The Venice case

Question 1

Define Complex adaptive systems (CAS)

Answer 1

Complex adaptive systems (CAS) are characterized by presenting many elements, agents, variables, processes, with internal and external interconnections, which generate feedbacks, reflecting nonlinearity, heterogeneity, uncertainty and emergent properties.

Examples of CAS:

1. Socio-eco-system (SES), defined as the nested, multilevel system in which ecological and social elements interoperate with bidirectional interactions and feedback loops, which may generate…•

Question 2

What are SESS?

Answer 2

Socio-Eco-System Services (SESS), which can be defined as the services emerging from the positive interactions between ecosystems and society, for the benefit of the whole socio-eco system, and not only of human well-being.

Question 3

Why is Venice an emblematic case of SES?

Answer 3

As the world entered into the Anthropocene Epoch given the ever increasing role of humans, a proper assessment of complex human nature relationships requires novel approaches.

The SES and SESS concepts recognize the role played by humans in the evolution of the planet in the Anthropocene, and their responsibilities for its sustainability.

Venice is an emblematic case of SES, since the existence of the city and the lagoon as they are today is the resultant of many centuries of
interactions between human agency and natural forces.

The SESS concept may provide a lens to interpret such interactions and to make the necessary choices for the future.

Question 4

How to save Venice?

Answer 4

‘‘Saving Venice’’ is a work in progress.

The determination of what to save, who should be responsible, how urgently action is needed, the level of expenditure required, and who is responsible for providing the needed resources, are all societal questions, based on values, tradeoffs, and imperfect knowledge.

Science and engineering are essential to inform these societal decisions, to help define the options, predict consequences, and provide scenarios based on different options.

Science and engineering are also essential in identifying the uncertainties and evaluating the risks. But the decisions are not based solely on scientific analysis and engineering calculations.

Question 5

What are the four scenarios for Future Venice?

Answer 5

1. Gotham City
   Dominant local drivers:
   • Environmental degradation (pollution, high tides/subsidence and accident hazard).
   • Demographic decline.
   • Influence of the Marghera industrial zone.
   • Increasing commuting distances and volumes.
   • Myth of Venice (translated into inaction)

↘ In an effort to salvage part of Venice’s cultural heritage, sculptures and paintings were moved to the mainland: ‘New Venice’ is founded on a vacant site on the mainland.

2. City-Machine
   Dominant local drivers:
   • Dominance of the tertiary sector in the economy.
   • Environmental degradation (particularly the high tides/subsidence and accident hazard).
   • Demographic decline (stopped).

Big barriers close off the entrances to the lagoon to protect the city from flooding. Everywhere on the horizon there are additional barriers, giving Venice and the lagoon the aspect of a fortified city under siege. The city is becoming much less attractive because of the visual impact of the ubiquitous engineering works. The power of Venice as a magnet for tourism is largely vanished. As the economy of Venice dwindles, it is onerous to pay for the barriers and for the maintenance of the water works.

3. Venice Inc.
   Dominant local drivers:
   • Dominance of the tertiary sector in the economy (particularly tourism and cultural activities).
   • Environmental degradation (halted).
   • Demographic decline.
   ↘ Tourism is growing steadily and it now generates unprecedented profits; Venice has become one of the four most important tourist destinations in the world. A major part of daily life in the city is now a parody (for tourists) of ‘la Serenissima’. Venice is not a ‘normal’ city anymore, but an enormous theatrical stage.
4. Cyberia
   Dominant local drivers:
   • Dominance of the tertiary sector in the economy (particularly tourism, cultural activities, and
   information technologies).
   • Environmental degradation (reversed).Demographic decline (stopped).
   • High and democratic participation.
   • History of Venice (the ‘myth of Venice’).

↘ The morphology of the lagoon is stabilized and even improved. Eco-management of high tides
through restoration of the original hydraulic system and its behavior is highly successful.  Tourism flow is regulated through the licensing of hotels and restaurants, taking into account the city’s carrying capacity. A variety of cyber-jobs, highly creative and with low environmental impact, now provide employment. Venice becomes a sort of ‘cultural Silicon valley’ specialized in the use of information technologies for historical, heritage-based cultural activities. The city markets its cultural treasures in highly sophisticated virtual reality packages as a world-class learning centre for ‘cultural informatics’.