The training-through-research project SOFIA - Situated Learning Opportunities fostered by ICT applications in Alternative Agro-Food Networks- aims at enhancing the researcher potential to make broad his horizons and support his career development. In the light of his research objectives he will acquire new knowledge and transfer that one previously developed to the host organization The SOFIA project will allow the ER to became a key facilitator of multidisciplinary research and innovation teams, applying his interdisciplinary competences in service design for innovation, thus ensuring an independent position to the researcher and his future employability in the academic and/or non-academic context. The research SOFIA aims to analyze innovative organizational models and explore the value of the use of ICT tools (e.g. ubiquitous mobile services) to increase Situated Learning Opportunities (SLOs) in an Alternative Agro-Food Networks (AAFNs), through two methodologies i.e multi-case study analysis of local food systems and rural areas and a web-survey of ICT tools for AAFN. The expected impact of the research is to define a set of reproducible methodologies, models, tools and technologies that can improve the competitiveness of a selected area, leveraging its potential in terms of materials and intangible resources. In addition, the study will aim to analyze ICT tools supporting the information flows management both for decision making and for operational processes in the identified collaborative networks. The researcher will carry out specific actions to disseminate project results and increase their fruitful exploitation, e.g.SOFIA’s results will be exploited to draw up guidelines based on innovative organizational models, tools and ICTs to support the dynamics of sustainable development in local food systems and to design and develop Mobile services to support SLOs in AAFNs in order to improve mutual understanding and collaboration between value chain stakeholders.

Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.

Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.

In mid January 2012, Cyclone Dando struck southern Africa, leading to widespread heavy rainfall (450-500 mm in 48 hours) & flooding in the Kruger National Park (KNP), eastern South Africa. This flooding occurred just 12 years after the last major catastrophic flooding in the KNP (Jan/Feb 2000), which also caused dramatic river channel & vegetation changes. Using data acquired from light aircraft (photographs, LiDAR) together with field surveying & sediment sampling, this study will exploit a rare opportunity to investigate the flooding, erosion & sedimentation that occurred during the January 2012 event along three rivers in the KNP. The data obtained will be compared with pre-existing data that were collected prior to & following the 2000 flooding in the KNP, & then combined with state-of-the-art computer models to simulate flow characteristics during floods & the longer term response of the rivers to sequences of extreme floods. The aerial, field & modelling results will help to develop new conceptual models of the response of these rivers to extreme events. Such models will have practical application, both for river managers in the KNP & farther afield. Many climate change scenarios predict future increases in the size & frequency of extreme flood events in southern Africa & other dryland regions, & better understanding of the spatial extent of flooding, erosion & sedimentation will contribute to improved flood hazard management & environmental stewardship.