Land consumption, meant as the variation from natural to artificial land cover, represents a threat to ecological functions and to soil ecosystem services provided (ISPRA, 2014). Furthermore, it is one of the land transformation dynamics capable of altering the ability of a territory to respond positively to the risks associated with climate change (ISPRA, 2022). In Italy the synergistic activity of the SNPA (National System for the Protection of the Environment), consisting of ISPRA (Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research) and the regional and provincial agencies for the protection of the environment (ARPA and APPA) supply an yearly updated monitoring of land consumption, through the publication of the report “Consumo di suolo, dinamiche territoriali e servizi ecosistemici” (Soil consumption, territorial dynamics and ecosystem services), providing an updated picture of the transformation processes that cause the loss of soil and its related functions. The methodology used for data collection, done by open-source GIS, is based on photointerpretation of satellite data and orthophotos for the detection of land cover changes due to the phenomenon. Considering the importance of the phenomenon, which is also the subject of national and European policy goals e.g., the “Nonet-land-take” by 2050 (European Commission, 2016), the outcome of the monitoring requires multi-levels cross-checking, engaging all the territorial governance subjects and stakeholders. In this perspective, as part of the latest monitoring activities, a WebGIS platform has been introduced, allowing the local administrative officials to consult the ISPRA-SNPA data, giving their own contribution to the monitoring activities, thanks to their expert knowledge of the territory. The initiative, opening to the voluntary engagement of stakeholders as data collectors, could represent a first step towards the application of Citizen Science principles in the collection of land consumption data (Sui et al., 2013).
Towards the use of Citizen Science for Land Consumption monitoring / D'Agata, Alessia. - (2023). (Intervento presentato al convegno The Geoscience paradigm: Resources, Risks and future perspectives tenutosi a Potenza).
Towards the use of Citizen Science for Land Consumption monitoring
Alessia D'Agata
2023
Abstract
Land consumption, meant as the variation from natural to artificial land cover, represents a threat to ecological functions and to soil ecosystem services provided (ISPRA, 2014). Furthermore, it is one of the land transformation dynamics capable of altering the ability of a territory to respond positively to the risks associated with climate change (ISPRA, 2022). In Italy the synergistic activity of the SNPA (National System for the Protection of the Environment), consisting of ISPRA (Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research) and the regional and provincial agencies for the protection of the environment (ARPA and APPA) supply an yearly updated monitoring of land consumption, through the publication of the report “Consumo di suolo, dinamiche territoriali e servizi ecosistemici” (Soil consumption, territorial dynamics and ecosystem services), providing an updated picture of the transformation processes that cause the loss of soil and its related functions. The methodology used for data collection, done by open-source GIS, is based on photointerpretation of satellite data and orthophotos for the detection of land cover changes due to the phenomenon. Considering the importance of the phenomenon, which is also the subject of national and European policy goals e.g., the “Nonet-land-take” by 2050 (European Commission, 2016), the outcome of the monitoring requires multi-levels cross-checking, engaging all the territorial governance subjects and stakeholders. In this perspective, as part of the latest monitoring activities, a WebGIS platform has been introduced, allowing the local administrative officials to consult the ISPRA-SNPA data, giving their own contribution to the monitoring activities, thanks to their expert knowledge of the territory. The initiative, opening to the voluntary engagement of stakeholders as data collectors, could represent a first step towards the application of Citizen Science principles in the collection of land consumption data (Sui et al., 2013).I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
