Braille Maps at Building Entrances/Exits

Some Interesting Images From Italy – October 2011

Posted by CJ Walsh

2011-11-07:  Images from a recent business trip to the Region of Le Marche, in Italy … a region steeped in history, and rich in beautiful landscape, and good friends, food and wine … via Rome’s Ciampino Airport.

Without realizing it, the flight into Rome came just after a very serious storm had hit the north-west coastal Regions of Liguria & Toscana … even the central Region of Lazio received a lash.  Devastatingly destructive flash floods had resulted.  Many people were killed.  The recent bad flooding in Dublin was just a tea party in comparison !

     1.  Anti-Sustainable ‘Photovoltaic Fields’

Not small greenhouses !   Instead, let me introduce you to the new concept of the Photovoltaic Field … where good agricultural land has been ‘planted’ with photovoltaic panels, incentivized by grants, tax breaks, or whatever (does it really matter ?!?) … how sustainable is this ?   These fields are becoming quite a common sight in the Italian countryside …

Colour photograph showing a Photovoltaic Field near the road from Amandola to Macerata, in Le Marche ... where good agricultural land has been 'planted' with photovoltaic panels. Photograph by CJ Walsh. 2011-10-29. Click to enlarge.
Colour photograph showing a Photovoltaic Field near the road from Amandola to Macerata, in Le Marche ... where good agricultural land has been 'planted' with photovoltaic panels. Photograph by CJ Walsh. 2011-10-29. Click to enlarge.

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     2.  Petrol/Gasoline Prices in Italy Now

This was a good average … depending on location, however, Petrol/Gasoline Prices could vary by as much as ± 3 to 4 cents …

Colour photograph showing the prices of different grades of petrol and diesel at a Petrol Station in Rome's Ciampino Airport, in Italy. Photograph by CJ Walsh. 2011-10-26. Click to enlarge.
Colour photograph showing the prices of different grades of petrol and diesel at a Petrol Station in Rome's Ciampino Airport, in Italy. Photograph by CJ Walsh. 2011-10-26. Click to enlarge.

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     3.  Braille Maps at Building Entrances/Exits

A good example of a Braille Map, which should be located at the Entrances and Exits of All Buildings … essential for the blind – the visually impaired – those with frail sight … and very useful for travellers/visitors, generally, who are unfamiliar with their surroundings and need to rapidly access information about their location and orientation …

Colour photograph showing a good example of a Braille Map, having strong colour contrast and with texts in Italian and English, at the Arrivals Building Main Entrance/Exit in Rome's Ciampino Airport. Photograph by CJ Walsh. 2011-10-26. Click to enlarge.
Colour photograph showing a good example of a Braille Map, having strong colour contrast and with texts in Italian and English, at the Arrivals Building Main Entrance/Exit in Rome's Ciampino Airport. Photograph by CJ Walsh. 2011-10-26. Click to enlarge.

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     4.  Corrado Levantesi – Montefortino, Le Marche

Finally and most importantly, I want to remember a good friend … Corrado Levantesi, who died one day after his 51st Birthday, on 15 September 2011, following a long illness.  May he rest in peace …

Photograph by CJ Walsh. 2011-10-31. Click to enlarge.
Photograph by CJ Walsh. 2011-10-31. Click to enlarge.

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SDI Practice Note:  Due to administrative changes in the Provincial Boundaries of Le Marche … our Italian Address has been altered to …

Sustainable Design International Ltd.,  Via Doganelli 2,  63857 Amandola (FM),  Italia.

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