{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,12]],"date-time":"2026-05-12T18:32:39Z","timestamp":1778610759111,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":49,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,5]],"date-time":"2025-03-05T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1741132800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union","award":["101175896"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["101175896"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJGI"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The transition to renewable energy is crucial for combating climate change but faces challenges like local socio-environmental impacts and territorial conflicts. Scientific research on mapping renewable energy suitability areas and identifying socio-culturally and environmentally sensitive zones is essential to guide project siting appropriately. This study proposes a replicable methodology to analyze scenarios and compare alternatives for agrivoltaics plant siting, using the province of Viterbo, Italy, as a case study. The methodology employs spatial data, thematic maps, and multi-criteria analysis in open-source GIS software to identify suitable solar belts, map environmental sensitivity through 14 criteria, and assess visual sensitivity based on proximity to landscape elements. The resulting workflow and customizable QGIS models provide a comprehensive, transparent decision-support tool to optimize agrivoltaics deployment while minimizing impacts and enhancing acceptance. Mapping multi-factor sensitivity offers crucial insights for sustainable planning and design. The Viterbo case study illustrates the \u2018conflict between green alternatives\u2019 where renewable energy development potential clashes with environmental and landscape protection needs. The analysis reveals significant spatial variability in suitability and sensitivity among the province\u2019s municipalities. The study highlights the importance of a nuanced approach to assessing suitability, moving beyond simple binary classification, and provides a tool adaptable to different regulations and contexts.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijgi14030115","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,5]],"date-time":"2025-03-05T09:37:52Z","timestamp":1741167472000},"page":"115","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Developing a Methodology for Assessing Visual and Environmental Sensitivity for Agrivoltaics Land Suitability Projects: The Case Study of Viterbo Province (Italy)"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Ilaria","family":"Angelelli","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Independent Researcher, 00125 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0704-4041","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Daniele","family":"Codato","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1546-644X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Salvatore Eugenio","family":"Pappalardo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8184-013X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Massimo","family":"De Marchi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,5]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Lee, H., and Romero, J. (2023). Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Summary for Policymakers. Climate Change 2023: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC."},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"IEA (2024). World Energy Outlook 2024, IEA."},{"key":"ref_3","unstructured":"IEA (2024). IEA Renewables 2023\u2014Analysis, IEA."},{"key":"ref_4","unstructured":"REN21 (2023). REN21 Renewables 2023 Global Status Report Collection, Global Overview, REN21."},{"key":"ref_5","unstructured":"European Commission (2022). European Commission REPowerEU: Affordable, Secure and Sustainable Energy for Europe, European Commission."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Edenhofer, O., Arvizu, D., Bruckner, T., Christensen, J., and Logan, J. (2011). Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Summary for Policymakers. IPCC Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation, Cambridge University Press.","DOI":"10.1017\/CBO9781139151153"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Choi, C.S., Cagle, A.E., Macknick, J., Bloom, D.E., Caplan, J.S., and Ravi, S. (2020). Effects of Revegetation on Soil Physical and Chemical Properties in Solar Photovoltaic Infrastructure. Front. Environ. Sci., 8.","DOI":"10.3389\/fenvs.2020.00140"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1080\/14615517.2019.1604938","article-title":"A Multicriteria Proposal for Large-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Impact Assessment","volume":"38","author":"Magrini","year":"2020","journal-title":"Impact Assess. Proj. Apprais."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hilker, J.M., Busse, M., M\u00fcller, K., and Zscheischler, J. (2024). Photovoltaics in Agricultural Landscapes: \u201cIndustrial Land Use\u201d or a \u201cReal Compromise\u201d between Renewable Energy and Biodiversity? Perspectives of German Nature Conservation Associations. Energy Sustain. Soc., 14.","DOI":"10.1186\/s13705-023-00431-2"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2683","DOI":"10.1016\/j.enpol.2006.12.001","article-title":"Social Acceptance of Renewable Energy Innovation: An Introduction to the Concept","volume":"35","author":"Wolsink","year":"2007","journal-title":"Energy Policy"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"110598","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cie.2024.110598","article-title":"Assessing Agrivoltaics Potential in T\u00fcrkiye\u2014A Geographical Information System (GIS)-Based Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) Approach","volume":"197","author":"Dere","year":"2024","journal-title":"Comput. Ind. Eng."