1260 | Measuring the mountain | Dario Bertocchi (1)
Mountains are complex ecosystems that involve several topics of analysis such as geographical, social-economic and demographic approaches to ongoing processes. The lack of a common and shared definition of mountain areas is a critical issue for developing a clearer research perspective about mountains. A common framework would enable a better understanding of the mountain environment and its challenges and would help to develop coherent policies to address them. This frame of work of a mountain area should include both physical and social geographical aspects measurable with the use of indicators. Physical aspects could focus on elevation, climate, vegetation, and landforms. Social aspects should incorporate population density, economic activities, and cultural aspects.
In relation to the mountain territories, dynamics, and topics such as mobility and connectivity, innovation, sustainable development, and territorial gaps are taking a different outlook and meaning due to local, regional and morphological specificities.
To better understand these systems, old and new methods of investigation about economic-social-cultural dynamics are required. In addition, multi-scalar approaches, from macro-regional to local specificities, should be exploited to provide data and analysis able to create and holistic study approach to mountains. Doing that, an identification of a series of indicators based on demographic distribution, heritage, accessibility, tourism, agriculture it’s a pre-requisite to better measure the mountain territories.
This session aims to collect international contributions dealing with quantitative and qualitative methodologies for analysing phenomena and processes occurring in mountains. In particular, the use of not-official data for example user-generated content, big data and sensors and new methods of qualitative analysis applied in case studies can offer new approaches to measure mountain areas’ characteristics. This session welcomes new critical reading of the diverse phenomena affecting the mountain, related to measuring the:
Depopulation and new forms of residency such as new, old and returning inhabitants and demographic trends (e.g. ageing, birth rate, feminisation, etc.).
Relationships between highlands and lowlands, also in terms of low/high density of land use, building and activities stocks, services, and people.
Concentration and/or lack of economic activities.
Tourism impacts and visitors’ behaviours, also in relation to recent trends such as overtourism and nature-based tourism.
Mobility and accessibility of mountain areas, focusing also on public transportation.
Mountain indicator systems.
Quantitative and qualitative methods to establish the attractiveness (connected to human activities and presence or flows of people) of mountain territories.
Local policies and implications.
Climate change impacts and scenarios.
Social practices and agricultural traditions, with the focus on better understanding community activism and local engagement.
Case Studies and on-field researchers.
Dario Bertocchi (1)
(1) University of Udine, Italy
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