bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Utilizing Computer and Technological Devices to Improve the Performance of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Students: A Case Study of Secondary Schools in Al-Hasaheisa Locality, Gezira State, Sudan
Authors: Mohammed Nazik I.M.
Published: April 2024

Purpose: This study aims to examine the impact of technology integration in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classes on learners' motivation and performance. It also seeks to provide training for EFL teachers to effectively incorporate technology into their instructional practices.

Methodology: The research utilizes experimental and descriptive-analytical methods, involving 75 participants, including EFL students and teachers from secondary schools in Al-Hasaheisa Locality, Gezira State, Sudan. Data collection involves questionnaires and pre-post-tests administered to both teachers and students. The collected data is analyzed using the SPSS program.

Findings: The study reveals that the use of technology in EFL classes facilitates English language teaching and learning. Despite the high internet costs in Sudan, EFL students actively engage in online collaboration activities. However, it is highlighted that nearly half of the EFL teachers lack sufficient training to effectively utilize the available computers and technological devices. The study emphasizes that EFL students display motivation to learn through computer usage, both inside and outside the classroom. Additionally, technology enables EFL learners to engage in computer-based assignments, practice problem-solving and critical thinking through e-activities, and improve their overall performance. Furthermore, utilizing technology allows teachers to provide a broader range of materials and information.

Unique Contributions to Theory, Policy and Practice: The study recommends the integration of information and communication technology (ICT) in the EFL teaching and learning process. It emphasizes the need for comprehensive training programs to enhance EFL teachers' proficiency in effectively employing technology in their instructional practices.
AI-Powered Revolution: Transforming Industrial Production through Automation
Authors: Mr. Prashant Dupare  , Mr. Sahil Sangole
Published: April 2024

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) tools has propelled automation in industrial production to new heights, ushering in a wave of transformative advancements. This research delves into the profound impact of AI tools on industrial production, elucidating their pivotal role in driving efficiency, cost reduction, and productivity enhancements. By leveraging AI algorithms and machine learning techniques, manufacturers can optimize operations with unprecedented precision and agility. However, alongside the promises of increased efficiency come significant challenges and opportunities. This paper navigates through the complexities of implementing AI-driven automation in manufacturing processes, addressing issues such as data security, workforce adaptation, and ethical considerations. Through rigorous secondary data analysis and research methodology, this study endeavours to shed light on the current state of automation in industrial production while offering valuable insights into its future prospects and implications for the manufacturing industry.
The Integration of Financial Technology within India's Banking and Financial Services Industry
Authors: Dr. Sarang Javkhedka  , Dr. Anjali Shrungarkar  , Dr. Atul Kulkarni
Published: April 2024

The integration of financial technology (FinTech) in India's banking and financial services industry has undergone a transformative journey, marked by a surge in digital payments, mobile banking apps, and the proliferation of innovative solutions. This evolution is characterized by the widespread adoption of mobile wallets such as Paytm and PhonePe, the government's push for a cashless economy through Unified Payments Interface (UPI), and the rise of peer-to-peer lending platforms. Blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies have garnered attention, while regulatory initiatives, including sandboxes, have sought to balance innovation with consumer protection. The sector has seen the emergence of robo-advisors, InsurTechstartups, and a move toward open banking, fostering collaboration between traditional banks and FinTech entities. Overall, the integration of FinTech in India reflects a dynamic ecosystem, driven by technological advancements and regulatory measures, shaping the future of financial services in the country.
English Language Lab
Authors: Mr. Dhanaji. V. Mirajkar  , Mr. Om Lokare  , Mr. Akshay Shelar  , Mr. Niranjan Hanpude  , Mr. Abhiraj Kadam  , Mr. Arshad Shikalgar
Published: April 2024

At the first year of students in diploma, they have ENGLISH subject to study. The most commonly used medium to express oneself is language. First-year college students can face a variety of challenges when it comes to learning practical English. So we have developed this software for the students because of this they learn the English language in better way. We have converted all there manual practicals in online so they don’t need to do any written work. And it is easy to use so the faculty can teach directly using the software.
Challenges and Recommendations for Fostering Financial Inclusion among Unorganized Sector
Authors: Ms. Geetha K S  , Dr. S. Kalaiselvi
Published: April 2024

The unorganized sector constitutes a significant portion of the workforce in many economies, yet achieving financial inclusion remains a formidable challenge. This article examines the unique challenges faced by individuals in the unorganized sector in accessing formal financial services and presents strategies to enhance financial inclusion. Key challenges include the informal nature of the sector, lack of documentation, irregular income streams, limited financial literacy, and geographic barriers. To address these challenges, solutions such as technology adoption, simplified documentation processes, flexible financial products, targeted financial literacy programs, and the expansion of agent banking networks are proposed. By implementing these strategies, policymakers, financial institutions, and stakeholders can work towards ensuring that individuals in the unorganized sector have access to the financial tools and services necessary for economic empowerment and growth
Classroom Management
Authors: Mr. D. V. Mirajkar  , Ms. S. U. Patil  , Ms. I. P. Jadhav  , Ms. S. N. Sawant  , Ms. S. D. Dange  , Ms. S. S. Dange
Published: April 2024

