A task-force, drones and neural networks against hydrogeological instability in Apulia
12.5% of the entire territory of the Apulia Region suffers from critical hydrogeological issues, with Foggia and Taranto at the top of risk tables (Source: SIT Puglia). Structural measures as well as monitoring and prevention are all needed.
“The Apulia Region in August approved the creation of a dedicated task force that seeks to become a replicable model throughout Italy,” said Ruggiero Mennea, Regional Councillor and Chairman of the Standing Committee for Civil Defence today during the first stop-off in Bari of the road show leading up the 30th edition of SaMoTer: the international earth moving machinery show at Veronafiere which, 22-25 February 2017, will focus especially on machinery and solutions able to combat environmental emergencies.
“Be it an hydraulic, seismic or hydro-geological hazard, we must share resources,” Mennea went on, “but we also need new town planning models and more efficient machinery.”
This latter point was shared by Tommaso Di Noia, Professor of Computerised Engineering at Bari Polytechnic University, who attended the event organised by SaMoTer in Bari, which also saw the involvement of students and teachers of FormEdil, the Professional Construction School in Bari.
The future of prevention cannot be separated from technological innovation involving machinery and software. “Electronics, for example, can help ensure better use of the work of excavators,” said Di Noia, “in the same way as developing artificial intelligence with far-reaching neural networks capable of predictive analysis or diagnosis in real time when an emergency occurs. Not to mention opportunities linked with the aerospace world, with drones capable of aerial monitoring of the territory.”
These increasingly intelligent machines, together with low-emission and high-efficiency systems, technological platforms for human-to-machine (H2M) and machine-to-machine (M2M) interaction, will be featured at SaMoTer 2017, as explained by Luciano Rizzi, Agriexpo & Technology Area Manager at Veronafiere: “The event is the only landmarked show in Italy and is an ideal opportunity for taking stock of market developments for highly-specialised earth moving machines such as those dedicated to the protection of natural resources. This road show will travel to Bari, Palermo, Catanzaro and Genoa and seeks to create an approach route leading up to the 30th SaMoTer by promoting debate on a subject of major current interest in Italy.”
The next stage in road show is scheduled for October 14 in Palermo.