driving forces are linked to LA and URB, and that for each trajectory, the role of some forces may change over time. Evidence shows that soil quality and low human pressure represent the main drivers of LA. By contrast, as for URB, high human pressure represented the main driving factor throughout the country, both during 1990–2000 and 2000–2012. The HS maps show the probability arrangement of LA and URB in the three geographical repartitions. Starting from this work, further research is increasingly required to implement prediction models of future LA and URB trajectories according to the current land quality status.

ACS Style

S. Bajocco; D. Smiraglia; M. Scaglione; E. Raparelli; L. Salvati. Exploring the role of land degradation on agricultural land use change dynamics. Science of The Total Environment 2018, 636, 1373 -1381.

AMA Style

S. Bajocco, D. Smiraglia, M. Scaglione, E. Raparelli, L. Salvati. Exploring the role of land degradation on agricultural land use change dynamics. Science of The Total Environment. 2018; 636 ():1373-1381.

Chicago/Turabian Style

S. Bajocco; D. Smiraglia; M. Scaglione; E. Raparelli; L. Salvati. 2018. "Exploring the role of land degradation on agricultural land use change dynamics." Science of The Total Environment 636, no. : 1373-1381.

Original articles
Published: 05 July 2016 in International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology
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Human activity shapes the levels of anthropogenic pressure that depend on the land management method adopted. This has a fundamental role in the transformation of traditional landscapes. This study focuses on a representative region of the Mediterranean area with the objective to analyse the landscape’s dynamics, to detect the spatial arrangement of class patches, to identify the main agroecosystem characters and to provide a framework to assess ecosystems services. In order to assess land use/land cover changes and landscape persistence, the period between 1960 and 2012 was analysed, taking into consideration the years 1960, 2000 and 2012 using comparable land use maps. Land use and land cover analysis show an urban area growth of 24% during 2000–2012 and of 523% over between 1960 and 2012. The very high levels of land abandonment up to the year 2000 (+7216%) have reversed their trend between 2000 and 2012 (−95%). The orchards showed a relevant increase, particularly after 2000, while the vineyards were linked to the highest value of surface erosion (−74%). The outcomes showed that urban settlements can damage the ecological network with negative effects on the landscape’s environmental sustainability in proximity of significant urban centres. Instead, the ecological network is well preserved and highly associated to the agricultural areas when there is the persistence of many land uses and low urban density, despite the presence of dynamic changes.

ACS Style

Elena Brunori; Luca Salvati; Roberto Mancinelli; Daniela Smiraglia; Rita Biasi. Multi-temporal land use and cover changing analysis: the environmental impact in Mediterranean area. International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology 2016, 24, 276 -288.

AMA Style

Elena Brunori, Luca Salvati, Roberto Mancinelli, Daniela Smiraglia, Rita Biasi. Multi-temporal land use and cover changing analysis: the environmental impact in Mediterranean area. International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology. 2016; 24 (3):276-288.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Elena Brunori; Luca Salvati; Roberto Mancinelli; Daniela Smiraglia; Rita Biasi. 2016. "Multi-temporal land use and cover changing analysis: the environmental impact in Mediterranean area." International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology 24, no. 3: 276-288.

Journal article
Published: 01 May 2016 in Environmental Research
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Land Degradation (LD) is a complex phenomenon resulting in a progressive reduction in the capacity of providing ecosystem services (ES). Landscape transformations promoting an unsustainable use of land often reveal latent processes of LD. An evaluation carried out in respect to the different ecosystem services is nowadays regarded as the most appropriate approach for assessing the effects of LD. The aim of this study is to develop an evaluation framework for identifying the linkages between land changes, LD processes and ES and suggesting Sustainable Land Management (SLM) options suited to reverse (or mitigate) LD impact. A SWOT analysis was carried out with the aim to identify internal and external factors that are favorable (or unfavorable) to achieve the proposed SLM actions. The study areas are the Fortore valley and the Valpadana, in Italy. The main trajectory identified for the Fortore valley is related to land abandonment due to population aging and the progressive emigration started in the 1950s. The most relevant LD processes are soil erosion and geomorphological instability, affecting regulating services such as natural hazard and erosion control. SLM options should consider interventions to contrast geomorphological instability, the promotion of climate smart agriculture and of typical products, and an efficient water resources management. The main trajectories identified for Valpadana are related to urban expansion and farmland abandonment and, as a consequence, land take due to anthropogenic pressure and woodland expansion as the main LD process. The reduction of food production was identified as the most relevant provisioning service affected. SLM should envisage best practices finalized to water saving and soil consumption reduction: efficient irrigation solutions, climate smart agriculture and zero sealing practices. This study highlights the diagnostic value of the suggested approach where LD processes are elicited from land change trajectories determining specific impacts on ES and providing operational support for the implementation of SLM options.