Efficient classroom management is crucial for fostering an environment conducive to learning and student development. This paper introduces a novel approach to classroom management through the integration of a user-friendly web application. The system aims to streamline various administrative tasks, enhance communication between educators, students, and parents, and promote student engagement. The web application offers a centralized platform for educators to manage attendance records, assignments, and grades digitally, reducing the time spent on administrative tasks. Additionally, it facilitates real-time communication through messaging features, enabling quick updates on class schedules, assignments, and announcements.
Development of a Manually Operated Checkrow Seeder for Rice Production Systems
Authors:   University of the Philippines Los Banos, Ranches Mark Angelo , Amongo Rossana Marie , Gallegos Ralph Kristoffer , Quilloy Erwin , Sanchez Patricia Ann
Published: April 2024

The study focused on the development of a manually operated checkrow seeder for rice production systems. The machine was designed and fabricated in Alaminos City, Pangasinan. It was tested using the NSIC Rc 160 variety. Laboratory testing was done where the optimized and calibrated settings were determined. Using Design expert ® 11 for optimization, it was discovered that at a metering device hole diameter of 6 mm and 60% hopper capacity, the checkrow seeder can drop an average of 3.45 seeds per hill or 3 to 4 seeds per hill with only 3.14% damaged seeds, and 13.33 % missed hills. The results were verified through confirmation runs indicating that the generated predictive equations are reliable for the machine tests. The seeder was tested by male and female operators under actual field conditions. With the male operator, the seeder had an average of 3.23 seeds per drop, 14.06 mm seeding depth, 20% skipped rows with field efficiency of 93.13 %. With the female operator, the seeder had an average of 3.28 seeds per drop, 10 mm seeding depth, 16.67 % skipped hills with 56.25% field efficiency. In conclusion, the development of a manually operated checkrow seeder for rice production systems is possible in Alaminos City, Pangasinan. The machine can improve the method of rice establishment in the area.
Design and Development of a Low-Cost Fuel Consumption Meter for the Performance Testing of Agricultural Machinery
Authors:   University of the Philippines Los Banos, Quilloy Erwin , Ramoso John Paolo , Eusebio Romulo , Fajardo Arthur , Menguito Jerson Jose
Published: April 2024

The fuel consumption of an engine is an essential parameter that needs to be measured during the testing of an agricultural machinery. Commercially available fuel meters are expensive. The purpose of the study is to develop a fuel meter with data logging capabilities using inexpensive materials. The developed fuel meter follows the gravimetric principle in which the initial and final weights of the fuel after a specified amount time has elapsed are obtained and used to calculate the fuel consumption. The main components were the Arduino UNO microcontroller, data logging shield, and a load cell sensor. It was calibrated for diesel and gasoline fuels during the actual testing of different agricultural machinery such as centrifugal pumps, small engines, two-wheel tractors, and four-wheel tractors. Data were compared to the existing fuel meter and calibration curves were generated. Separate tanks were used for both the gasoline and diesel fuel to avoid mixing of fuels and damaging the engine. The generated equations for diesel fuel (y = 1.0957x – 0.0962) and for gasoline fuel (y = 0.8551x – 0.0017) were implemented in the Arduino code. A paired T-test was conducted and it showed that at a 5% level of significance, there is no significant variation in the data before calibration (p= 0.054) and after calibration (p= 0.550) for diesel fuel. While at a 5% level of significance, there is a significant variation in the data before calibration (p=1.03e-8 ) for gasoline fuel but showed no significant variation after calibration (p=0.610). In comparison to the existing fuel meter (Ono Sokki FX-1100 Series), the percent difference obtained before calibration ranges from 1.05% to 27.12%, and after calibration ranges from 0% to 6.39% for diesel fuel. The percent difference obtained before calibration ranges from 10.18% to 19.96% and 2.03% to 9.40% after calibration for gasoline fuel in comparison to the volumetric method fuel meter of AMTEC. After performing calibration and statistical analysis, the developed fuel meter can be considered as good as the existing fuel meters of AMTEC. The researchers recommend to provide dampers to isolate the vibration that affects weight measurement during testing or use a different sensor like an inline flow sensor to eliminate this problem. The inline flow sensor also allows the design of the fuel meter to be simpler and it will be easier to transport and use during field testing of agricultural machinery. An inline flow sensor with a wide range of capacity would be applicable for testing of agricultural machinery
A Systematic Approach of Formulating Chitosan– Nanosilica Coating for Mango (Mangifera indica L. ‘Carabao’) Fruit
Authors:   University of the Philippines Los Banos, Acabal Ma. Camille , Yaptenco Kevin , Elauria Jessie , Esguerra Elda
Published: April 2024

