No abstract

Recent developments of Middle Eastern metropolitans, and the related soaring trend of population increase, is contemporary with the impacts of climate changes. This applies extra pressures to the centralized large-scale water treatment and distribution systems. Rainwater harvesting (RWH) for domestic urban activities can be a sustainable option of adapting with the rising demand of soft water in such an arid/semiarid area. A pilot system of rainwater draining and storage was constructed for alleviating parts of soft water scarcity in Mashhad, the second most populous city of Iran. Measurements were collected for two years at the drainage basin outlet and inside of a storage tank, which has been equipped for water harvesting purposes. We performed some preliminary stochastic analysis and evaluated probabilistic properties of the collected dataset, aiming to explain them with respect to the physical characteristics of the RWH system. Data clustering analysis confirmed that the quality of the water may change during rainwater draining and storage in the RWH tank. Particularly, sodium content of the sampled water in the drainage catchment illustrated higher variations, compared with the ones evaluated for the stored water in the reservoir tank. This can confirm that the quality of the stored water in the RWH reservoir is more stable than that obtained for each separate rainfall–runoff event. We assessed the potential of the harvested water in different consumption contexts, in light of some national and international water quality (physicochemical, biological, and toxic pollutants) guidelines. We relied on water quality indices (WQI) to interpret multiparametric properties of the collected rainwater from urban surfaces; consequently, the quality of the harvested water was categorized with moderate to almost good attributes. This makes it well suited for irrigation uses, which can play a relevant role against water shortages in the analyzed semiarid urban region. Otherwise, infiltration and treatments need to be performed if using harvested water for drinking consumptions (of human or livestock), some of which may be costly for local owners/uses. We provide some suggestions for improving efficiency of the system and enhancing the quality of the harvesting water.

The project deals with the environmental problem of water consumption. The aim of this work is to experiment the recycling of dishwasher wastewater through its reuse in growing edible vegetables or ornamental plants; this can also accomplish the valorization of nutrients present in the wastewater. This new process allows to ensure washing functions coupled with vegetables production and to affect users’ environmental awareness and habits, following a user-centered system design approach to understand the users and involve them actively in the system development. The presented work is also aimed to experiment a multidisciplinary approach in order to face environmental problems.

This manuscript provides results of an study through the role of Historical Urban Heritage for Urban Design studies collected through the presentation of the integrated learning path developed for Urban Design and Urban Design Studio courses of the school of Architecture Urban Planning Construction Engineering, Lecco Campus of Politecnico of Milan (master program in Building and Architectural Engineering -BAE and Architectural-Engineering-EDA).The first part of the paper presents a general learning framework of the Urban Design course and the corresponding methodological process of developing the urban master plan of the studio modules. The second part presents the "LeccoLAB" didactical path developed in the Lecco Campus. This section focuses on a set of urban design issues of Lecco Historical Urban Heritage and present some selected design proposals and corresponding

In recent decades, modernization is extensively changing the face of Iranian cities. Besides, urban places are losing their traditional features, identity and cultural characteristics. Conservation of cultural heritage resources may rescue historical parts of the cities; hence, other traditional urban spaces do not receive enough attention and protection due to economic concerns. Mashhad, as one of the main religious touristic destinations in Iran, is unfortunately losing its traditional features due to extensive attractions of physical transformations. Economic profits fascinating constructions into the city center of Mashhad, specially surrounding areas of the holly shrine. This issue has been led to demolishment of the old texture of the city center. Sarshoor bazaar is one of rescued traditional urban public spaces in city center of Mashhad with typical characteristics of an Iranian ancient bazaar. This study mainly focuses on cultural and aesthetical patterns of traditional Iranian bazaars in order to provide a conceptual strategy for revitalization of Sarshoor bazaar. To this aim, a theoretical review is provided through main representative factors of cultural landscape to decide about a proper strategy for improving cultural quality of the selected case study. We also provide a practical analysis through social and behavioral patterns of the citizens and pilgrims in public spaces to realize material and immaterial features of Sarshoor bazaar, and