Just Accepted
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Exploratory data analysis to support the second SNAI programming cycle
Torriani Cecilia1, Barreca Alice2,*, Rebaudengo Manuela1, Rolando Diana2
1 Interuniversity Department of Regional and Urban Studies and Planning, Politecnico di Torino and Università di Torino, Italy.
2 Department of Architecture and Design, Politecnico di Torino, Italy
Accepted: 2025-07-14 | Published Online: 2025-07-29
DOI: 10.36253/aestim-17077
ABSTRACT
In 2012, the Italian “National Strategy for Inner Areas” (SNAI) was approved to enhance essential services (transport, education, healthcare) and boost economic growth in underdeveloped areas. After more than ten years since the first SNAI programming cycle (2014-2020) and at the beginning of the second one (2021-2027), this research analyses the thematic scopes and funding of projects implemented during the first SNAI cycle to support local authorities in the second cycle. The analysis focuses on the four Inner Areas of Piedmont to support the SNAI strategy development process in Valsesia, which was designated as one of the new Piedmont Inner Areas in 2022. The study, part of the B4R - Branding4Resilience project, uses government open data and Exploratory Data Analysis to examine the geographic and thematic distribution of SNAI interventions. Results show the allocation of projects and public funds, identifying popular themes and gaps. Among the most significant findings, the thematic scopes of “Transport and Mobility” and “Social Inclusion and Health” emerged as the most funded, while scopes such as “Environment”, “Research and Innovation” and “Employment and work” were significantly underrepresented, especially in Piedmont. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the first cycle is crucial for refining future strategies, avoiding past inefficiencies, and maximising the impact of upcoming interventions. Insights drawn from the analyses aim to support local authorities in addressing new interventions and actions, enhancing strategic planning for territorial projects.
Integrating Spatial Analysis, Ecosystem Services and Cost Analysis for Nature-Based Solution (NBS) planning in urban contexts
Giulia Datola1,*, Alessandra Oppio1, Marta Dell’Ovo1, Marco Rossitti2, Danny Casprini1, Giulia Tarantino3, and Francesca Torrieri2
1 Department of Architecture and Urban Studies (DAStU), Politecnico di Milano, Italy
2 Department of Architecture, Built Environment, and Construction Engineering (DABC), Politecnico di Milano, Italy
3 Department of Environment, Land and Infrastructure Engineering (DIATI), Politecnico di Torino, Italy
Accepted: 2025-06-16 | Published Online: 2025-07-10
DOI: 10.36253/aestim-17192
ABSTRACT
Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) are suggested as strategies to mitigate climate change effects in urban contexts. However, cities face issues in planning with NBS due to the lack of a comprehensive evaluation framework to properly support the strategic integration of NBS in urban planning. This research aims to fill this gap by proposing a multi-step evaluation framework to firstly identify the most suitable intervention area, and secondly provide an overall evaluation of NBS interventions according to both cost and benefits. The proposed model has been applied to the city of Milan to identify the most urgent area for NBS implementation, according to multidimensional vulnerability maps. Three NBS alternative scenarios have been compared with the business-as-usual scenario and evaluated according to cost and benefits accounted through Ecosystem Services. The evaluation results are monetary and non-monetary values, useful for supporting decision processes for NBS planning in urban contexts.
Metabolic approach and Life Cycle Assessment in building an energy community: the case of the Mondeggi Estate in the Municipality of Bagno a Ripoli
Fabrizio Battisti1,*, Carlo Pisano1, Orazio Campo2, Melania Perdonò1, Domenico Mele3
1 Department of Architecture, University of Florence, Italy
2 Department of Planning, Design, Architecture Technology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
3 School of Architecture, University of Florence, Italy
Accepted: 2025-05-15 | Published Online: 2025-06-29
DOI: 10.36253/aestim-17761
ABSTRACT
The “urban and territorial metabolism” refers to the construction of urban systems by analyzing the directions of energy, water, nutrients, materials, and waste flows in an urban system, with the aim of quantifying the inputs- outputs, and stored parts of the system. In short, it is an evaluative-design approach to the stability and impact of a production system, with the aim of verifying its results in terms of sustainability. The transition from linear production-consumption approaches to circular systems, now accepted by various European public administrations, represents a new direction in the processes of regeneration and transformation of the territory, in order to improve the quality impact of urban and peri-urban areas and meet the environmental objectives set out in the European agenda. On this basis, in developing the meta-project for the eco-sustainable restructuring and functionalization of the Mondeggi Public Estate, the aim of this article concerns the use of a metabolic approach to define the conditions for achieving the overall environmental, social, and economic sustainability of the Mondeggi Estate’s systems. Specifically, the metabolic approach defined to safeguard and maintain natural and ecosystem resources over time, without producing irreversible alterations, is evaluated through a Life Cycle Assessment considering the relationship between the flows of resources (firstly energy, even considering water) that the ‘Tenuta di Mondeggi’ system absorbs and produces.
