Alberto Prestininzi

Geological-evolutionary model of a gravity-induced slope deformation in the carbonate Central Apennines (Italy)

This paper discusses the findings from a study conducted on gravity-induced deformationsoccurring along the SW slope of Mount Nuria linking the village of Pendenza (Rieti, Italy) to the area of San Vittorino, in the alluvial plain of the Velino river, where important infrastructures are present. The dominantly carbonate composition of the rocks outcropping along the slope, the occurrence of a main spring fed by a regional karst aquifer and the interaction of gravity-induced deformations with buildings and infrastructures resting on the slope or located at its base make the investigated case extremely interesting and reflective of phenomena that are common in similar geological-hydrogeological conditions. Insights from this case and their use for the construction of a ‘geological-evolutionary model’ shed more light on the complex interactions existing between jointed carbonate rocks, seepage, karst dissolution, genesis of gravity-induced deformations and their evolution in space and time, through the analysis of stress-strain conditions withinthe slope. According to the selected methodologicalapproach, data from detailed geological, geomorphological and geomechanical surveys were integrated with those from laboratory tests and from a complex slope monitoring system. From the results of the study it was possible to: i) refer the investigated phenomena to gravity-induced deformations on the slope scale; ii) build a representative ‘geological-evolutionary model’ and iii) develop an analytical approach to assess the hazard represented by these deformations for local buildings and infrastructures. The identification of different hazard conditions can helpdefine the type and value of possible mitigation efforts. The investigated case also provided inputs for testing new approaches to the geomechanical characterization of rock masses, to the description of their jointing and to the correlation of their main discontinuities with tectonic and gravity-induced elements.

The Large Salcito Landslide Triggered by the 2002 Molise, Italy, Earthquake

The 2002 Molise, Italy, earthquake triggered a deep planar earthslide about 38 km away from the epicenter, mainly involving scaly clay shales and related weathered material. Based on site investigations and borehole data, the inferred depth of the sliding surface is between 30 and 50 meters below ground level, indicating an involved volume of about 40⋅106 m3. The complex geological setting, the generated excess pore water pressure, and possible local seismic response are thought to have been the primary contributing factors.

Forecasting methods for landslides interacting with infrastructures

Few years ago, during the start-up works for the realization of a tunnel entrance, a shallow translational landslide occurred. Following this event detailed engineering-geological surveys of the slope were performed and an integrated monitoring system, including also a Terrestrial SAR Interferometer (TInSAR), was built. Based on the time series of displacement semi-empirical approach was applied to the anchored bulkheads. Simultaneously an engineering-geology model was devised for a stress–strain numerical analysis which was performed by the finite difference code FLAC 6.0.

Multi-sensor system designed for monitoring rock falls: the experimental test-site of Acuto (Italy)

This paper illustrates the design of a multi-sensor monitoring system located in Acuto (Frosinone - Central Italy) where an abandoned quarry was devoted to experimental test-site. The test-site is managed by the Research Centre for the Geological Risks (CERI) and is focused on testing and comparing multi-sensing and multi-parametric remote techniques for early warning, applied to rock falls with strategic infrastructure targets. The final aim of this testing is to process the data collected by techniques integrated by a network of conventional and smart sensors, following observational-bases and statistical approaches. The installed multi-sensor monitoring system consists in 2 control units for weather monitoring, 1 thermometer for the rocky mass temperature, 10 strain-gauges for rock mass joints, 2 optical devices (Smart Cameras) and 1 nanoseismic monitoring network.

Development of a geological model useful for the study of the natural hazards in urban environments: An example from the eastern sector of Rome (Italy)

(**)I.S.P.R.A. Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale Via V. Brancati, 48 00144 Roma, Italy (**)Sapienza Università di Roma Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e Centro di Ricerca CERI Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5 00185 Roma, Italy Corresponding author: gianmarco.luberti@isprambiente.it DEVELOPMENT OF A GEOLOGICAL MODEL USEFUL FOR THE STUDY OF THE NATURAL HAZARDS IN URBAN ENVIRONMENTS: AN EXAMPLE FROM THE EASTERN SECTOR OF ROME (ITALY)(°)

Landslide risk reduction by coupling monitoring and numerical modeling

The importance of the reference engineering-geology model of a slope is a concept well established in the scientific and technical community facing on large in frastructures. The engineering-geology model is in fact a fundamental informative layer to understand and predict the structure-slope interactions and to design stabilization countermeasures. Such an issue has a relevant role in the case of unstable slopes: at this regard the Vajont case history represents a worldwide reference. Engineering-geology models can be validated and/or updated by monitoring data. Furthermore, the harmonization of engineering-geology models and monitoring data can be achieved by the implementation of stress-strain numerical models, that represent a validating tool for the engineering-geology models,