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"116102","DOI":"10.1016\/j.apenergy.2020.116102","article-title":"Innovative Agrivoltaic Systems to Produce Sustainable Energy: An Economic and Environmental Assessment","volume":"281","author":"Agostini","year":"2021","journal-title":"Appl. Energy"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Toledo, C., and Scognamiglio, A. (2021). Agrivoltaic Systems Design and Assessment: A Critical Review, and a Descriptive Model towards a Sustainable Landscape Vision (Three-Dimensional Agrivoltaic Patterns). Sustainability, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/su13126871"},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"121","DOI":"10.31545\/intagr\/184133","article-title":"Agrivoltaics: Dual Usage of Agricultural Land for Sustainable Development**","volume":"38","author":"Libra","year":"2024","journal-title":"Int. Agrophys"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"054027","DOI":"10.1088\/1748-9326\/accc47","article-title":"Cropland and Rooftops: The Global Undertapped Potential for Solar Photovoltaics","volume":"18","author":"Yeligeti","year":"2023","journal-title":"Environ. Res. Lett."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"13","DOI":"10.1016\/j.solener.2022.10.022","article-title":"Water Evaporation Reduction by the Agrivoltaic Systems Development","volume":"247","author":"Liu","year":"2022","journal-title":"Solar Energy"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kim, T.H., Chun, K.S., and Yang, S.R. (2021). Analyzing the Impact of Agrophotovoltaic Power Plants on the Amenity Value of Agricultural Landscape: The Case of the Republic of Korea. Sustainability, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/su132011325"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"610","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jrurstud.2023.01.014","article-title":"Social Acceptance of Dual Land Use Approaches: Stakeholders\u2019 Perceptions of the Drivers and Barriers Confronting Agrivoltaics Diffusion","volume":"97","author":"Torma","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Rural. Stud."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"86","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eiar.2017.06.010","article-title":"Mapping Environmental Sensitivity: A Systematic Online Approach to Support Environmental Assessment and Planning","volume":"66","year":"2017","journal-title":"Environ. Impact Assess. Rev."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Fattoruso, G., Toscano, D., Venturo, A., Scognamiglio, A., Fabricino, M., and Di Francia, G. (2024). A Spatial Multicriteria Analysis for a Regional Assessment of Eligible Areas for Sustainable Agrivoltaic Systems in Italy. Sustainability, 16.","DOI":"10.3390\/su16020911"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"51","DOI":"10.7494\/geom.2024.18.1.51","article-title":"GIS-and AHP-Based Decision Systems for Evaluating Optimal Locations of Photovoltaic Power Plants: Case Study of Republic of North Macedonia","volume":"18","author":"Adjiski","year":"2024","journal-title":"Geomat. Environ. Eng."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"57378","DOI":"10.1007\/s11356-023-26540-1","article-title":"Solar PV Power Plant Site Selection Using a GIS-Based Non-Linear Multi-Criteria Optimization Technique","volume":"30","author":"Khan","year":"2023","journal-title":"Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Gervasi, O., Murgante, B., Garau, C., Taniar, D., Rocha, A.M.A.C., and Faginas Lago, M.N. (2024). Optimizing Agrivoltaic Integration: Spatial Analysis and AHP Assessment. Computational Science and Its Applications\u2013ICCSA 2024 Workshops, Springer. ICCSA 2024; Lecture Notes in Computer Science.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-031-65332-2"},{"key":"ref_24","first-page":"206","article-title":"The Need and Use of Geographic Information Systems for Environmental Impact Assessment","volume":"10","author":"Kumar","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. J. Sci. Res."},{"key":"ref_25","unstructured":"(2025, January 14). Decreto Legislativo 8 Novembre 2021 n. 199; Italy. Available online: https:\/\/www.gazzettaufficiale.it\/eli\/id\/2021\/11\/30\/21G00214\/sg."},{"key":"ref_26","unstructured":"(2025, January 14). DECRETO-LEGGE 15 Maggio 2024, n. 63; Italy. Available online: https:\/\/www.gazzettaufficiale.it\/eli\/id\/2024\/07\/13\/24A03724\/SG."},{"key":"ref_27","unstructured":"(2025, January 14). DECRETO 21 Giugno 2024; Italy. Available online: https:\/\/www.gazzettaufficiale.it\/atto\/vediMenuHTML?atto.dataPubblicazioneGazzetta=2024-07-02&atto.codiceRedazionale=24A03360&tipoSerie=serie_generale&tipoVigenza=originario."},{"key":"ref_28","unstructured":"(2025, January 14). Legambiente Regioni e Aree Idonee. Available online: https:\/\/www.legambiente.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Regione-e-aree-idonee_2024.pdf."},{"key":"ref_29","unstructured":"(2025, January 05). Open Source Geospatial Fundation QGIS. Available online: https:\/\/www.osgeo.org\/."},{"key":"ref_30","unstructured":"Ministero della Transizione Ecologica\u2014Dipartimento per l\u2019energia (2022). Linee Guida in Materia Di Impianti Agrivoltaici, Ministero della Transizione Ecologica\u2014Dipartimento per l\u2019energia."