The application of fruit coatings reduces gas exchange between the environment and the fruit by creating additional layer to the fruit’s surface. If there is insufficient gas exchange, fruit coatings could induce anaerobic respiration and physiological disorders. Chitosan (CS) and nanosilica (NS) composite coatings for fresh ‘Carabao’ mango fruits were developed by calculating the required oxygen (O2) transmission rate of the coating given the fruit’s respiration rate, surface area and mass. To maintain the respiration requirements of the fruit, computed O2 transmission rates of the coating material should be equal or higher to 0.3270 mL∙cm-2 ∙hr-1 , 0.4530 mL∙cm-2 ∙hr-1 and 0.9608 mL∙cm-2 ∙hr-1 , at 15°C, 20°C and 25°C, respectively. At all temperature regimes, 0.75% CS has higher O2 transmission rate (0.814 mL∙cm-2 ∙hr-1 , 0.935 mL∙cm-2 ∙hr-1 , 1.136 mL∙cm-2 ∙hr-1 ) than 1% CS (0.450 mL∙cm-2 ∙hr-1 , 0.582 mL∙cm-2 ∙hr-1 , and 0.595 mL∙cm-2 ∙hr-1 ). Subsequent laboratory trials using 0.75% CS for mango at 20°C showed that the fruit coating could slow down weight loss and retard the peel color change for five days when compared to the uncoated fruits. Sensory tests in terms of color, taste, flavor, and aroma showed that the coated fruits are acceptable and of comparable quality as the control. Fruits coated with 1% CS exhibited delayed peel color change and weight loss but have symptoms of anaerobic respiration and acetaldehyde formation.
Il sistema difensivo dello Stato Pontificio sul versante tirrenico. Nuovi aggiornamenti storici e architettonici per una conservazione compatibile
Authors: Turco Maria Grazia
Published: April 2024

The essay analyzes the ‘various landscapes’ of the coastal system in the Lazio territory, perceived as a resource, seen as a set of elements settled over time. The proposed research aims to deepen, through some consecutive phases, the anthropization process of the coastal areas. This whole includes various complexes to be safeguarded by a protection program, based on a unitary projectable to include the various and ‘different’ systems of the territory – environmental, landscape, architectural – now closely related to each other in determining the characteristics and quality of the present layout. For their sustainable use i.a. process of knowledge and reading capable is needed in order to re-connect the various places and the various elements to base on History the actions of the present, highlighting historical and artistic connections and instances, in some cases, difficulty to read. The essay analyzes the defensive system of the Lazio coast, along the coastal area of the Tyrrhenian Sea, along the formal Papal State. The historical defensive system, characterized by a compact set of coastal towers, which for century – from the 9th to the 18th century – constituted the defense against raids from the sea, has a main significance. These architectures, dismantled during the second half of the nineteenth century, still represent important historical, architectural and constructive events. Actually, along the Lazio coast, from North to South, there are about 30 towers: some still intact others in state of ruins.
Teorie urbane, ingegneria militare ed utopia nelle città mediterranee del XVI° secolo. I casi di Sabbioneta e della Medina di Tripoli
Authors: Micara Ludovico
Published: April 2024

Sabbioneta is one of the few new Italian cities created in the 16th century. Founded by Vespasiano Gonzaga (1531-1591) between 1560 and 1570, it brings together many of the aspects that will characterize the post-16th century urban development in Italy, in the Mediterranean countries, and in Europe. The new bastioned defensive systems, created after the invention of firearms based on the scientific logics of "military engineers", a professional category which emerged at that time, increasingly spread in the abovementioned countries. Such defensive technique introduced an innovative configuration of the urban structure compared to the ancient one, which was before concentrated on central places such as the square, the cathedral and the municipal buildings. The new defensive system, with its ramparts, bastions and moats was located at the border of the city, distant from central places and became so important as to radically change the shape and plan of the city. The new urban geometries could even evoke the pure, simple and regular shapes of the ideal cities conceived by utopian philosophers, which were generally represented as central forms, and symbolic expressions of Thomas More’s Utopia perfect society. But this historical reference just remains a theoretical one. Sabbioneta and other fortified cities in the Mediterranean world, like Tripoli’s Medina  after the 16th century Spanish military intervention, are the expression of a new view of the city, in which the defensive aspect constitutes the dominant character due to the revolution of firearms.
Estudio comparado de las garitas esquineras del Castell de Pallejà y Mas Cabanyes en el litoral de Barcelona
Authors: Valdivieso Sánchez Enrique
Published: April 2024

