Unit ENVIRONMENTAL ARBORICULTURE AND TREE BIOMECHANICS
- Course
- Sustainable agriculture
- Study-unit Code
- A002220
- Curriculum
- Territorio e paesaggio
- Teacher
- Alberto Palliotti
- Teachers
-
- Alberto Palliotti
- Maurizio Micheli (Codocenza)
- Hours
- 27 ore - Alberto Palliotti
- 27 ore (Codocenza) - Maurizio Micheli
- CFU
- 6
- Course Regulation
- Coorte 2021
- Offered
- 2022/23
- Learning activities
- Caratterizzante
- Area
- Discipline della produzione
- Academic discipline
- AGR/03
- Type of study-unit
- Obbligatorio (Required)
- Type of learning activities
- Attività formativa monodisciplinare
- Language of instruction
- Italian
- Contents
- Types of green, traditional and innovative, usable in the urban and periurban areas: functions, design, choice of species and annual management. Residues of tree crops and related uses. Crops dedicated to the production of biomass for energy use (Short rotation forestry). Biomechanics of tree species: the teaching allows to acquire technical knowledge related to the tree component used with mainly ornamental function in highly anthropized environments such as cities.
- Reference texts
- Documents, scientific papers and powerpoint lessons provided by the teacher.
The teacher provides students with the didactic material illustrated during the course. For further information, recommend the following texts:
1) Ferrini F., Fini A. (2017). Amico albero. Ruoli e benefici del verde nelle nostre città (e non solo). Edizioni ETS.
2) Sani L. (2020). Statica delle strutture arboree. Gifor editore.
3) Standardi A. (2019). Albero e città ovvero La natura in trincea. Ed. Gruppo Albatros Il Filo. - Educational objectives
- The aim of the course is to provide adequate knowledge of the importance and functions of the various types of green in the urban and periurban areas, including innovative forms, in order to improve the lives of the people living there, as well as on the rational use of obtainable by-products.
The main acquisitions will be on:
- Typical types of green in the urban and periurban areas, including innovative forms (eg vertical walls, roof gardens, greenways, bluways, vertical farms, etc.)
- Principles of designing the main forms of urban green
- Choice of plant species
- Plant management techniques in the urban areas
- Urban greening plans and regulations
- The residual products of the cultivations of the tree plants and their possible uses
- Cultivated crops for the production of short-rotation forestry.
The student will be able to apply knowledge of the acquired knowledge, obtaining the following skills:
- analyze and communicate /
discuss / talk about the many functions that green exerts in the urban sphere;
- relate to specific aspects of plant growth in the heavily anthropogenic environment and to the soil and climatic factors affecting vegetative performance;
- ability to interpret the relationship between environment and plant to optimize physiological processes and overcome environmental stresses;
- ability to identify the species suitable for each design type of green in the cities;
- analyze and choose the appropriate cultivation techniques necessary for annual plant management;
- designing the various types of urban green areas and crops dedicated to the production of wood biomass for energy use;
- the ability to find and interpret recent researches in the field of arboriculture in order to optimize its efficiency and increase biotic and abiotic resistance even in the light of ongoing climate change.
The management of trees in the urban environment requires specific information and knowledge of biomechanics, phytostatics, tree architecture, methods of analysis and periodic monitoring, as well as operating techniques in plan and basic knowledge of current legislation. - Prerequisites
- In order to simplify the understanding of key aspects of some topics covered in the course it is recommended to have passed the exam of Arboriculture.
Knowledge of the structure of a tree and basics of botany - Teaching methods
- The Course is organized as follows:
- frontal classroom lessons on all topics in the program;
- some seminars on innovative themes.
- practices.
Lectures, tests, seminars and practical activities - Other information
- The teacher can be contacted by email and receive by appointment.
- Learning verification modality
- The examination includes a verbal verification which consists of a discussion of 25-30 minutes aimed at assessing the knowledge gained by the student, as well as the evaluation of the capacity criticism against the main problems of the sector, especially in light of climate change. The questions will focus on aspects concerning the types of green now configurable in our cities, in the functions that they carry out to improve the environment and livability of urban centers, the growing techniques necessary to manage them annual, and the residue obtained their economic exploitation. Particular attention is devoted to the study of the synergy between the factors influencing the unfolding of various phenological phases and the adaptability of plants to urban and peri-urban, in order to highlight the selection criteria in both the design of interventions in cultivation techniques. Overall the oral examination will verify the student's communication skills, the ability to apply the acquired skills and work out appropriate solutions in independent judgment.
Final oral exam - Extended program
- 1. Urban plants: functions and roles of green in anthropized environment (sanitation, aesthetic, cultural, social).
2. Innovative green in the city (e.g. vertical walls, roof gardens, greenways, bluways, vertical farms, etc.).
3. Climatic and pedological conditions of the urban environment and stress factors for trees.
4. Urban green typologies and design principles.
5. Plant management techniques in the urban environment.
6. Plans and regulations of urban green.
7. The residual products of the cultivations of the tree plants and their possible uses.
8. Dedicated crops for the production of biomass for energy use (short rotation forestry).
Biomechanics of tree species: to provide basic knowledge on design and phytostatic aspects related to arboriculture, such as biomechanics and analysis of tree architecture, techniques for monitoring plant health, specific methods of instrumental analysis, tree climbing, regulatory and technical aspects on monumental trees, considerations on the possibility of giving economic value to trees and a few notes on responsibilities (civil and penal) in the event of a tree fall.