ACS Style

Daniela Smiraglia; T. Ceccarelli; S. Bajocco; L. Salvati; L. Perini. Linking trajectories of land change, land degradation processes and ecosystem services. Environmental Research 2016, 147, 590 -600.

AMA Style

Daniela Smiraglia, T. Ceccarelli, S. Bajocco, L. Salvati, L. Perini. Linking trajectories of land change, land degradation processes and ecosystem services. Environmental Research. 2016; 147 ():590-600.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Daniela Smiraglia; T. Ceccarelli; S. Bajocco; L. Salvati; L. Perini. 2016. "Linking trajectories of land change, land degradation processes and ecosystem services." Environmental Research 147, no. : 590-600.

Journal article
Published: 01 January 2016 in Ecological Indicators
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Land use/land cover changes (LULCCs) represent the result of the complex interaction between biophys-ical factors and human activity, acting over a wide range of temporal and spatial scales. The aim of thiswork is to quantify the role of biophysical factors in constraining the trajectories of land abandonmentand urbanization in the last 50 years. A habitat suitability model borrowed from animal ecology was usedto analyze the ecological niche of the following LULCC trajectories occurred in Emilia-Romagna (northernItaly) during 1954–2008: (i) land abandonment (LA) and (ii) urbanization (URB), both from agriculturalareas (URB agr) and from semi-natural areas (URB for). Results showed that the different LULCC trajec-tories were driven by different combinations of biophysical factors, such as climate, topography and soilquality. In particular, slope and elevation resulted as the main driving factors for rural processes, whileslope and temperatures resulted as the main constraints underlying urban processes. This approachmay represent a conceptual and technical step toward the systematic assessment of LULCC processes,thus providing an effective support tool to inform decision makers about land use transformations, theirunderlying causes, as well as their possible implications

ACS Style

S. Bajocco; T. Ceccarelli; Daniela Smiraglia; L. Salvati; Carlo Ricotta. Modeling the ecological niche of long-term land use changes: The role of biophysical factors. Ecological Indicators 2016, 60, 231 -236.

AMA Style

S. Bajocco, T. Ceccarelli, Daniela Smiraglia, L. Salvati, Carlo Ricotta. Modeling the ecological niche of long-term land use changes: The role of biophysical factors. Ecological Indicators. 2016; 60 ():231-236.

Chicago/Turabian Style

S. Bajocco; T. Ceccarelli; Daniela Smiraglia; L. Salvati; Carlo Ricotta. 2016. "Modeling the ecological niche of long-term land use changes: The role of biophysical factors." Ecological Indicators 60, no. : 231-236.

Journal article
Published: 29 August 2015 in Biodiversity and Conservation
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Understanding the latent relationship between rural landscape and biodiversity conservation is of key importance when aiming to preserve food security, ecosystem services and the quality of the environment. Crop intensification negatively impacted the biodiversity of rural areas and was followed by the adoption of mono-cultural production models. The conservation of traditional agricultural landscapes (TALs) based on traditional land management approaches, ensures the conservation of the ecosystem’s complexity and high levels of biodiversity. In Europe, Mediterranean TALs are threatened by a combination of anthropogenic and natural factors. The need to preserve TALs is widely recognized despite the lack of comprehensive information and collective policy strategies. On the other hand, inventories are available for endangered cultivars, typical products and traditional agricultural practices. This study focuses on the relationship between TALs and the use of local varieties/typical products. The analysis will: (i) define, map and characterize the tree-crop based traditional landscapes in one of the Mediterranean regions (Latium, central Italy) through a land-use change detection analysis (1960–2000) and (ii) identify the most endangered TALs based on environmental risk factors, on autochthonous agro-biodiversity at risk of varietal erosion and on traditional products that risk to disappear. Results prove that the most endangered rural landscapes are the ones located on fringe and marginal lands due to climate aridity and soil erosion. The identification of the endangered TALs contributes to constructing more effective strategies for the preservation of agro-biodiversity and natural ecosystem functionality.