The object of this work is the comparative study of the cylindrical corner sentry boxes built with brickwork, stone corbel and ceramic dome in two buildings with the typology of a Catalan stately casa forta, built in the mid-16th century on the coast of the province of Barcelona and whose purpose was the defense of the masías against the recurring attack of pirates from the Mediterranean coast. This is an approach to these defensive elements of fortified farmhouse in Catalonia, through the comparative study of two specific cases implemented in the geography of the province of Barcelona. With the analysis of these two cases, an approach is proposed to the study, little promulgated, of these defensive sentry boxes, from the perspective of the discipline of Construction History, applying scientific methodology for the knowledge of Architectural Heritage. The analysis of this defensive element allows us to take a historical tour of the evolution of the Catalan fortified house typology, within the common matrix of the masía as a traditional Catalan rural house. The comparative case study contrasts the formal evolution, both general of the buildings and of the sentry boxes, putting together the convergent and divergent lines that the quantitative and qualitative data obtained show, proposing a series of conclusions that bring together the key points of the knowledge obtained.
Un ejemplo conservado de los recintos defensivos medievales representados en la primera mitad del siglo XVII en el manuscrito “Antigüedades del reino de Jaén”
Authors: García-Pulido Luis José
Published: April 2024

The author of the manuscript ‘Antiquities of the Kingdom of Jaén’, Martín de Ximena Jurado (1615-1664), is considered to be one of the first researchers of medieval military structures in this region of southern Spain. Some of his drawings represent defenses in specific places in a territory that constitutes the area of the Iberian Peninsula with the highest density of fortifications built or rebuilt in the Middle Ages (Cerezo Moreno & Eslava Galán, 1989: p. 8; Eslava Galán, 1999: p. 17). The Islamic and Christian fortresses that he mapped were drawn with their most characteristic elements of construction, representing the idealized hypothesis of the state of these constructions at the time of the Castilian conquest in the decades following the Almohad debacle in the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa (1212). Some of his drawings were dedicated to the walls and towers of eight fortified enclosures, called castles in his writings. The fortress of Aragonesa or Bretaña (in the municipality of Marmolejo) is one of the best preserved, as the farmhouse that was attached to it left a part of the medieval fortification intact. Furthermore, both the main tower and its circuit of walls with three other corner towers can still be seen. The other cases had similar dimensions and were located on strategic communication routes. They were depicted with common formal characteristics, such as a quadrangular or triangular walled and crenellated enclosure, in which there were cylindrical turrets at the corners. The interior keeps, when they existed, are also depicted cylindrical in most cases, whereas the one that has been preserved in Aragonesa is prismatic. These drawings are usually marked with the cardinal points and measurements in paces, and their overall dimensions are indicated in the accompanying text. This paper studies the best preserved example of this kind of fortresses, the so-called Castle of Aragonesa, which allows us to understand some theoretical concepts about the Islamic and Christian fortifications in the Iberian Peninsula during the Late Middle Ages.
Guardians of Heritage: The Fortifications of the Moroccan Amazigh Atlas Region
Authors: Tifawt Loudaoui
Published: April 2024

The collective granaries of the Anti-Atlas region in Morocco, known as Igoudar, as well as the Ksour and Kasbas of the High Atlas stand as architectural treasures deeply rooted in the cultural heritage of indigenous Amazigh communities more commonly known as Berbers.  They serve a multifaceted purpose; preserving vital resources, providing adapted housing, and offering a stronghold during times of conflict or invasion. This paper explores their distinctive characteristics and cultural significance, showcasing the role they have played as protectors of the rich heritage within in the Atlas region. Additionally, it delves into the challenges they face in modern times and emphasizes the importance of preserving these structures as an integral part of our cultural heritage, ensuring that they endure as poignant symbols of the past for generations to come.
Da indicatori archeologici e del cantiere tracce di vicende costruttive “sconosciute” del Castello di Milano
Authors: Pertot Gianfranco
Published: April 2024

The aim of the contribution is to present the methods used and results obtained to date, begin to frame the information collected in the broader historiographical framework of the Castle of Milan, to stimulate new research on indirect sources (or their re-readings) and, more generally, to highlight the importance of direct, archaeological readings, even in contexts where knowledge of the historical event is considered mostly complete and not susceptible to significant variations.
Processual design: Torre Rinalda, Lecce, Italy (XVI cent.)
Authors: Camiz Alessandro , Tan Atayurt Erol , Baybaş Berke , Can Erdinç
Published: April 2024

The design interprets the identified ongoing process of the tower, a restored ruin, projecting it into the future as a sustainable beach resort and bicycle rental station. The new structure, entirely in timber and lightweight panels is removable and does not bear loads on the ancient walls. The project follows Cesare Brandi’s restoration principles applied to architectural composition and is reversible, compatible, recognisable and based on the minimum intervention principle. The platform, built with local stone gabions, protects the structure from the action of the sea. The new pavilion, hosting a small bar and a bicycle rental office, is designed as a fallen piece of the complete structure. A bicycle path connects this tower with the other coastal towers creating a cultural itinerary. Photovoltaic panels on the southern side provide sufficient energy to run the interior as a museum of the coastal defence of Apulia and to illuminate the tower as a contemporary urban landmark.
Il progetto della conoscenza per la conservazione e il restauro del castello aragonese di Piazza Armerina
Authors: Versaci Antonella , Cardaci Alessio , Fauzia Luca Renato
Published: April 2024

