A GIS Supported Analysis of the Agrarian Terraced Coastal Landscape

Brandolini Pierluigi (1), Nicchia Paolo (2), Renzi Luigina (2), Remo Terranova (3)

(1) University of Genova - DISAM - Sezione di Scienze geografiche (IT)
(2) Provincia di Genova (IT)
(3) University of Genova - DIPTERIS (IT)

The poster shows the results of the PAT.TER. project named "The terraces heritage", co-financed by the European Commission, Directorate General X (Raphaël Programme) as achieved in the three years of the project (1999-2001). The project has involved the co-operation of three groups of research, set up by the Consell de Mallorca-FODESMA (Balear Islands - Spain), by the DISSGELL-DISAM-DIPTERIS Departments of the University of Genoa (Liguria - Italy) and by the Association pour the Développement Infographique in collaboration with the Université de Nice-Sophia-Antipolis (Provence-Alpes-Côte d' Azur - France).
The aim of such a project is to characterise and disseminate a procedure for the cataloguing, the study and diagnosis of the terraced heritage compatible to the different available regional conditions and then applicable in all the Mediterranean areas.
As far as the Liguria's territory, the area of "Cinque Terre" was chosen. It is in the most Eastern area in the Liguria region and is a narrow and long coastal strip approx. 20 km long. It has very steep slopes, cut into by torrents sub perpendicular to the coastline. These streams flow down quite fast from watershed ridges that are as average 600-800 mt. above sea level high and quite near to the sea, sometimes at less than 1 km. distance. This territory is in the Province of La Spezia. It is divided into three Municipalities, but two of them only, Vernazza and Riomaggiore, were the objects of this study. The expanse of the examined territory is of approximately 23 square km. The procedure approach planned a first stage concerning the delimitation of the area and the study of the constructive and environment characteristics and of their use and conservation. The data obtained in the first stage were inserted in a geo-database and analysed through GIS instruments. Particularly, CAD Microstation95 (Bentley) was used to input the geo-data and the GIS sw Geographics (Bentley), supported by Access database, was used for their study.
The use of automation instruments for the organisation and management of the geo-data allowed to produce detailed thematic maps, provided as well with statistic analysis concerning the maintenance condition of the terraces, their environment characteristics and the impact of anthropical activities on them. The various information layers, studied all together, brought to the issue of maps of synthesis meant to evaluate the possibility of renewal of the distinct areas.
The data processing and the detailed analysis of have been completed by the individuation of particularly interesting areas. Because of their peculiar surroundings, of historical characteristics, of the type of structure of the terraces, of their cultivation activities, as well as for a renewed valorisation of ancient agricultural and building traditions, these areas must be considered as either typical to be considered or as areas of main interest. The planners' and local officers' attention will have to be concentrated on in these areas in order to preserve, restore and exploit them.
This project was completed with the publication of the results through a traditional deliverable as well as through Internet publication (www.conselldemallorca.net/fodesma/patter).
The detailed geo-database implemented within the project represents an informative content of great value that allows different studies, also with various systems. Particularly the analysis concerning the definition of classes of value of the terraced areas were realized by using Geomedia Integraph.