ACS Style

Rita Biasi; Elena Brunori; Daniela Smiraglia; Luca Salvati. Linking traditional tree-crop landscapes and agro-biodiversity in central Italy using a database of typical and traditional products: a multiple risk assessment through a data mining analysis. Biodiversity and Conservation 2015, 24, 3009 -3031.

AMA Style

Rita Biasi, Elena Brunori, Daniela Smiraglia, Luca Salvati. Linking traditional tree-crop landscapes and agro-biodiversity in central Italy using a database of typical and traditional products: a multiple risk assessment through a data mining analysis. Biodiversity and Conservation. 2015; 24 (12):3009-3031.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Rita Biasi; Elena Brunori; Daniela Smiraglia; Luca Salvati. 2015. "Linking traditional tree-crop landscapes and agro-biodiversity in central Italy using a database of typical and traditional products: a multiple risk assessment through a data mining analysis." Biodiversity and Conservation 24, no. 12: 3009-3031.

Journal article
Published: 15 May 2015 in Environmental Management
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This study implements an exploratory data analysis of landscape metrics and a change detection analysis of land use and population density to assess landscape dynamics (1954-2008) in two physiographic zones (plain and hilly-mountain area) of Emilia Romagna, northern Italy. The two areas are characterized by different landscape types: a mixed urban-rural landscape dominated by arable land and peri-urban settlements in the plain and a traditional agro-forest landscape in the hilly-mountain area with deciduous and conifer forests, scrublands, meadows, and crop mosaic. Urbanization and, to a lesser extent, agricultural intensification were identified as the processes underlying landscape change in the plain. Land abandonment determining natural forestation and re-forestation driven by man was identified as the process of change most representative of the hilly-mountain area. Trends in landscape metrics indicate a shift toward more fragmented and convoluted patterns in both areas. Number of patches, the interspersion and juxtaposition index, and the large patch index are the metrics discriminating the two areas in terms of landscape patterns in 1954. In 2008, mean patch size, edge density, interspersion and juxtaposition index, and mean Euclidean nearest neighbor distance were the metrics with the most different spatial patterns in the two areas. The exploratory data analysis of landscape metrics contributed to link changes over time in both landscape composition and configuration providing a comprehensive picture of landscape transformations in a wealthy European region. Evidence from this study are hoped to inform sustainable land management designed for homogeneous landscape units in similar socioeconomic contexts.

ACS Style

D. Smiraglia; T. Ceccarelli; Sofia Bajocco; L. Perini; L. Salvati. Unraveling Landscape Complexity: Land Use/Land Cover Changes and Landscape Pattern Dynamics (1954–2008) in Contrasting Peri-Urban and Agro-Forest Regions of Northern Italy. Environmental Management 2015, 56, 916 -932.

AMA Style

D. Smiraglia, T. Ceccarelli, Sofia Bajocco, L. Perini, L. Salvati. Unraveling Landscape Complexity: Land Use/Land Cover Changes and Landscape Pattern Dynamics (1954–2008) in Contrasting Peri-Urban and Agro-Forest Regions of Northern Italy. Environmental Management. 2015; 56 (4):916-932.

Chicago/Turabian Style

D. Smiraglia; T. Ceccarelli; Sofia Bajocco; L. Perini; L. Salvati. 2015. "Unraveling Landscape Complexity: Land Use/Land Cover Changes and Landscape Pattern Dynamics (1954–2008) in Contrasting Peri-Urban and Agro-Forest Regions of Northern Italy." Environmental Management 56, no. 4: 916-932.