The castle of Piazza Armerina in Sicily is a historic landmark that dates to the second half of the 14th century. It was erected by King Martin I, likely on a preexisting Franciscan monastery. The history of the manor is incomplete, particularly until it was converted into a prison in the early 19th century. This function, which lasted until the 60s of the 20th century, involved several changes in its original layout. Further abandonment has led to a gradual decline and to important instability phenomena. The purchase by private individuals in 2017 renewed interest in the monument and launched a new phase of study aimed at its conservation and enhancement. The methodological path carried out made it possible to analytically illustrate the state of conservation of the structure. The new cognitive framework also allowed to identify elements that were useful for the formulation of re-configurative hypotheses. In 2019, the owner of the property made the decision to undertake the restoration of the exterior walls. The intervention – which partially enjoyed the tax benefits deriving from the Façade Bonus established by the 2020 Italian Budget Law – has not yet been completed and is suspended pending the recovery of the sums necessary for the continuation of the works. However, the opportunity offered by this program was certainly advantageous, making it possible to start an unavoidable conservation activity. This tax measure, which draws inspiration from the French Malraux law (1962) has favoured the recovery of several historical buildings in Italy, but the timing imposed by the financing and the difficulties aroused for the sale of tax credits, have created a series of setbacks and dangers for the correct carrying out of the activities on which this paper focuses.
Livorno città d’acqua e di cultura. Riqualificazione e recupero dell’area del Forte San Pietro d’Alcantara e del Depuratore Rivellino
Authors: Princiotta Erica , Simonelli Laura , Santini Luisa , Calvani Caterina
Published: April 2024

The project addresses the topic of reclassifying an urban area of the city of Livorno caracterised by the presence of the Forte San Pietro and the Rivellino di San Marco built at the end of the 17th century to complete Livorno’s northern defensive front protecting the residential quarter of La Venezia. In particular, Forte San Pietro, constructed on the orders of Governor Dal Borro according to the designs of the architect, Baldi, surrounded on one side by the sea and on the other by the Fosso Reale, it was the site of the public slaughterhouse (which was in operation until 1996) from 1889 and this saved it from demolition in the following years, ensuring links with the nearby San Marco’s station and free land for the city’s expansion. This transformed the Rivellino, which was the object of a residential development plan in the early 1800s and the location of the city’s sewage treatment plant. The project area is located in the north-west of the municipal region of Livorno and is configured as a passage area, in which the city environment abruptly changes from the industrial port to the urban and where traces of the ancient fortifications are evident (in addition to Forte San Pietro there are the constituent parts of the Lorenesi city walls) and where a system of canals and cellars is testimony to this particular area of the city’s characteristic special relationship with water. The study was initially focused on the analysis (historical, functional and regulatory) of the regional context so that the characteristic elements of the area being studied were clear and this enabled the objectives to be pursued in the masterplan to be identified.
The Strongoli Castle in Calabria (Italy). An opportunity for cultural tourism and historic center regeneration
Authors: Gattuso Caterina , Gattuso Domenico
Published: April 2024

The castle of Strongoli, in the Crotone province (I), is located on a hill close to the historic center of the city. The first building dates back to the Magna Graecia era, when the city was called Petelia and was one of the most interesting and evolved in Calabria. Destroyed and rebuilt many times, with several modifications made over the centuries, the fortress today presents itself as a building of considerable architectural-monumental value. In the paper, after a brief reconstruction of the historical events, the attention is focused on the current structural characteristics and on the conservation and restoration issues. Some peculiarities of the castle are highlighted which enhance its historical-monumental value. The second part of the text reveals the potential of the building in terms of reuse opportunities, cultural tourist attraction, driving factor for the regeneration of the whole adjacent historic centre. The historical and technical analysis extends to other aspects considered important such as a regular maintenance action of the building complex, the relationship with the surrounding area, the improvement of accessibility, the inclusion in cultural tourism tours capable of boosting economic activities (guided tours, hiking, artistic events, cultural meetings).
Preserving Cultural Heritage, Enhancing Social Development, and Fostering Sustainable Tourism: The Role of Architecture in Himara's Ancient Castle
Authors: Milio Giannenta
Published: April 2024

Preserving cultural heritage while fostering social development is a crucial challenge faced by many historical sites worldwide. This research explores the intricate relationship between architectural approaches, sustainable tourism, community engagement, and the integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles in the preservation and adaptive reuse of Himara's ancient castle.To assess the fortification's impact on its environment and society, a double materiality assessment will be employed. This approach acknowledges both the material and immaterial dimensions of cultural heritage, considering the urban fabric and its intangible cultural values. Through a comprehensive examination of these aspects, the study aims to ensure that preservation efforts align with the needs and aspirations of the local community. The research will also integrate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles as a methodology to guide decision-making and planning processes.By analyzing the architectural approaches and historical context of Himara's ancient castle, the study seeks to identify strategies for preserving cultural heritage while promoting social development. The research will explore the fortification's impact on the local community, such as heritage-based employment, cultural identity, and social cohesion, to foster a deeper understanding of its role in contemporary society.The study's outcomes aim to inform the broader discourse on heritage preservation and sustainable development, offering practical guidance for preserving the legacy of the past while shaping a prosperous and inclusive future for the local community.
“Non serve, non servirà mai di niente”. La cittadella di Asti: il progetto, gli errori, la demolizione
Authors: Dameri Annalisa
Published: April 2024

