Archaeological Site Conservation and Enhancement: An Economic Evaluation Model for the Selection of Investment Projects

Giacomo Di Ruocco and Antonio Nesticò
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Giacomo Di Ruocco: Department of Civil Engineering, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano (Salerno), Italy
Antonio Nesticò: Department of Civil Engineering, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano (Salerno), Italy

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 11, 1-13

Abstract: For sustainable development of the territory, public administrations must guarantee the efficient allocation of available resources. This is also important for the conservation and enhancement of archaeological sites, able to generate multiple effects—not only strictly cultural, but also social, environmental, and financial—in their reference area. Although today, decisions on investments to be implemented are seldom supported by logical and operational methodologies able to rationalize the selection processes. Thus, proposing and implementing survey instruments to optimize the use of funds, in the light of a technical-economic process that is valid on a methodological level—that is repeatable and not complex to use—is likely necessary. This paper proposes a multicriteria evaluation model for the choice among projects concerning archaeological sites. According to pre-established criteria, the analysis protocol is defined using the algorithms of discrete linear programming, already successfully used in urban and territorial planning. These algorithms are written in A Mathematical Programming Language (AMPL); software which allows the consideration of several—both technical and economic—constraints that the system imposes. The model is verified by a case study, highlighting its potential and limits, as well as outlining future research perspectives.

Keywords: archaeological sites; environmental protection; economic evaluation; multicriteria analysis; linear programming (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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