COSTRUZIONI PER L'AGRICOLTURA
Academic Year 2025/2026 - Teacher: SIMONA MARIA PORTOExpected Learning Outcomes
The course aims to provide students with basic technical knowledge of construction, functional, and system aspects of the main agricultural buildings, including dairy cow sheds, calf barns, and crop protection systems, as well as the main agricultural processing facilities, including wineries, oil mills, and dairies. With regard to the design of new buildings, the course will focus on the main construction materials, functional solutions, equipment, and systems that contribute to improving the quality and quantity of production, worker safety, and product hygiene.
The course also provides students with the necessary knowledge of the main traditional agricultural buildings and the related building restoration and reuse criteria that respect their original construction characteristics and the landscape context where they are located. To this end, the course allows students to acquire the basic knowledge needed to analyze landscape components through the use of GIS.
During the hours of practical work provided for in the course, students will acquire skills in designing agricultural buildings and preparing project drawings using specific computer-aided design software. They will also be able to use GIS software to produce a technical report analyzing land features.
Course Structure
Lectures, ongoing written/oral tests, graphic design exercises, and technical visits.
If the course is taught in a blended or distance learning format, any necessary changes to the previously stated curriculum may be made in order to comply with the planned program and syllabus.
Assessment may also be conducted electronically, if circumstances require it.
To ensure equal opportunities and in compliance with applicable laws, interested students may request a personal interview to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, based on their learning objectives and specific needs.
Students may also contact the CInAP (Center for Active and Participatory Integration - Services for Disabilities and/or DSA) contact teacher in our Department, Professor Anna De Angelis.
Required Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of mathematics, physics, and technical drawing is required.
Teacher will conduct an entrance test to assess the opportunity to supplement the knowledge and skills needed to acquire the prerequisites through theoretical lectures and specifically structured exercises.
Attendance of Lessons
Attendance at lessons is strongly recommended.
Detailed Course Content
Building materials: brick, concrete, reinforced concrete, steel.
Livestock buildings: tie-stall dairy barns, free-stall dairy barns, calf barns. Animal-environment relationship. Microclimatic control of housing environments.
Greenhouses: construction and energy aspects, building materials, roofing materials, characteristics of the main types of heating systems, technical solutions for shading, characteristics of the main types of cooling systems.
Traditional rural buildings: building types, construction materials, diagnosis of degradation and instability, building renovation interventions.
Overview of the main agro-industrial buildings: cellars, oil mills, millstones, worker safety and product hygiene.
Territory and landscape: reading and analysis of basic and thematic maps, regulations, landscape components.
Project exercises: Preparation, using CAD programs, of preliminary drawings for an agricultural construction project or the renovation of an existing building, chosen by the student from a list of design themes proposed by the teacher. Preparation of thematic maps using GIS.
Textbook Information
2. Dassori E., Morbiducci R., "Costruire l’architettura – Tecniche e tecnologie per il progetto", Tecniche nuove, Milano, 2010.
3. Chiumenti R., "Costruzioni rurali", Edagricole, Bologna, 2004.
4. Lindley A., Whitaker H., “Agricultural buildings and structures”, ASAE, St. Joseph MI, USA, 1996.
5. Tesi R., “Mezzi di protezione per l’ortofloro-frutticoltura ed il vivaismo”, Edagricole, Bologna, 1999.
6. AGOSTINI S., 2009. Recupero e riuso degli edifici rurali. Elementi di progetto e di piano. Integrazione del paesaggio. Maggioli Editore. Santarcangelo di Romagna (RN).
7. ALLERUZZO DI MAGGIO M.T., FORMICA C., FORNARO A., GAMBINO J. C., PECORA A., URSINO G., 1973. La casa rurale nella Sicilia orientale. Olschki editore. Firenze.
8. CASCONE S., PORTO S.M.C. 2008. Valutazione della potenzialità di riuso del patrimonio architettonico rurale e definizione di criteri e metodi innovativi per gli interventi di recupero. Il lunario. Enna.
9. ANDREOZZI L., PALUMO G., RESTUCCIA F., TAIBI G. 1989. I modelli grafici come strumenti della progettazione. CULC. Catania
10. SALEMI A. 2000. Il recupero e la conservazione delle fabbriche tradizionali. Le patologie da umidità. Gangemi Editore
11. SALEMI A. 2000. Il rilievo delle patologie della fabbrica tradizionale. Le indagini non distruttive. Documenti, 18 del Dipartimento di Architettura e Urbanistica dell’Università degli studi di Catania.