In the first-half of the seventeenth-century, the military policy of the Savoy Duchy, and, in particular, of Charles Emmanuel I and Victor Amadeus I, led to some major constructions aimed at consolidating its defence, in the mountains and plains, by building and strengthening “modern” and efficient fortresses. In the mid-thirties, a large square-shaped citadel with four huge pentagonal bastions without orillons was built in the city of Asti. It was not linked to the city walls and did not strengthen the older defensive structures; it was located in the plain to the south-east of the city, in the area between the southern walls and the course of the Tanaro river. The design immediately attracted attention both in defensive terms (demonstrated by the visit reports of Carlo di Castellamonte and the drawings of Carlo Morello) and on a celebratory level. In fact, the view of the city of Asti with its new citadel was rightly included in two of the most important decorative cycles frescoed in those very years, the room of architectural Magnificence at the Valentino Castle in Turin and the hall of Victor Amadeus I at Palazzo Taffini d’Acceglio in Savigliano.This instant critical success, reiterated in the table dedicated to Asti published in the Theatrum Sabaudiae (Amsterdam, 1682), was not, however, reflected in the actual success of the project, which was immediately subject to numerous criticisms. These included, above all, Carlo Morello who, in the Avvertimenti sopra le fortezze di S.R.A. (1656), illustrated the difficulties encountered in attacking the city in order to take it from the Spanish due to the incorrect position in which the citadel had been built, too distant and poorly connected. The various problems outlined above led to its early demolition just forty years after the project: when the Theatrum immortalised Asti among its engravings, the citadel had already been demolished.
La fortaleza de Porto Longón: el puesto avanzado de Felipe V en Italia (1715-1735)
Authors: García González Víctor
Published: April 2024

The Presidios of Tuscany have received less historiographical attention than other fortified sites on the Mediterranean coast. In this context, it is worth mentioning a place unjustly forgotten: Porto Longone (Porto o Puerto Longón in Spanish), today’s Porto Azzurro, on the island of Elba. During the twenty years following the end of the War of the Spanish Succession, Longone was an isolated enclave, Philip V of Spain’s last stronghold in Italy, whose preservation depended on a frail diplomatic and military balance. Despite its fragile situation, the fortress would be of key importance in maintaining the network of contacts with Italy within the revanchist strategy of the Spanish Bourbon and obtaining intelligence from the territories controlled by the imperial forces of Charles VI. The king’s will to turn Longone into a powerful forward base meant that some of the most experienced military engineers of the newly created Spanish Royal Corps of Engineers were stationed there, such as Antonio Montaigut de la Perille, Pedro Coysevaux or Simón Poulet. The project for Longone detailed in the plans of 1722 and 1727 written by Coysevaux was comprehensive and addressed both fortifications like the bastions of Castellón, Toledo or Zúñiga and their advanced works as well as other constructions necessary to ensure the defence of the fortress and decent service conditions for its garrison: barracks, warehouses, powder magazines and water cisterns. The War of the Polish Succession would increase the weight of the stronghold as a base for operations in Italy. From 1735 onwards, Porto Longone would be cut off from the dominions of the kings of Spain, but the previous two decades attest to the effort put into its fortification and improvement, without which its conservation would probably have been more seriously challenged by the rivals of Philip V.
Lo scudo descritto nel trattato di al-Tarsūsī, fine XII secolo
Authors: Hadda Lamia
Published: April 2024

The manuscript titled “Tabsirat arbāb al-albāb fī kayfiyyat an-najāt fi'l-hurūb min al-anwā’ wa nashr a'lām al-a'lām fi al-'udad wa al-‘alāt al-mu'īnah 'ala liqā' al-a'dā’” or “Information for essays on how to escape from combat and the dissemination of instructions on equipment and devices to help deal with enemies”, was written by Mardhī ibn Ali al-Tarsūsī (d. 1193) and is preserved at the Bodleian Library in Oxford (MS Huntington Collection, no. 264). The treatise dates from the late 12th century and was commissioned by Salāh ad-Dīn al-Ayyūbi in 1187.It is a compendium on the art of warfare that describes the methods of manufacture and use of weapons, armour and war machines used by Islamic armies during the Ayyūbid period. The details and manufacturing strategies of some weapons were presented with drawings, descriptions and engineering information.The manuscript is still almost unpublished, having been transcribed and translated only in part. The present contribution proposes the translation and analysis of an excerpt (fol. 112a to fol. 117b) mainly devoted to the description of shields, the different types of which are explored.
I quartieri di cavalleria del Regno di Napoli
Authors: Serraglio Riccardo
Published: April 2024

