A GIS METHODOLOGICAL PROPOSAL TO EVALUATE SUITABLE AREAS FOR GREENHOUSE INSTALLATION

Nowadays in Italy about 30% of greenhouses are conditioned and a part of them are also monitored by computers that, using specific softwares, are able to control temperature, humidity, CO2 content, intensity and light duration, etc., making the greenhouse microclimate as suitable as possible for vegetable crops and flower needs. Economically, this control and conditioning can be very expensive especially if greenhouses have been localized and built in an area that, for its climatic and/or morphological characteristics, is not appropriate. Therefore, to choose the right localization where to build up greenhouses a framework can be useful to decrease energy expending and technical inputs. This paper illustrates a GIS (Geographical Information System) methodological proposal with the aim to evaluate the suitability of Basilicata Region (Southern Italy) land for greenhouse installation with respect to energy saving. Ten years climatic data, recorded in 37 different stations, Basilicata morphological characteristics (elevation, slope, etc.) and land cover information have been inputted and processed to develop the proposed method, that takes advantage by geo-statistics (predictive Kriging) and map algebra potentialities that the modern GIS offers. Data have undergone geo-statistical analysis to create predictive layers, that by mean of map algebra operations have generated firstly two intermediate maps (climatic and morphological suitability for greenhouse setting) and then the final map, that shows the suggested Basilicata Region areas useful for greenhouse installation. Results have reported that in Basilicata Region there are two possible district areas suitable for greenhouse allocations in which climatic trends, morphological characteristics and general facilities better fix protected cultivations needs with reference to lower energy inputs.