Ruolo dell’assetto geologico sulle condizioni di stabilità della collina di Gerace (Reggio Calabria, Italia)

Il presente lavoro riporta i risultati di uno studio sulla stabilita dei versanti della collina su cui sorge l’abitato storico-monumentale di Gerace (RC), con particolare riferimento al ruolo svolto dall’assetto litostratigrafico. Tale assetto, infatti, e caratterizzato da una successione sedimentaria meso-cenozoica, che vede sovrapporsi, con contatti discordanti, depositi aventi proprieta geomeccaniche marcatamente diversificate alla scala di ammasso. Le evidenze geomorfologiche di sito, congiuntamente ad un’analisi dello stato di fratturazione del versante rupestre e ad un rilievo delle lesioni di edifici localizzati lungo i bordi della rupe, portano a distinguere fenomeni di frana che risultano attivi con diversi cinematismi nel versante meridionale ed in quello settentrionale della collina. Piu in particolare, il versante meridionale e coinvolto in uno scorrimento rototraslazionale con superficie di rottura a circa 100 m dal piano campagna ed un volume di circa 8 Mm3, il cui arretramento interessa l’abitato per circa 100 m dall’attuale ciglio della rupe; in corrispondenza del versante settentrionale si osservano, invece, diffusi fenomeni di crollo parietale. Tale diversificazione cinematica ben si correla con l’assetto litostratigrafico della collina, che vede ispessirsi da sud verso nord le marne plioceniche della Formazione dei Trubi ed, al contrario, ridursi significativamente di spessore i sottostanti conglomerati messiniani. Come anche dimostrato da una modellazione numerica tenso- deformativa, l’assetto litostratigrafico che caratterizza il versante settentrionale della collina di Gerace comporta un’interruzione della continuita dei litotipi piu rigidi della successione cenozoica (Formazione di M. Narbone e conglomerati messiniani) da parte della marne della Formazione dei Trubi, al contrario di quanto si osserva in corrispondenza del versante meridionale. Cio giustifica una piu ridotta azione destabilizzante dovuta alla sovrapposizione dei depositi cenozoici sulle Argille Varicolori e motiva la franosita perlopiu parietale solo in corrispondenza del settore settentrionale della rupe

Ecosystem of the Anticolana Valley

The results of an integrated environmental study on the geological, hydrogeological and ecological features of the area of formation of the low mineral content water of Fiuggi are briefly presented. The research programme, that was started in 1996 and is now in its final phase, was aimed at the following: (a) identifying the geological-structural limits of the hydrogeological basin; (b) building a model of the deep water circulation that should include an analysis of the rainfall and of the water balance, and (c) determining the vulnerable characteristics of the aquifer in relation to the human impact and setting up a monitoring system to control the different environmental parameters.

Integrating natural hazards in spanish and italian land use planning

The socioeconomic losses in Spain and Italy due to natural hazards are considerable. Most of them are related to a policy which is not sufficiently based on prevention. Spatial and town plannings are the most efficient and economic tools for natural hazards prevention, through prohibitions or restrictions. In Spain, the use of natural hazards maps, included in the Environmental Sustainability Assessment, and, in Italy, the Hydrogeological Assessment Planning, should contribute to minimize these losses. They should be confronted with town plannings for assigning a land use that must be coherent with hazard maps. Nowadays, because most of the Town Plannings are old; land use does not necessarily agree with the natural hazards maps. The Directive 2001/42/EC, or Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive, contributes to integrate natural hazards into the spatial and town planning, while Directive 2007/60/EC on the assessment and management of flood risks required Spain and Italy to consider floods in the land use planning. The Civil Protection Departments in Spain are contributing to design natural hazards maps that may be used for land use planning, while in Italy supervises the projects obtained from different River Basin Authorities (Autorita di Bacino) that has utilized the studies of regional Administrations and scientific research groups (University, CNR,…). This paper deals with the consideration of natural hazards in the Spanish and Italian spatial and town planning as a tool of prevention.

Terrestrial SAR Interferometry Monitoring of Natural Slopes and Man-Made Structures

Remote sensing techniques for the monitoring of displacements are opening new opportunities in the field of geotechnical engineering and geology. Terrestrial Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) interferometry (TInSAR) is one of the most innovative techniques and it promises to be a very effective solution, which will be extensively used in the near future. TInSAR is characterized by several interesting features such as: (i) high density of information; (ii) fully remote capability; (iii) long range capability; (iv) panoramic perspective; (v) spatially continuous efficacy and (vi) high accuracy. Thanks to these features, TInSAR has been used for investigation and diagnostic purposes (e.g. landslide and structural movement monitoring), and provided very useful data.