Towards the middle of the eighteenth century, the Kingdom of Naples government decided to build a series of large cavalry barracks in Aversa, Nola, Nocera and Santa Maria di Capua, the major cities in the provinces of Terra di Lavoro and Principato Citeriore. The initiative was part of a general reorganization of the army, commissioned by Charles of Bourbon in the early years of his reign. The king ordered the military engineers to provide for the strengthening of existing fortresses and the construction of new military garrisons, in order to improve the defence and control of the coasts, borders and internal territories of the Kingdom. In February 1740 the chief engineer Giovanni Antonio Medrano drafted a project for a cavalry barrack, which could be identified with a type settlement, because it was not indicated its location. From 1750, the construction of the barracks of Aversa, Nola and Nocera was begun, under the direction of the military engineer Giovanni Battista Bigotti. The cavalry barrack of Santa Maria Maggiore was never built, while in nearby Capua was built an infantry barracks. The downsizing of the initial programme may depend on the simultaneous construction of the Royal Palace of Caserta, which should have included stables and cavalry barracks. These buildings were built in the nineteenth century, many years after the death of Luigi Vanvitelli. The famous architect designed a cavalry barracks in Naples, near the Maddalena bridge, which presented more refined architectural solutions than the simple functionality of similar military buildings.
Freehand draw and the study of military architecture
Authors: Broglia Francesco , Pucci Mirco
Published: April 2024

This paper aims at analysing medieval and Renaissance fortifications by freehand draw. Freehand draw has been used for this purpose since the so called ‘epoca della transizione’and its fortune reached its peak with the study of Renaissance fortifications (XV-XVI century).Physical survey by scale sketches and drawings is a technique of Italian and European Renaissance tradition. It is a fundamental first step in understanding buildings and how they were designed.This research took into consideration the following case studies: fortifications in the State of Presidii – on the border between Lazio and Tuscany -, fortifications of the Tuscan archipelago, fortresses and fortified surrounding walls in Emilia Romagna.Freehand draw allowed us to recognize on the one hand the geometrical matrixes of the shapes taken into consideration and on the other hand the relations between design principles - which inspired military architects - and the effective realizations.
Viewpoints on Nisida. Iconographic comparisons of views of the island
Authors: Cirillo Vincenzo , Miele Riccardo
Published: April 2024

Due to the visual control of the Gulf of Pozzuoli and the presence of rugged and sheer slopes above the sea, the island of Nisida has always presented itself as a site naturally suited to defense but also to an area of confinement and/or segregation while for the panoramic and salubriousness of the places, to idleness.Inserted in a panorama of research oriented to a knowledge of what remains today of the defense architectures of Nisida, this contribution focuses attention on the investigation and reading of the iconographic sources of the island. Through the discipline of drawing (as a means of knowledge as well as of narrative representation) the rich visual heritage of view type will be analysed here, which, with multiple points of view and graphic techniques of representation, describe the small island on whose summit the Penal Institute is today implanted, once a coastal defense tower, a medieval monastery, and a Roman villa, as reported in literature and sources.
Historical and spatial analysis of Šibenik bunkers
Authors: Nakić Andrija
Published: April 2024

This paper provides a historical overview of the emergence and establishment of a new defensive system during the first half of 20th century within the area of the City of Šibenik. Numerous field surveys, archival research and various new documentation made in recent years resulted in comprehensive analysis which details the construction phases of Šibenik bunkers, their typology based on the appearance and function, as well as their current condition.The construction of bunkers represents the first serious investment in city’s fortifications since The War of Crete (1645-1669), when the bastion-type fortresses of St. John and Barone were made. The first ideas about investment in new and modernization of the existing Šibenik fortifications came in mid-19th century, when Šibenik, along with Pula and Kotor, was considered one of the three main military ports of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. However, the actual realization and the construction of bunkers, the new fortification elements which defended the city, occurred in the Interwar period and during the Second World War. Numerous bunkers around Šibenik were built during the first Italian occupation (1918-1921), the Kingdom of SHS/Yugoslavia (1921-1941), during the second Italian occupation (1941-1943) and during the German occupation (1943-1944). After the end of the Second World War, the army of Socialist Yugoslavia built a series of military barracks, often using existing bunker infrastructure, making Šibenik one of the most heavily fortified cities in the region. Some of the bunkers were also used during Croatian War for Independence (1991-1995), especially during the attack on Šibenik in September 1991.
The Spanish Fort (16th Century) in the Kasbah of Bejaia (Algeria)
Authors: Akouche Maya , Mahindad Naima , Fratini Fabio , Rescic Silvia , Misseri Giulia , Rovero Louise
Published: April 2024

