96975 - Machineries for Green

Learning outcomes

This course provides foundamental knowledge on agricultural and horticultural machinery used in green area management. Students will develop skills in the selection, calibration, and operation of equipment for the maintenance and restoration of public and ornamental green spaces. Emphasis will be placed on safety standards, and technical terminology.

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Identify and describe the main types of machinery used in green maintenance.
• Select and properly calibrate machinery based on specific horticultural tasks.
• Evaluate the most appropriate equipment and techniques for various green space contexts.
• Understand and apply technical standards and safety regulations.

Course contents

• Unit 1: Introduction to technical physics and mechanisation; internal combustion and electric engines; tractors and two-wheel tractors (6 hours).
• Unit 2: Machinery for soil cultivation, seeding, fertiliser and pesticide application; safety regulations (Directive 2006/42/EC) (10 hours).
• Unit 3: Mowers and turf maintenance equipment (8 hours).
• Unit 4: Equipment for sports field construction and maintenance (football, golf) (4 hours).
• Unit 5: Urban green management, tree maintenance; introduction to tree stability sensors (4 hours).
• Unit 6: Sensors in green area machinery (6 hours).
• Unit 7: Special green areas (roadside vegetation and waste recovery) (2 hours).
• Additional Activities: Computer lab experiences (machine calibration, cost calculation), seminars with industry professionals, and one field visit (20 hours).

Readings/Bibliography

Unit 1: Elements of technical physics and mechanization

«Prontuario di Meccanica Agraria e Meccanizzazione» M. Lazzarini, F. Mazzetto_Parte prima, Chapter 1: Richiami di fisica applicata e idraulica (p. 8-13). Second part, Il trattore (p. 91-118)

«Meccanica Agraria» Giuseppe Pellizzi, Edagricole editore_ Volume 1 Parte prima - Richiami di fisica applicata, Chapters I, II, IX. Second part - I motori agricoli, chapters: I, II, III, V. Third part – I trattori, CAPITOLI: I, II, III, IV, V, VI.

«Meccanica e meccanizzazione agricola» L. Bodria, G. Pellizzi, P. Piccarolo_First part, Chapter 1: Le macchine agricole (p. 6-8). Second part, chapter 4: la trattrice

Unit 2: Machinery for soil tillage, sowing, pesticide and fertilizer distribution; safety

«Meccanica e meccanizzazione agricola» L. Bodria, G. Pellizzi, P. Piccarolo – Chapter 7 Macchine per la lavorazione periodica del terreno. Chapter 8 Macchine per la fertilizzazione. Chapter 9 Macchine per la semina e il trapianto. Chapter 10 Macchine per lo sviluppo, la cura e la manutenzione delle colture, 10.4 Macchine per la distribuzione dei fitofarmaci. «Meccanica Agraria» Giuseppe Pellizzi, Edagricole editore – Volume 2,

«Meccanica Agraria» Giuseppe Pellizzi, Edagricole editore – Volume 2, Second part: Le macchine per la lavorazione del terreno, Chapetrs 1, 2 e 3. Third part, chapter 1 Le macchine per la fertilizzazione, chapter 2 Le macchine per la semina, and chapter 3 Le macchine per la messa a dimora delle piante. Forth part, chapter 2: Le macchine per la distribuzione dei fitofarmaci e la manutenzione delle piante.

Unit 3: Machinery for mowing, lawn mowers and turf maintenance

«CREAZIONE E CURA DEL VERDE. Macchine e tecniche per la manutenzione e gestione» di Pietro Piccarolo. Edited by Calderini Edagricole, ISBN-88-206-4534-3. Chapter 2 – Tappeto erboso

Unit 4: Machinery for the creation and maintenance of sports fields (football and golf)

«CREAZIONE E CURA DEL VERDE. Macchine e tecniche per la manutenzione e gestione» di Pietro Piccarolo. Edited by Calderini Edagricole, ISBN-88-206-4534-3. Chapter 3 – Tappeti erbosi per lo sport.

Article in Mondo Macchine journal titled: «Campi da calcio in erba artificiale» Pietro Piccarolo

Unit 5: Machinery for urban green space management, maintenance of trees and shrubs; notes on sensors for tree stability assessment

«CREAZIONE E CURA DEL VERDE. Macchine e tecniche per la manutenzione e gestione» di Pietro Piccarolo. Edited by Calderini Edagricole, ISBN-88-206-4534-3. Chapter 4 – Verde urbano

Unit 6: Sensor technology applied to green area management machinery

«AGRICOLTURA DI PRECISIONE. Metodi e tecnologie per migliorare l’efficienza e la sostenibilità dei sistemi colturali» a cura di Raffaele Casa. Edited by Edagricole, ISBN-978-88-506-5510_6. Chaoter 4 (p.69-78), chapter 6 (p.157-161) e chapter 7 (p. 129-140).

Unit 7: Special green areas: management of roadside slopes and recovery of plant residues

«CREAZIONE E CURA DEL VERDE. Macchine e tecniche per la manutenzione e gestione» di Pietro Piccarolo. Edited by Calderini Edagricole, ISBN-88-206-4534-3. Chapter 5 - Verde stradale. Chapter 6 - Pulizia e recupero dei rifiuti e dei residui del verde.

Textbooks are available or reservable at the Palazzo Vespignani Library (Via G. Garibaldi 24, Imola).
Lecture slides and supplementary materials will be provided, but are not a substitute of the textbooks.

Teaching methods

• Lectures with multimedia presentations.
• Classroom experiments and short exercises.
• Computer lab sessions for practical data processing and spreadsheet development.
• Guest seminars and a field visit for real-world applications understanding.

Assessment methods

Written examination.

Final grade is calculated as the arithmetic mean of this course and the integrated course Irrigation and Drainage Systems.

Teaching tools

• Computer and projector
• Lecture slides
• Computer lab

Office hours

See the website of Eleonora Iaccheri