12. Gissi, Elena. 2011. Conoscere e comunicare il paesaggio : linguaggi, metodi e strumenti per l'integrazione tra l'ecologia del paesaggio e la pianificazione territoriale / Elena Gissi ; premessa di Giovanni Zurlini. Milano: Angeli
13. Maniglio Calcagno A., (2006). Architettura del paesaggio. Evoluzione storica. FrancoAngeli ed., Milano.
14. Supporti didattici forniti dal docente del corso.
Course Planning
| Subjects | Text References | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Building materials: bricks, reinforced concrete, steel.Building elements. | 1. Bandelloni E., "Elementi di architettura tecnica", CLEUP, Padova, 1986. 2. Dassori E., Morbiducci R., ''Costruire l’architettura – Tecniche e tecnologie per il progetto'',Tecniche nuove, Milano, 2010. - 6. Bandelloni E., "Elementi di architettura tecnica", CLEUP, Padova, 1986. |
| 2 | Dairy cattle housing: Buildings and equipment for stanchion barns / Buildings and equipment for loose houses / Mechanical milking equipment for stanchion barns and for loose houses. | 3. Chiumenti R., ''Costruzioni rurali'', Edagricole, Bologna, 2004. - 8. Supporti didattici forniti dal docente del corso. |
| 3 | The housing for breeding calves and young stock: the calving pen / housing of new-born calves / housing of growing veal calves. | 3. Chiumenti R., ''Costruzioni rurali'', Edagricole, Bologna, 2004. - 8. Supporti didattici forniti dal docente del corso. |
| 4 | The housing of beef cattle: The littered loose house / The slotted floor loose house / Solution for animal waste removal / Building solutions for organic beef cattle breeding. | 3. Chiumenti R., ''Costruzioni rurali'', Edagricole, Bologna, 2004. - 8. Supporti didattici forniti dal docente del corso. |
| 5 | Fundamentals of heat transfer and psychrometrics: Heat transmission by conduction, convection asnd radiation / Psychrometric properties of the air / Psychrometric charts. | 14. Supporti didattici forniti dal docente del corso. |
| 6 | Animal environment: Homeothermy / Environmental temperature / Thermal comfort indexes/ Heat production/ Vapor production / Animal-environment exchange of energy. | 14. Supporti didattici forniti dal docente del corso. |
| 7 | Thermal insulation of animal houses: Insulation materials / Thermal control by passive systems / Energy balance of a animal house aimed to the choice of the building materials. | 4. Lindley A., Whitaker H., “Agricultural buildings and structures”, ASAE, St. Joseph MI, USA, 1996.14. Supporti didattici forniti dal docente del corso. |
| 8 | Ventilation of animal houses: Ventilation rates / Natural ventilation: stack effect, wind effect, design of the openings / Mechanical ventilation. | 4. Lindley A., Whitaker H., “Agricultural buildings and structures”, ASAE, St. Joseph MI, USA, 1996.14. Supporti didattici forniti dal docente del corso. |
| 9 | Greenhouse construction and equipment: The greenhouse effect / greenhouse typologies / Materials for greenhouse structures: geometric and mechanical characteristics / Covering materials: thermophysical, optical and mechanical characteristics / Construction details for assembly of the components. | 5. Tesi R., “Mezzi di protezione per l’ortofloro-frutticoltura ed il vivaismo”, Edagricole, Bologna, 1999. –8. Supporti didattici forniti dal docente del corso. |
| 10 | Greenhouse energy aspects / Greenhouse heat transfer processes / Natural ventilation / Mechanical ventilation / Containment of energy losses. | 5. Tesi R., “Mezzi di protezione per l’ortofloro-frutticoltura ed il vivaismo”, Edagricole, Bologna, 1999. –8. Supporti didattici forniti dal docente del corso. |
| 11 | Heating installations for greenhouses: radiant-tube, fan-coil / Evaporative cooling systems. | 5. Tesi R., “Mezzi di protezione per l’ortofloro-frutticoltura ed il vivaismo”, Edagricole, Bologna, 1999. –8. Supporti didattici forniti dal docente del corso. |
| 12 | Methods and tools for technical drawing and architectural design settings for an agricultural building. | 14. Supporti didattici forniti dal docente del corso. |
| 13 | Definition of traditional rural architecture. | 6. AGOSTINI S., 2009. |
| 14 | Overview of the main types of traditional rural architecture | 7. ALLERUZZO DI MAGGIO et al., 1973. |
| 15 | Traditional building materials: wood, stone, mortar and plaster. | 1. Bandelloni E., "Elementi di architettura tecnica", CLEUP, Padova, 1986. |
| 16 | Main technical-constructive elements that constitute a traditional rural building | 8. CASCONE S., PORTO S.M.C. 2008 |