},{"key":"ref_31","unstructured":"(2025, January 14). Decreto Del Presidente Del Consiglio Dei Ministri 12 Dicembre 2005; Italy. Available online: https:\/\/www.gazzettaufficiale.it\/eli\/id\/2006\/01\/31\/06A00800\/sg."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Malczewski, J., and Rinner, C. (2015). Multicriteria Decision Analysis in Geographic Information Science, Springer. Advances in Geographic Information Science.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-540-74757-4"},{"key":"ref_33","unstructured":"(2024, November 07). La Repubblica Fotovoltaico: Viterbo, La Citt\u00e0 Italiana Con La Maggiore Potenza Installata per Abitante. Available online: https:\/\/www.repubblica.it\/economia\/rapporti\/energitalia\/trasformazione\/2024\/07\/25\/news\/fotovoltaico_viterbo_la_citta_italiana_con_la_maggiore_potenza_installata_per_abitante-423413463\/."},{"key":"ref_34","unstructured":"(2024, March 20). ENEA Carta Della Radiazione Solare. Available online: http:\/\/www.solaritaly.enea.it\/Radiazione\/Mappe\/DNI_2006\u00f72022.png."},{"key":"ref_35","unstructured":"(2024, October 23). ISTAT Demografia in Cifre. Available online: https:\/\/demo.istat.it\/."},{"key":"ref_36","unstructured":"Klingebiel, A.A., and Montgomery, P.H. (2025, January 14). Land-Capability Classification. Agricultural Handbook. No. 210. Soil Conservation Service, Available online: https:\/\/www.govinfo.gov\/content\/pkg\/GOVPUB-A-PURL-gpo20777\/pdf\/GOVPUB-A-PURL-gpo20777.pdf."},{"key":"ref_37","unstructured":"Capizzi, D., Mortelliti, A., Amori, G., Colangelo, P., and Rondinini, C. (2012). Mammiferi Del Lazio. Ecologia, Distribuzione e Conservazione, ARP."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"164","DOI":"10.2307\/1938423","article-title":"Kernel Methods for Estimating the Utilization Distribution in Home-Range Studies","volume":"70","author":"Worton","year":"1989","journal-title":"Ecology"},{"key":"ref_39","unstructured":"(2024, February 15). Home Range Analysis By Kernel Density Estimation. Available online: https:\/\/plugins.qgis.org\/models\/19\/."},{"key":"ref_40","unstructured":"(2025, January 14). MiBACT Ministero dei Beni e delle Attivit\u00e0 Culturali e del Turismo Direzione Regionale per i beni culturali e paesaggistici del Piemonte, Regione Piemonte Direzione Programmazione strategica, politiche territoriali ed edilizia; Dipartimento Interateneo di Scienze, Progetto e Politiche del Territorio (DIST), P. e U. di T. Linee Guida per l\u2019analisi, La. Tutela e La. Valorizzazione Degli Aspetti Scenico-Percettivi Del. Paesaggio, Available online: https:\/\/www.regione.piemonte.it\/web\/sites\/default\/files\/media\/documenti\/2018-12\/lineeguida.pdf."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"522","DOI":"10.1080\/14615517.2024.2430851","article-title":"GIS-Based Modeling of the Environmental Vulnerability of the Amazon Region to the Upstream Oil and Gas Activities","volume":"42","author":"Mariano","year":"2024","journal-title":"Impact Assess. Proj. Apprais."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mart\u00ednez-Alier, J., and Muradian, R. (2015). Handbook of Ecological Economics, Edward Elgar Publishing.","DOI":"10.4337\/9781783471416"},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Splash, C.L. (2017). Routledge Handbook of Ecological Economics, Routledge.","DOI":"10.4324\/9781315679747"},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"17","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-031-22566-6_3","article-title":"The Barcelona School of Ecological Economics and Political Ecology: Building Bridges Between Moving Shores","volume":"Volume 8","author":"Muradian","year":"2023","journal-title":"Studies in Ecological Economics"},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"124626","DOI":"10.1016\/j.energy.2022.124626","article-title":"Unlock the Hidden Potential of Urban Rooftop Agrivoltaics Energy-Food-Nexus","volume":"256","author":"Jing","year":"2022","journal-title":"Energy"},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"102988","DOI":"10.1016\/j.erss.2023.102988","article-title":"Towards Solar Extractivism? A Political Ecology Understanding of the Solar Energy and Agriculture Boom in Rural China","volume":"98","author":"Hu","year":"2023","journal-title":"Energy Res. Soc. Sci."},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"344","DOI":"10.1007\/s13412-023-00813-0","article-title":"Recognizing the Dark Side of Sustainability Transitions","volume":"13","author":"McGowan","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Environ. Stud. Sci."},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"122933","DOI":"10.1016\/j.apenergy.2024.122933","article-title":"Risk Analysis for Agrivoltaic Projects in Rural Farming Communities in SSA","volume":"362","author":"Adelhardt","year":"2024","journal-title":"Appl. Energy"},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Vezzoni, R. (2025). Farming the Sun: The Political Economy of Agrivoltaics in the European Union. Sustain. Sci., 1\u201316.","DOI":"10.1007\/s11625-024-01601-7"}],"container-title":["ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2220-9964\/14\/3\/115\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,9]],"date-time":"2025-10-09T16:47:43Z","timestamp":1760028463000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2220-9964\/14\/3\/115"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,5]]},"references-count":49,"journal-issue":{"issue":"3","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,3]]}},"alternative-id":["ijgi14030115"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ijgi14030115","relation":{},"ISSN":["2220-9964"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2220-9964","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,5]]}}}