Procedures Based on Situated Cognition and Direct Experience in Landscape Representation: a Toolbox for the Case Study of Panoramica Zegna Road

This research aims at investigating the potential of landscape representation tools and techniques for analyzing spatial patterns and specific scenic phenomena that can be perceived along the Panoramica Zegna road in the Province of Biella, north-western Italy. The mountainous landscape crossed by the panoramic road, 63 km long, from Andrate to Trivero, is characterized by a unique spatial configuration, as a ‘balcony’ in-between the Alps and the Po valley, that allows facing different topics related both to morphological and perceptive aspects of the landscape, which requires to be faced with a multiscalar approach jointly interconnected with specific representation tools and techniques. In this framework, the research, by exploring the situated knowledge approach, presents and discusses the role and the possible application of each tool and their linked representations to specific topics, such as landscape survey, landscape analysis of structural components, seasonal landscape mapping, and landscape visibility. By showing different kinds of representations, such as historical maps, thematic maps, schemes, sections, three-dimensional models, georeferenced pictures, multispectral satellite and UAV imagery, the research shows how this ‘toolbox’ can be used to read, understand, and configure new strategies for landscape conservation and design. Finally, the research discusses the strengths and weaknesses of this methodology, considering each tool and its potential applicability to different landscape contexts.