Unleashing the hidden green value: assessing the impact of energy certification and environmental amenities on real estate through hedonic modelling
Carolina Bonardi Pellizzari*, Tiziano Tempesta, Cristiano Franceschinis, Mara Thiene, Daniel Vecchiato
Department of Land, Environment, Agriculture and Forestry (TESAF), University of Padua, Italy
Accepted: 2025-06-16 | Published Online: 2025-06-19
DOI: 10.36253/aestim-17418
ABSTRACT
Rapid population growth and urbanization have intensified energy demand and climate vulnerability in cities, elevating the importance of urban green spaces and energy-efficient properties, which impact real estate values. This study uses a hedonic pricing model to assess how environmental amenities and energy efficiency influence property prices. We analysed sales contracts from 2022–2023 in Padua (Italy), enriched with spatial data on key environmental factors. Findings reveal a notable price premium associated with proximity to green spaces and waterways: for each hectare of park area, properties located within 100 m experience a 5.4% price increase, while each additional 100 meters from a waterway reduces apartment value by 3.7%. Additionally, apartments in energy class A or higher command a 30% higher price per square meter with respect to other energy classes. This research offers valuable insights into how urban green spaces and energy efficiency shape real estate values in rapidly urbanizing settings.
Assessing places’ liveability: informational entropy for the construction of a set of criteria and indicators
Fabrizio Battisti1,*, Orazio Campo2, Melania Perdonò1
1 Department of Architecture, University of Florence, Italy
2 Department of Planning, Design, Architecture Technology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
Accepted: 2025-05-26 | Published Online: 2025-06-16
DOI: 10.36253/aestim-17653
ABSTRACT
The growing interest in well-being as a quality-of-life paradigm has led to a critical revision of its traditional conception. It is no longer limited to indicators of material prosperity and physical health (objective well-being indicators) but also individual perceptions of quality of life and happiness (subjective well-being indicators). In this new conception, the living environment plays a key role. The definition of well-being indicators based on the perceptual assessments of an urban environment crucially requires interdisciplinary skills. Using an investigative approach based on informational entropy, the objective of this paper is to construct a taxonomy that allows for the assessment of the quality of an environment to achieve adequate well-being standards and thus the improvement of quality of life. In detail, in the article explains the methodological process to define a structured set of criteria, sub-criteria, and their associated indicators for evaluating the characteristics of an urban environment and the physical and functional variables that contribute to achieving specific well-being thresholds. Through the involvement of a significant sample of 100 subjects, the results of the work consist of a set of 132 sub-criteria for the assessment of liveability.
Wasted roadscapes regeneration within Geodesign framework: a collaborative decision-making experience in Bacoli (Italy)
Maria Somma, Giuliano Poli*, Maria Cerreta
Department of Architecture, University of Naples Federico II, Italy
Accepted: 2025-05-09 | Published Online: 2025-06-12
DOI: 10.36253/aestim-17921
ABSTRACT
This study explores the integration of wasted roadscapes into a Geodesign-based framework to enhance urban planning and regeneration strategies. Wasted roadscapes, including abandoned infrastructure landscapes, represent an opportunity for sustainable development. Through collaborative decision-making, the study investigates the potential of turning these underused spaces into functional assets. The methodology was applied to Bacoli, Southern Italy, focusing on adaptive urban strategies. The findings emphasise the importance of inclusive participation, with Geodesign facilitating stakeholder engagement and scenario planning. The project revealed how a participatory approach can inform decisions on landscape regeneration, promoting environmental, social, and economic sustainability. However, challenges remain regarding data complexity, impact assessment, and securing sufficient resources for implementation.