Research article
Published: 30 March 2015 in PLOS ONE
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Traditionally fuel maps are built in terms of ‘fuel types’, thus considering the structural characteristics of vegetation only. The aim of this work is to derive a phenological fuel map based on the functional attributes of coarse-scale vegetation phenology, such as seasonality and productivity. MODIS NDVI 250m images of Sardinia (Italy), a large Mediterranean island with high frequency of fire incidence, were acquired for the period 2000–2012 to construct a mean annual NDVI profile of the vegetation at the pixel-level. Next, the following procedure was used to develop the phenological fuel map: (i) image segmentation on the Fourier components of the NDVI profiles to identify phenologically homogeneous landscape units, (ii) cluster analysis of the phenological units and post-hoc analysis of the fire-proneness of the phenological fuel classes (PFCs) obtained, (iii) environmental characterization (in terms of land cover and climate) of the PFCs. Our results showed the ability of coarse-resolution satellite time-series to characterize the fire-proneness of Sardinia with an adequate level of accuracy. The remotely sensed phenological framework presented may represent a suitable basis for the development of fire distribution prediction models, coarse-scale fuel maps and for various biogeographic studies.

ACS Style

Sofia Bajocco; Eleni Dragoz; Ioannis Gitas; Daniela Smiraglia; Luca Salvati; Carlo Ricotta. Mapping Forest Fuels through Vegetation Phenology: The Role of Coarse-Resolution Satellite Time-Series. PLOS ONE 2015, 10, e0119811 -e0119811.

AMA Style

Sofia Bajocco, Eleni Dragoz, Ioannis Gitas, Daniela Smiraglia, Luca Salvati, Carlo Ricotta. Mapping Forest Fuels through Vegetation Phenology: The Role of Coarse-Resolution Satellite Time-Series. PLOS ONE. 2015; 10 (3):e0119811-e0119811.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sofia Bajocco; Eleni Dragoz; Ioannis Gitas; Daniela Smiraglia; Luca Salvati; Carlo Ricotta. 2015. "Mapping Forest Fuels through Vegetation Phenology: The Role of Coarse-Resolution Satellite Time-Series." PLOS ONE 10, no. 3: e0119811-e0119811.

Desertification special section papers
Published: 14 November 2014 in Soil Science and Plant Nutrition
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Investigating spatio-temporal trends in soil vulnerability to degradation based on the diachronic analysis of selected biophysical and socioeconomic drivers is a key issue for the identification of prone areas. The working hypothesis of the present study is that a given territorial system may undergo different (and sometimes contrasting) patterns of soil vulnerability (improvement, worsening or stability) in the long term, thus creating (or amplifying) spatial heterogeneity in land resource distribution. Areas classified as “critical” are regarded as soil vulnerability hotspots that require dedicated mitigation policies. The correct identification of “critical” areas to soil degradation is particularly important for the natural areas and, more generally, for the agro-forest systems preserved under various land protection regimes. Based on these premises, the objectives of this study are (i) to assess the spatial distribution of soil vulnerability in Italy over a long enough time interval (1990–2010), (ii) to provide an operational tool to identify soil degradation hotspots according to the observed vulnerability trend and, finally, (iii) to analyze hotspot spatial distribution in relation with natural protected areas and the Natura2000 network. The results of this study provide a useful tool for environmental monitoring and are discussed in the light of sustainable agro-forest management and preservation of natural areas.

ACS Style

Luca Salvati; Daniela Smiraglia; Tomaso Ceccarelli; Sofia Bajocco; Luigi Perini. Planning for sustainable agro-forest systems: protected areas and soil degradation hotspots in Italy (1990–2010). Soil Science and Plant Nutrition 2014, 61, 404 -413.

AMA Style

Luca Salvati, Daniela Smiraglia, Tomaso Ceccarelli, Sofia Bajocco, Luigi Perini. Planning for sustainable agro-forest systems: protected areas and soil degradation hotspots in Italy (1990–2010). Soil Science and Plant Nutrition. 2014; 61 (3):404-413.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Luca Salvati; Daniela Smiraglia; Tomaso Ceccarelli; Sofia Bajocco; Luigi Perini. 2014. "Planning for sustainable agro-forest systems: protected areas and soil degradation hotspots in Italy (1990–2010)." Soil Science and Plant Nutrition 61, no. 3: 404-413.

