First Programme
of Research
2001-2003
Second Programme
of Research
2004-2006
The Research Programmes of CORILA corresponds to activities promoted by the Special Laws for Venice and aims at providing concrete results, scientific excellence as well as relevance to specific queries emerging from policy makers and public administration. CORILA's Research Programme is based upon 4 thematic areas, Economics, Architecture and cultural heritage, Environmental processes, Organisation and dissemination of data and broken into diverse research lines.
Each line is assigned to research groups via a selection process which determines the best local scientific resources as well as capacity for collaboration with international scientific institutions. The tematic area Organisation and dissemination of data is carried out by CORILA.
CORILA coordinates the research work, also facilitating effective interdisciplinary scientific exchange.
The First Programme has been developed from 2001 to 2003, the Second Programme has been started in 2004 and will finished in 2006.
AREAS
Economics and social aspects
The richness of Venice has developed in an “anthropicised” natural environment for over one thousand years, a setting for many and sometimes radical transformations. The socio-economic history of the city is intertwined with its environmental evolution and only a combined vision allows an understanding of the characteristics of sustainable development of economic and productive activities.
Scientific research provides the elements for detailed analysis and forecasting of socio-economic modifications induced by re-use of the Porto Marghera area, activities in the historic centre, port facilities, introduction of new infrastructure, etc. and aims specifically at a cost-benefit analysis of environmental conservation and protection measures in the city and lagoon.
Architecture and cultural heritage
Venice represents the condensation of 1,000 years of architecture, a perfectly intact heritage of building types and techniques from medieval times to the present. The conservation and protection of this unique resource is
inseparable from the major functional and civic role played by the city and its islands, not just as a visitor destination but also for living. Decisions affecting this aspect must be taken which involve buildings conservation, including targeted and effective restoration of structures and outer cladding (plasterwork), as well as topographical adjustments to take account of growing water levels, and generally all measures which alter the functional-visual aspect of the city.
Environmental processes
Study of the environment demands strong interconnection between various disciplines, as indeed environmental processes are closely interlinked in real life. The lagoon is an area in transition, where different ecosystems co-exist and where natural aspects have been managed through human intervention for centuries. Certain evolutionary processes in the lagoon take place on a rapid timescale and knowledge of such must be highly detailed in order to adequately manage the environment.
Research aims at understanding the functional mechanisms of the various processes and studies the
interconnections: theVenice lagoon represents an ideal laboratory for investigating these aspects, within an integrated framework of different scientific domains.
The most salient issues include morpho-dynamics, climate processes, secondary chemical contamination and pollutant bio-toxicity, biodiversity function and auto-purification capacity of the natural system. In some cases, precise quantification of specific phenomena is necessary as regards their basic mechanisms; in others these aspects first need to be fully understood before undertaking more extensive analyses and monitoring.
Data management
An indispensable instrument for integrated, interdisciplinary research is appropriate management of the information generated by the research effort.
The most up to date IT technologies must be available to researchers as part of their core tools, as well as for the dissemination of results to Administrations and the general public.
A special sector of CORILA is engaged in management of data and research results, as well as the development of new applications.
Porto Marghera
S. Marco, high water
Walls damage
Lagoonal morphology
Lagoonal species