Property valuation: a comparative analysis of innovative market approach methods
Francesco Tajani1, Pierfrancesco De Paola2, Giuseppe Cerullo1,*
1 Department of Architecture and Design, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
2 Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
Accepted: 2025-05-14 | Published Online: 2025-06-08
DOI: 10.36253/aestim-17322
ABSTRACT
This research aims to illustrate and implement innovative methods for property valuation, by comparing their respective outcomes in terms of statistical accuracy and empirical reliability. In particular, the paper describes and compares three market approach methods through an application to a case study located in the city of Rome (Italy), in order to outline their ability to rationalise the assessment in dynamic contexts and minimise the professional valuer’s subjectivity. This work represents a new reference for valuers, in order to refine their estimates and guarantee transparency in their use, avoiding the risk of black boxes that frequently characterizes mass appraisal techniques (e.g. neural networks, genetic algorithms, multiple regressions, etc.), for which constant updating of the database originating the price functions would be necessary to appropriately describe the current market conditions.
Using a spatial econometric approach to identify the main determinants and spillover effects of residential property prices in La Spezia (Italy)
Laura Giuffrida1, Giuseppe Cucuzza1,*, Daniela Tavano2, Francesca Salvo2, Giovanni Signorello1, Maria De Salvo3
1 Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Catania, Italy
2 Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Calabria, Italy
3 Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Italy
Accepted: 2025-05-09 | Published Online: 2025-05-20
DOI: 10.36253/aestim-17865
ABSTRACT
We employ a spatial econometric approach to investigate the factors influencing residential property prices in La Spezia province (Italy). Unlike traditional hedonic models, which often overlook spatial dependencies, our methodology explicitly accounts for spatial autocorrelation, thereby yielding more robust and accurate estimates. Diagnostic spatial tests reveal significant spatial dependence in both property prices and context variables. To address this, we adopt the Spatial Durbin Error Model (SDEM), using a first-order Queen contiguity weight matrix. This model not only enhances explanatory power but also improves predictive accuracy. By incorporating spatial effects, the SDEM enables the disentanglement of direct and spillover influences, offering a more comprehensive understanding of the determinants of property prices. The findings demonstrate the importance of spatially-aware models not only in the formulation of effective housing policies and urban development strategies but also in appraisal practices, where they improve the accuracy of real estate valuation.
Tourism investment and poverty in Algeria’s economy: does the Autoregressive Distributed Lag model provide new evidence?
Mohamed Admane1, Merizek Admane1, Siham Riache2, Bilal Louail2,*
1 Higher School of Commerce, Koléa University Center, Tipaza, Algeria
2 Faculty of Economic, Commercial and Management Sciences, University of Algiers 03, Algeria.
Accepted: 2025-04-19 | Published Online: 2025-05-18
DOI: 10.36253/aestim-17286
ABSTRACT
Tourism is an effective method for attaining sustainable growth, reducing unemployment, and alleviating poverty because of its significance and influence on other economic activities. Therefore, the current investigation investigates the impact of tourism investment on poverty in the Algerian economy from 1995 to 2020. To study how tourism investment affects poverty reduction in both the short and long term, we use the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model. This model helps to handle issues like non-stationarity, connections between different areas, and correcting errors in the data. This paper contributes by providing empirical evidence of the impact of tourism investment on poverty reduction in Algeria and provides policy recommendations for sustainable growth. Policy implications can prompt policymakers to leverage tourism for poverty alleviation by promoting sustainable investment, improving infrastructure, and supporting employment. The study recognizes the prospects of tourism as a long-lasting economic driver of poverty alleviation. This research makes a significant contribution by presenting empirical evidence on how tourism contributes to poverty reduction in Algeria. We offer policymakers lessons to formulate effective policies that can maximize the economic and social impact of tourism.