| 17 | Methods and tools for the geometric survey of a traditional rural building | ANDREOZZI et al., 1989; pp:129-178 |
| 18 | Diagnosis of degradation and disrepair of traditional rural buildings and building restoration interventions | 10. SALEMI A. 2000. Il recupero e la conservazione delle fabbriche tradizionali. Le patologie da umidità. Gangemi Editore11. SALEMI A. 2000. Il rilievo delle patologie della fabbrica tradizionale. Le indagini non distruttive. Documenti, 18 del Dipartimento di Architettura e Urbanistica dell’Università degli studi di Catania.14. Supporti didattici forniti dal docente del corso. |
| 19 | Agro-industrial buildings: cellars, oil mills, millstones, worker safety and product hygiene | 14. Supporti didattici forniti dal docente del corso. |
| 20 | Landscape and environmental protection: Definition of landscape; Landscape protection; Landscape complexity | 11. Gissi, Elena. 2011. Conoscere e comunicare il paesaggio : linguaggi, metodi e strumenti per l'integrazione tra l'ecologia del paesaggio e la pianificazione territoriale / Elena Gissi ; premessa di Giovanni Zurlini. Milano: Angeli 14. Supporti didattici forniti dal docente del corso. |
| 21 | Reading and analysis of basic and thematic maps, reference standards | 14. Supporti didattici forniti dal docente del corso. |
Learning Assessment
Learning Assessment Procedures
The exam consists of ongoing tests and a final oral exam, which also includes a discussion of the graphic design project developed during the course.
Assessment is conducted through an oral interview.
Student preparation will be evaluated based on the following criteria: learning ability and depth of understanding of the topics covered, ability to summarize and present, and the student's reasoning skills.
Assessment may also be conducted online, if circumstances warrant.
The grade is expressed in thirtieths according to the following scheme:
Failed
Knowledge and understanding of the topic: significant deficiencies and inaccuracies
Analysis and synthesis skills: irrelevant, frequent generalizations
Use of references: completely inappropriate
18-20
Knowledge and understanding of the topic: very modest, obvious imperfections
Analysis and synthesis skills: barely adequate
Use of references: barely appropriate
21-23
Knowledge and understanding of the topic: slightly more than adequate knowledge
Analysis and synthesis skills: fair analysis and synthesis skills, argues logically and coherently
Use of references: uses standard references
24-26
Knowledge and understanding of the topic: good knowledge
Analysis and synthesis skills: has good analysis and synthesis skills, arguments are presented coherently
Use of references: uses standard references
27-29
Knowledge and understanding of the topic: more than good knowledge
Analysis and Synthesis: has excellent analytical and synthesis skills
Use of References: has thoroughly explored the topics
30-30 cum laude
Knowledge and Comprehension of the Topic: excellent knowledge
Analytical and Synthesis Skills: has excellent analytical and synthesis skills.
Use of References: significant in-depth analysis.
Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises
Design of stanchion-stall dairy barns.
Construction solutions for the functional areas of free-stall dairy barns.
Design of dairy cow milking rooms and milk storage rooms.
Design of calf-rearing buildings.
Design of buildings for internal replacement in dairy barns.
Design of buildings for beef cattle in intensive livestock farming.
Design of buildings for beef cattle for organic meat production.
Animal-environment relationship.
Physical-technical characteristics of livestock buildings to ensure adequate thermohygrometric comfort for livestock.
Energy balance of livestock buildings for the appropriate choice of building materials for the building envelope.
Natural ventilation and mechanical ventilation in livestock buildings.
Elements and reference conditions for greenhouse design.
Greenhouse construction materials.
Greenhouse roofing materials.
Types and operating modes of greenhouse heating systems.
Greenhouse shading solutions and systems.
Types and operating modes of greenhouse cooling systems.
Materials for the construction of load-bearing structures for agricultural buildings.
Types of traditional rural buildings.
Traditional building materials.
Types of building renovation interventions.
European Landscape Convention.
Landscape components.
Thematic and basic maps.