Journal article
Published: 27 September 2014 in Rendiconti Lincei. Scienze Fisiche e Naturali
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The present study assesses the spatial distribution of a composite index of land sensitivity to desertification (called ISD) in the coastal area of Rome, including natural areas such as Castelporziano forest, compared with inland areas of Latium region, central Italy. Based on two partial indicators integrating 10 elementary variables (five biophysical attributes investigating climate, soil and vegetation, and five socioeconomic attributes assessing population pressure, changes in the use of land and human pressure), the ISD was calculated for two reference years (1970 and 2000) and at the municipal scale in Latium region. Results indicate a positive trend in the ISD in both coastal and inland areas with territorial disparities widening significantly over the studied period. Interestingly, coastal urban and peri-urban municipalities showed the highest growth rate in the ISD. These finding possibly reflects rising human pressure in lowland and coastal areas experiencing urbanization compared to internal hilly and mountain areas.

ACS Style

Luca Salvati; Daniela Smiraglia; Sofia Bajocco; Marco Zitti; Luigi Perini. Coastal vs inland sensitivity to desertification: a diachronic analysis of biophysical and socioeconomic factors in Latium, Italy. Rendiconti Lincei. Scienze Fisiche e Naturali 2014, 26, 571 -576.

AMA Style

Luca Salvati, Daniela Smiraglia, Sofia Bajocco, Marco Zitti, Luigi Perini. Coastal vs inland sensitivity to desertification: a diachronic analysis of biophysical and socioeconomic factors in Latium, Italy. Rendiconti Lincei. Scienze Fisiche e Naturali. 2014; 26 (3):571-576.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Luca Salvati; Daniela Smiraglia; Sofia Bajocco; Marco Zitti; Luigi Perini. 2014. "Coastal vs inland sensitivity to desertification: a diachronic analysis of biophysical and socioeconomic factors in Latium, Italy." Rendiconti Lincei. Scienze Fisiche e Naturali 26, no. 3: 571-576.

Journal article
Published: 01 September 2014 in International Forestry Review
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L. Salvati; A. Sabbi; D. Smiraglia; M. Zitti. Does forest expansion mitigate the risk of desertification? Exploring soil degradation and land-use changes in a Mediterranean country. International Forestry Review 2014, 16, 485 -496.

AMA Style

L. Salvati, A. Sabbi, D. Smiraglia, M. Zitti. Does forest expansion mitigate the risk of desertification? Exploring soil degradation and land-use changes in a Mediterranean country. International Forestry Review. 2014; 16 (4):485-496.

Chicago/Turabian Style

L. Salvati; A. Sabbi; D. Smiraglia; M. Zitti. 2014. "Does forest expansion mitigate the risk of desertification? Exploring soil degradation and land-use changes in a Mediterranean country." International Forestry Review 16, no. 4: 485-496.

Articles
Published: 12 June 2014 in Plant Biosystems - An International Journal Dealing with all Aspects of Plant Biology
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Ecological regions or ecoregions derive from ecological classification of land and represent broad and discrete ecologically homogeneous areas within which natural communities and species interact with the physical elements of the environment. The aim of this paper is to define the ecoregions of Italy, southern Europe, based on a robust methodological process for classification and mapping. The ecoregions of Italy comprise 2 Divisions, 7 Provinces, 11 Sections and 33 Subsections and constitute the first comprehensive ecological classification of the country that integrates accurate and updated cartographies and knowledges on climate, vegetation, land units and biogeography. This classification has the strength to be adopted as a proper framework for ecological modelling, biodiversity conservation policies and sustainable territorial planning at the national and subnational level.

ACS Style

Carlo Blasi; G. Capotorti; R. Copiz; D. Guida; B. Mollo; Daniela Smiraglia; L. Zavattero. Classification and mapping of the ecoregions of Italy. Plant Biosystems - An International Journal Dealing with all Aspects of Plant Biology 2014, 148, 1255 -1345.

