Research Activities on Environmental Sustainability Strategies at the University of Foggia
Researchers from the University of Foggia have conducted numerous studies analysing various aspects of the university’s environmental sustainability practices. Below is a short description of the main published scientific papers (with downloadable files where available).
Published Scientific Papers
- Drafting the Strategy for Sustainability in Universities: A Backcasting Approach (2020)
A Backcasting Approach (2020) The paper highlights the crucial role of universities in tackling sustainability challenges. It explores possible strategies for embedding sustainability into university planning and tests the backcasting method as a participatory tool involving stakeholders. A case study at the University of Foggia demonstrates its effectiveness in aligning actions with the UN 2030 Agenda. - Sustainable Mobility in Universities: The Case of the University of Foggia (2021)
Focused on SDG 11.2 (safe, accessible and sustainable transport systems), the study shows how universities can encourage sustainable mobility choices among students and staff. A 17-question survey collected 3,495 responses from the Unifg community; data were analysed using contingency tables to describe travel habits and estimate related CO₂ emissions. Results provide evidence-based recommendations for university mobility policies. - Machine Learning and Sustainable Mobility: The Case of the University of Foggia (2022)
Advanced machine-learning techniques (logistic regression and cross-validation) were applied to the Unifg mobility dataset to impute missing values and calculate accurate sustainability indicators. The approach allows reliable estimation of the environmental impact of daily commuting. - Benchmarking Sustainable Mobility in Higher Education (2023)
Using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, the GaBi software and PEF 3.0 guidelines, the authors developed the Sustainable Mobility Indicator (SMI). The indicator measures the environmental impact of mobility both at institutional and individual level. Different scenarios were compared to identify the most sustainable solutions for the University of Foggia. - Key Metrics for Energy Planning in Academic Institutions (2025)
Universities are major energy consumers, yet specific benchmarks are lacking. The study analyses electricity consumption of 156 buildings across ten Italian universities (including Unifg).
Average consumption is 60 kWh/m²/year, with a baseline of 35 kWh/m²/year and higher values in warmer climates. The results provide useful benchmarks for energy planning and policy-making in the higher education sector.
Ongoing Research Projects on Environmental Sustainability
- E-PARKS
Environmental and Administrative Knowledge Networks for Better Tourist Attractiveness in Protected Natural Areas Aim: Improve sustainable and inclusive tourism accessibility in Italian and Greek protected natural areas (especially for people with disabilities). Coordinated by the Department of Economics of the University of Foggia (lead partners: Gargano National Park and Arta Chamber of Commerce).
Official project website - Adriamove – Sustainable Mobility for the Adriatic Area
Adriamove – Sustainable Mobility for the Adriatic Area International project promoting innovative, low-impact mobility solutions across the Adriatic region to reduce transport emissions and improve accessibility for citizens and businesses.
Official project website - ECOFOODCYCLE
Fighting Food Waste and Promoting Sustainability Interreg VI-A Italy–Croatia project (scientific coordinator for Unifg: Prof. Nunzio Angiola, Department of Economics). The initiative develops digital tools to monitor food waste, organises hackathons and training programmes, and fosters circular economy practices in the agri-food sector across the two countries.
Official project website - TESSERE Project: Pursuing sustainability through carbon emission reduction in supply chains of agrifood enterprises and residential buildings (private and social housing), GRINS - GROWING RESILIENT, INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE - LOW CARBON POLICIES AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY, Spoke 6, WP 4 - Low Carbon Policies, Linea di intervento B Tematica 7: Low carbon policies and sustainability strategies in supply chains: a focus on agrifood in the South of Italy
The project applies advanced optimisation techniques (e.g., Ant Colony Optimization and Multi-Criteria Decision Making models) to minimise the carbon footprint along the entire supply chain of agri-food companies, starting with firms in the province of Foggia. It includes rigorous ex-ante and ex-post emission assessments and aims to deliver a scalable, transferable model to support the ecological transition of Southern Italy’s agri-food sector.