Multi-criteria models for the study and enhancement of terraced landscapes in Campania: state of the art and prospects.

In several Mediterranean case studies, a significant relationship has been found between the loss of agricultural protection and increased geomorphological vulnerability at the basin scale, with downstream effects on minor hydrographic networks and road systems, leading to the need to integrate detailed and territorial diagnostic approaches. Methodologically, the integrated use of GIS, digital terrain models (DTM/DSM), multispectral remote sensing and terrestrial/aerial photogrammetry has innovated the ability to map the extent, conservation status and evolutionary dynamics of terraces. There is a need to move from lists of indicators to integrated assessment frameworks capable of showing cause-effect relationships and synergies between domains. for example, the stability of parameters depends not only on slope and lithology, but also on maintenance regimes, the continuity of practices and the intensity of extreme events; or again, the perception of landscape quality increases where practices are alive and legible, and decreases where transformations introduce incongruous materials or morphologies. This implies the definition of logical chains of indicators, sub-criteria and criteria, and the verification of the internal consistency of the measurement scales adopted. The use of shared conceptual frameworks, accompanied by glossaries and standardisation rules, promotes replicability and interdisciplinary dialogue, which are fundamental for effective governance choices. Of particular interest is the comparison between different scenarios such as “priority conservation”, “productive enhancement” and “sustainable innovation”, facilitating informed dialogue between administrations, agricultural consortia and local communities. Applying these multi-criteria models to the terraces of Campania naturally requires adaptation to local characteristics. The Sorrento Peninsula and the Amalfi Coast, for example, are characterised by a strong interaction between traditional crops and tourist pressures and therefore require the integration of carrying capacity indicators with measures of morphological integrity and perceptual quality. while the Phlegraean Fields area presents critical issues related to volcanic specificities which, combined with urban dynamics, require particular attention with regard to slope safety and compatibility of use. This operation is essential in order to develop guidelines that are truly applicable and shared with local.The study of terraced landscapes involves, on the one hand, the analysis of values and, on the other, the development of tools for their assessment and management. The results of the models depend on the institutional capacity to keep them up to date, to finance coherent interventions and to support owners with technical assistance. Many case studies show that effectiveness increases when results are made accessible and when the criteria for selecting interventions are transparent and discussed with the communities. A promising strategy involves periodic cycles of assessment, intervention, monitoring and weighting review, anchored to sentinel indicators such as collapses per kilometre of wall, working days dedicated to maintenance or hydrological performance per single event. It is important to always consider the imbalance between the economic dimension, measured with standardised indicators, and the socio-cultural dimension, which is more difficult to quantify and tends to be neglected. The adoption of multi-criteria models, combined with GIS techniques and measurable indicators, provides a solid basis for building scenarios for enhancement, conservation and innovation tailored to the Campania context. A modular model, transparent in its assumptions and validated with local stakeholders, can guide operational guidelines and targeted support tools, helping to preserve the integrity, functionality and identity value of the terraced systems of the Sorrento Peninsula, Amalfi Coast and Campi Flegrei.