AMA Style

Carlo Blasi, G. Capotorti, R. Copiz, D. Guida, B. Mollo, Daniela Smiraglia, L. Zavattero. Classification and mapping of the ecoregions of Italy. Plant Biosystems - An International Journal Dealing with all Aspects of Plant Biology. 2014; 148 (6):1255-1345.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Carlo Blasi; G. Capotorti; R. Copiz; D. Guida; B. Mollo; Daniela Smiraglia; L. Zavattero. 2014. "Classification and mapping of the ecoregions of Italy." Plant Biosystems - An International Journal Dealing with all Aspects of Plant Biology 148, no. 6: 1255-1345.

Journal article
Published: 01 January 2014 in European Journal of Remote Sensing
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Daniela Smiraglia; Simone Rinaldo; Tomaso Ceccarelli; Sofia Bajocco; Luca Salvati; Carlo Ricotta; Luigi Perini. A cost-effective approach for improving the quality of soil sealing change detection from Landsat imagery. European Journal of Remote Sensing 2014, 47, 805 -819.

AMA Style

Daniela Smiraglia, Simone Rinaldo, Tomaso Ceccarelli, Sofia Bajocco, Luca Salvati, Carlo Ricotta, Luigi Perini. A cost-effective approach for improving the quality of soil sealing change detection from Landsat imagery. European Journal of Remote Sensing. 2014; 47 (1):805-819.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Daniela Smiraglia; Simone Rinaldo; Tomaso Ceccarelli; Sofia Bajocco; Luca Salvati; Carlo Ricotta; Luigi Perini. 2014. "A cost-effective approach for improving the quality of soil sealing change detection from Landsat imagery." European Journal of Remote Sensing 47, no. 1: 805-819.

Journal article
Published: 23 September 2013 in Journal of Maps
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Luca Salvati; Daniela Smiraglia; Sofia Bajocco; Tomaso Ceccarelli; Marco Zitti; Luigi Perini. Map of Long-Term Changes in Land Sensitivity to Degradation of Italy. Journal of Maps 2013, 10, 65 -72.

AMA Style

Luca Salvati, Daniela Smiraglia, Sofia Bajocco, Tomaso Ceccarelli, Marco Zitti, Luigi Perini. Map of Long-Term Changes in Land Sensitivity to Degradation of Italy. Journal of Maps. 2013; 10 (1):65-72.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Luca Salvati; Daniela Smiraglia; Sofia Bajocco; Tomaso Ceccarelli; Marco Zitti; Luigi Perini. 2013. "Map of Long-Term Changes in Land Sensitivity to Degradation of Italy." Journal of Maps 10, no. 1: 65-72.

Journal article
Published: 12 February 2013 in Journal of Maps
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In this paper we present the land units map of Italy, covering an area of ca. 300,000km(2) between 47 degrees 05 N-35 degrees 29 N and 6 degrees 37 E-18 degrees 31 E. The map was created by means of a Geographic Information System (GIS) and is based on the overlay of various thematic maps according to a hierarchical classification. The map scale is 1:250,000, with a minimum mapping unit of 50ha. The GIS integration of different layers, covering the main environmental components (climate, lithology and geomorphology), resulted in a number of hierarchically arranged land units, homogeneous in terms of biotic potential and ecological processes. These units highlight the role of physical determinism in characterizing the Italian territory with a high degree of environmental heterogeneity. The proposed land classification scheme could be taken into consideration when planning initiatives aimed at surveying, monitoring, managing and sustainably developing the territory

ACS Style

D. Smiraglia; G. Capotorti; D. Guida; B. Mollo; V. Siervo; C. Blasi. Land units map of Italy. Journal of Maps 2013, 9, 239 -244.

AMA Style

D. Smiraglia, G. Capotorti, D. Guida, B. Mollo, V. Siervo, C. Blasi. Land units map of Italy. Journal of Maps. 2013; 9 (2):239-244.

Chicago/Turabian Style

D. Smiraglia; G. Capotorti; D. Guida; B. Mollo; V. Siervo; C. Blasi. 2013. "Land units map of Italy." Journal of Maps 9, no. 2: 239-244.