TECHNOLOGIES FOR INNOVATION AND SAFETY IN AGRICULTURE

Knowledge and understanding

By the end of the course, students will have the basic knowledge needed to understand the main energy and agro-industrial processes, with a focus on renewable energy systems, the fundamentals of electrical energy, hydraulic machines, and innovations in post-harvest technologies. They will also become familiar with the essential concepts of workplace safety, recognizing the most common risks in agricultural activities, such as noise, vibrations, and pesticide applications.

Applying knowledge and understanding

Students will be able to apply the knowledge acquired to evaluate energy and agro-industrial processes, size pumps for agricultural use, analyze the performance of electrical and hydraulic systems, and use simulation tools to solve practical problems. They will also be able to carry out risk assessments in line with current regulations and propose technical solutions to improve efficiency and workplace safety.

Making judgements

Students will develop critical thinking skills in the analysis of production processes and working conditions, learning to identify strengths, limitations, and potential risks of the technical solutions adopted. They will be able to make independent evaluations when choosing the most suitable technologies, taking into account both engineering aspects and issues of safety and sustainability.

Communication skills

Students will be able to clearly and coherently present and discuss technical issues related to energy processes and workplace safety, using appropriate scientific terminology. They will also develop the ability to interact with peers and professionals in the field, communicating results and solutions effectively, both orally and in writing.

Learning skills

Students will acquire a study method that will allow them to independently deepen the topics covered during the course and update their knowledge in line with technological and regulatory developments in the agro-industrial and energy sectors. They will be able to integrate the competencies acquired with new sources of information, fostering a process of continuous learning.

The teaching (6 CFU) includes 21 hours of lectures and 42 hours of other activities, mainly guided numerical exercises for solving problems of practical interest for the profession of agronomist. PowerPoint presentations are mainly used to conduct lessons and Microsoft Excel to solve exercises.

Information for students with disabilities and/or DSA

As a guarantee of equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, interested students can ask for a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, based on their specific needs and on teaching objectives of the discipline. It is also possible to ask the departmental contacts of CInAP (Center for Active and Participatory Integration - Services for Disabilities and/or DSAs), in the persons of professor Anna De Angelis.

Elements of energy: review of the main energy sources, conventional and renewable, and of the main properties of fuels; characteristics and problems of using electricity.

Basic machinery of interest in agriculture: electric motors, electric generators, electric converters; pumps: main typologies of interest in agriculture; working point and pumping power calculation; installation problems: NPSH and cavitation.

Innovations in plants for fruits conditioning: packing lines for conditioning of fruits and vegetables for the fresh market; quality standards; mechanical damage to fruit in processing lines: survey methods and remedies; the instrumented spheres IS100 and PMS60; analyses of impacts; new approaches based on numerical simulations.

Operator safety in workplaces: general analysis and risk management; risk analysis and evaluation; Italian legislative decree 81/08; personal protective equipments (PPE); main risk analysis in workplaces.

Personal and environmental safety in the sector of machines for crop protection: dimensional properties of drops and measuring methods, effects of droplet size on coverage, volume and loss of pesticide; assessment of the deposit on the target; functional control of sprayers; test benches for sprayer calibration for herbaceous and arboreal crops, adaptation of the distribution profiles to the characteristics of the target to be sprayed; systems to reduce the environmental impact of pesticides; European Directives 128/2009 and 129/2009; innovations in sprayers for orchards, vineyards, greenhouses.

Noise exposure in workplaces: references quantities; frequency analysis; measurement equipment; normative references; PPEs; examples in agriculture.

Vibration exposure in workplaces: hand-harm and whole body vibration; references quantities; frequency analysis; measurement equipment; normative references; PPEs; examples in agriculture.

1. Gennari, Trevisan (a cura di), Agrofarmaci—Conoscenze per un uso sostenibile, Oasi Alberto Perdisa Editore.

2. Barone, Violetta, Sicurezza e innovazione in agricoltura, Publisfera edizioni.

3.Cinquina, Sicurezza e prevenzione in agricoltura, Maggioli editore.

4. Campurra, Rotella, Il rischio rumore negli ambienti di lavoro, IPSOA.

5. Material provided by the teacher.

During the course there will be two written tests lasting 2 hours and containing numerical exercises and open-ended questions. The final exam takes into account the results of the ongoing tests and usually consists of an oral interview.

The marks attributed will follow the following scheme, also on the basis of written tests:

Unsuitable

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Important shortcomings. Significant inaccuracies.

Ability to analyze and synthesize: Irrelevant. Frequent generalizations. Inability to synthesize.

Use of references: Completely inappropriate.

18-20

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: At the threshold level. Obvious imperfections.

Analysis and synthesis skills: Just enough skills.

Use of references: As appropriate.

21-23

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Routine knowledge.

Analysis and synthesis skills: Correct analysis and synthesis, with logical and coherent argumentation skills.

Use of references: Use of standard references.

24-26

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Good.

Ability to analyze and synthesize: Good, with arguments expressed consistently.

Use of references: Use of standard references.

27-29

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: More than good.

Ability to analyze and synthesize: Remarkable.

Use of references: In-depth.

30-30L

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Excellent.

Ability to analyze and synthesize: Remarkable.

Use of references: Important insights.

The topics most frequently requested during the oral interview concern:

1. Elements of energy: renewable energies and the role of agriculture

2. Technical-practical aspects of electricity: problems related to generation and transport, power factor correction of machines and systems

3. Hydraulic operating machines: determination of the working point, verification of correct installation

4. Post-harvest plants in citrus growing: fruit packing lines, problems related to the analysis of impacts

5. Aspects of personnel safety in the workplace: risk and danger, risk assessment

6. Personal and environmental safety in phytosanitary treatments: exposure of workers to pesticides, functional control and calibration of sprayers

7. Exposure to physical agents: noise and vibrations in the workplace, reference quantities and legislative limits