In the Kasbah of Bejaia, the most imposing building is a fort built under the Spanish occupation at the beginning of the sixteenth century. This bastioned structure consists of mighty perimeter walls (from 12 to 20 meters high on the outside) which contain an embankment surmounted by a terrace.The lower part of the Kasbah dates back to different eras, whereas the upper part was built by the Spaniards and date back to the sixteenth century. The form of the Kasbah is a rectangle which one side is adjacent to the city. It is flanked by strongholds and bastions and by three very high and very massive towers, with murder holes. The fort contains five interesting internal rooms, hidden inside the embankment and organized on three levels: two rectangular vaulted rooms, two overlapping circular rooms surmounted by a domes and a narrow rectangle covered by a barrel vault.This paper reports the preliminary results of an in-depth interdisciplinary and multiscale study that was carried out on the fort to identify any weaknesses and vulnerabilities to external actions and natural hazards, including seismic loads.
Il borgo fortificato di Ventimiglia Alta (IM): il monitoraggio geotecnico per la conservazione
Authors: Abbo Marco , Buccafurri Francesca Luisa , De Hugo Silva Angela Cristina
Published: April 2024

In the most extreme part of Western Liguria, the cliff of Punta della Rocca survives, with a framework of Pliocene conglomerates, directly jutting out onto the sea: the steep forms of the place, in continuous morphological evolution, merge with the remains of the imposing clayey gully that once characterized the entire area.The evolution of the shapes, well documented in iconography and historical cartography, allows us to calculate the average speeds of the retreat and detrition phenomenon.In the current work, a reconstruction is made of the reasons that motivated them to carry out the historically “late” settlement of a manifestly landslide area, in which the geological sediment and the buildings form a sort of continuum, where the settlement is conditioned by the geological forms and the persistence of the same lithological materials, extended below and above the foundations.The mechanisms underlying the high susceptibility to local instability are then identified, to propose new intervention criteria, also to support the current trend towards a “new” expansion of “historic” settlement, which adapts both to the specific case under study, and to the numerous other fortified villages and historical centers of Liguria, which arise in the same weak geological formations.
From a survey the current state to a hypothesis of the former state. A digital trip in augmented reality into the ‘deleted history’ of the Capo d’Uomo Tower on Mount Argentario
Authors: Barlozzini Piero , Camagni Flavia , Fasolo Marco , Martelli Luca
Published: April 2024

The Capo d'Uomo Tower in Monte Argentario is one of the case studies that are the subject of an ongoing university research project aimed at investigating and elucidating the Cultural Heritage of the State of Presidî. Information and Communication Technologies, including latest digital reality management techniques, are of particular interest for such research. In fact, one of the aims of the study is to broaden the knowledge of the population and the visitors, who will have to be drawn to attention, involved, and oriented along a flow of scientific information which is conventionally regarded as possible to dedicate only to specialists. Numerous fortified structures for sighting, communication, and defence remain from the State of the Presidî, a former Spanish military enclave on the Tuscan coast. At present, the status of the Capo d'Uomo Tower, erected between the 15th and 16th centuries under rule of the Republic of Siena and renovated during the Spanish regency, appears critical. Despite its long period of existence, no graphic documentation about it can be found today. Between the 18th and 19th centuries, with annexation of the Presidî to the Kingdom of Etruria, the French drafted several surveys of many of the remaining fortalices, some of which were similar to the tower. The working group has recently documented and published the actual condition of the tower, processing TLS and photogrammetric acquisitions in an integrated digital survey. This paper pursues an extension of the above-mentioned research – also for popularization – and digital integration of the status of the tower with reconstructions of its missing elements, which will be the result of careful studies on the previous surveys of typologically similar coeval buildings.
Storia della Torre di San Giovanni Battista o Torre Scola vicino a Porto Venere, SP (Italia) e applicazione delle nuove tecnologie di rilevamento per la restituzione 3D e lo studio architettonico
Authors: Frroku Norbert , Lami Alessandro , Xeka Marsol
Published: April 2024

The tower of St. John the Baptist, known as the Scola Tower, is a small fortification with a pentagonal plan, surrounded by the sea, built by the Republic of Genoa in 1606, above a rock (Scola in the local dialect), to defend the entrance of the Gulf of La Spezia, near the island of Palmaria in Porto Venere. In 1800 it was partially destroyed by gunfire from the British fleet, which penetrated the gulf, and after that it was abandoned. When its demolition was averted in 1915 (established by the Marina Militare), given its historical interest, it was decided to convert the tower to the function of a signal lighthouse. Between 1976 and 1980 the structure received radical restoration and consolidation of the perimeter walls. Of this turret on the water, some historical plans and photographs exist, but today thanks to modern surveying techniques, such as aerial photogrammetry with drones, it has been possible to accurately scan the structure despite the inaccessibility of its location. With this survey, it was possible to process a perfect digital twin of the building, which even made it possible to make scale replicas, thanks to 3D printing. Replicas that can be a very useful source of study or beautiful souvenirs. Also, thanks to the latest frontiers of technology, such as artificial intelligence, it has been possible to increase the quality of historical photographs. This as fascinating as it is melancholy isolated turret in the middle of the sea is becoming more and more famous and well known thanks to social networks and photos taken with drones, and it is poised to become a new destination and new symbol of tourism in Liguria.