Climatic advantages of the spread of timber constructions in peripheral regions - the case of southern Switzerland

<p>The aim of this paper is to investigate the methods available for encouraging the spread of timber constructions in small, peripheral regions such as southern Switzerland. Since 2005, Switzerland has witnessed a major increase in the number of timber constructions, mainly due to the new fire prevention regulations and to the climate and energy goals that the country wants to meet in the near future. This growth has been less significant in southern Switzerland. Data given by the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) shows the climatic advantages of the spread of timber constructions. Therefore, the opportunities for increasing the growth of such constructions in southern Switzerland have been researched. In order to identify and take advantage of the unique features of the use of wood in this region, two recent timber buildings, the Nordic Ski Centre by Durisch &amp; Nolli, and the House in Ludiano by Tocchetti &amp; Pessina, are analyzed and presented in this paper. The case of southern Switzerland can be a model for the spread of timber constructions in other similar regions.</p>

Comparing the experiences and legacies of volunteers at the FIS Nordic Ski World Championships in Oslo 2011 and Val di Fiemme 2013

Volunteers play an important role in delivering events, especially events over a longer period of time. As example the FIS Nordic Ski World Championships (Nordic WSC) take place every two years in a member country of the International Ski Federation (FIS). These events usually last 12 days and combine competitions in cross-country skiing, ski jumping, and Nordic. Furthermore volunteers do also represent one of the biggest groups of stakeholders taking part at the event. The purpose of this article is to shed light on the experiences and legacies as perceived by volunteers at two events of the same type (Nordic WSC), but staged in two different places and two different cultural settings.Therefore, 29 volunteers were interviewed, whereat half at got interviewed at the FIS Nordic WSC Oslo ant the other half at the FIS Nordic WSC Val di Fiemme.The interviews underline that people volunteer for many different reasons, whereat Norwegian volunteers displayed a more individualistic orientation. Italian volunteers have a greater commitment to their local community. In addition Italian volunteers feel that FIS acknowledge them for the good organisation of the events. Other differences can be found in the field of community acknowledgement. Norwegian volunteers added that the Norwegian economy does not appreciate this type of experience and in Italy also Students had to volunteer, which was also appreciated by community.The results show that the retention rate may be higher in Val di Fiemme due to the WSC being a project-based undertaking. Hence, local community loyalty or simple hobbies could show an increase in retention. For future events further research should be undertaken in this field of research.

Typhula Blight Severity as Influenced by the Number of Preventive Fungicide Applications and Snow Compaction

Golf course superintendents at high elevations in Colorado have widely adopted a practice of making two or more applications of fungicides for Typhula snow mold control beginning up to a month before permanent snow cover in the belief that this provides better disease suppression than a single application of fungicides just prior to snow cover. Two fall applications of fungicides spaced approximately one month apart were compared to a single application just before snow cover for superiority in controlling Typhula blight. Of the nineteen paired comparisons from two golf courses over a 7-year period, there was only one case in which two applications of fungicides provided better Typhula blight control than a single application. In addition, Typhula blight severity was observed to be reduced in fairway areas where snow had been compacted by placement of Nordic ski tracks, and that this disease reduction in compacted areas was associated with below-freezing temperatures at the turfgrass surface that are inhibitory to Typhula growth. Accepted for publication 5 June 2013. Published 21 August 2013.