Ricerc@Sapienza

The paper aims at put in evidence as spreading of a better and efficient technology can decrease the extreme consequences of a disaster in scenarios such as avalanches or collapsed buildings. Therefore, it is an opportunity that increases the probability of successful rescue. At the same time involves questions that may have consequences on the same mode of operation of the measuring instruments, practically by hiding or preventing their capability of detection. A review of detection methods belonging to emerging technology shows these aspects along with the questions that arise.

In this work hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), removal in aqueous solution by olive stones coated by zero-valent iron and magnetite nanoparticles was investigated. The Cr(VI) removal test results showed that the coated biomass adsorption capacity significantly increased (2.54 and 4.11 mg Cr g−1) when compared to the uncoated one (1.48 mg Cr g−1). Optimal removal conditions were reached by fixing the operating parameter values for pH, mass concentration and contact time equal to 3, 2.5 g L−1and 120 min for the uncoated and equal to 2, 1.5 g L−1and 120 min for the coated biomasses, respectively.

The paper is focused on the application of solvent extraction for the recovery of rare earth elements from sulfuric leaching solutions obtained by the dissolution of fluorescent powders of lamps. The efficiency on rare earths extractions of three extractants, Cyanex 272, Cyanex 572 and D2EHPA in kerosene were investigated as a function of pH levels. Similar extraction for all the rare earths elements were observed, but the tests performed with D2EHPA showed that for pH values less than 1, yttrium and terbium could be extracted with yields higher than the other rare earths.

Due to the high social, economic and image costs associated with every single incident, the first in-depth studies on the importance of the Human Factor (HF) have been carried out since the 70s in the field of aviation, both military and civilian, and in the nuclear field. To date there are several methodologies by which it is possible to estimate the human error probability. However, all these techniques have the disadvantage of not being able to analyse the unconscious component involved.

Natural materials, such as soils, are influenced by many factors acting during their formative and evolutionary process: atmospheric agents, erosion and transport phenomena, sedimentation conditions that give soil properties a non-reducible randomness by using sophisticated survey techniques and technologies. This character is reflected not only in spatial variability of properties which differs from point to point, but also in multivariate correlation as a function of reciprocal distance.

Across the 28 EU member states there were nearly half a million premature deaths in 2015 as a result of exposure to PM2.5, O3 and NO2. To set the target for air quality levels and avoid negative impacts for human and ecosystems health, the National Emission Ceilings Directive (NECD, 2016/2284/EU) sets objectives for emission reduction for SO2, NOx, NMVOCs, NH3 and PM2.5 for each Member State as percentages of reduction to be reached in 2020 and 2030 compared to the emission levels into 2005.

Earthquakes cannot be predicted with precision, but algorithms exist for intermediate-term middle-range prediction of main shocks above a pre-assigned threshold, based on seismicity patterns. Few years ago, a first attempt was made in the framework of project SISMA, funded by Italian Space Agency, to jointly use seismological tools, like CN algorithm and scenario earthquakes, and geodetic methods and techniques, like GPS and SAR monitoring, to effectively constrain priority areas where to concentrate prevention and seismic risk mitigation.

This study introduces a general methodology to process sparse floating car data, reconstruct the routes followed by the drivers, and cluster them to achieve suitable choice sets of significantly different routes for calibrating behavioural models. This methodology is applied to a large set of floating car data collected in Rome in 2010. Results underlined that routes assigned to different clusters are actually very different to each other.

Odours are among the main causes of complaints in regards to environmental issues for a variety of plants, including landfills. The emissions from landfills can affect the quality of life and negatively influence the area nearby. To protect people living in the surroundings from excessive odour exposures, different environmental protection practices may be implemented. In order to optimize technical and economic aspects, various configurations should be taken into account. In this view, the odour dispersion modelling represents a suitable tool to simulate different scenarios.

Over the last decade, the World Road Association – PIARC and several European research projects, among which Ecoroads, have encouraged a promising reflection on risk analysis methods, acceptance criteria and safety practices applied to the road system. The goal of this research activity is the definition of best practice for safety analysis and management to be applied to network TERN (Trans European Road Network).