Francesco Faccini

Environmental climatic maps of Liguria (Italy)

The Ligurian climate has been mapped for hydrological and tourist purposes. Isohyet and isotherm maps as well as ombrothermic diagrams show a great abundance of water characterizing the Ligurian environment. Winter and summer tourist maps, produced by running a global polynomial interpolation, highlight areas where climate allows snow tourism, coastal sports, bathing, relaxation and cultural tourism. A synthesis tourist susceptibility map shows many areas, often scarcely developed, where climate conditions are potentially suitable for the development of tourist activity.

Large-scale landslide and deep-seated gravitational slope deformation of the Upper Scrivia Valley (Northern Apennine, Italy)

The Scrivia river is a right tributary of the Po river, the main Italian water course, which flows eastwards into the Adriatic Sea. The head of the Scrivia valley is located in the Northern Apennines, a very short distance from the Ligurian Sea. Its catchment is characterized by landslide areas greater than both the regional and national average. In this work, the causes of this high landslide density have been investigated and a large-scale map of landslide phenomena is produced. Based on geomorphological constraints, several previously unknown deep-seated gravitational slope deformations (DSGSDs) were also identified. DSGSDs have been distinguished in sackungen and lateral spreads. Their characteristics were analyzed in a geographical information system (GIS) environment and compared with landslide distribution. Field surveys, aerial photo-interpretation and GIS analyses led to the production of a large-scale landslide and DSGSD overview map at 1:35,000. The massive presence of DSGSDs and their connection to landslide distribution and activity raise important implications for both geological mapping and land planning.

Yet another disaster flood of the Bisagno stream in Genoa (Liguria, Italy): October the 9th -10th 2014 event

On 2014, 9th October, short and heavy rainfall hit the Bisagno Valley. The Bisagno stream overflowed again and flooded the center of Genoa, causing severe economic damage and a victim. This is the fourth serious flooding of the stream in the last fifty years, which shows similarities with the previous catastrophic ones in 1970, 1992 and 2011, both because of the trigger conditions, determined by the orography of the city of Genoa, and for the weather situations marked by an anticyclonic block converging over the Liguria Gulf.Between 06:00 a.m. on October the 9th and 12:00 a.m. on October the 10th in the Bisagno catchment were recorded some peaks of rain up to almost 140 mm/h and heaps of more than 550 mm/24hrs, which resulted in a rapid increase in the level of all streams of the Bisagno basin and subsequent flooding in the final stretch of the Bisagno stream, where the watercourse underflows covered by a long manhole for the last 1.4 kilometres.Interventions for risk mitigation through more careful weather-hydrology monitoring in nowcasting, the improvement of the civil protection activities, structural works on the watercourse, maintenance of the territory of the Bisagno catchment, a correct information and a timely communication to the population living in high risk areas are all urgently needed.

Applied geomorphological map of the Portofino Municipal Territory (Italy)

Abstract Please click here to download the map associated with this article. Here we present an applied geomorphological map at a scale of 1:5,000 of the Portofino territory (Italy). The map was compiled by combining available geological and hydrogeological information with a new geomorphological field survey and data derived from geotechnical studies carried out for town planning and building purposes. Portofino is one of the most well known old town centres; its territory is entirely included in the Park of the same name created in 1935. This charming village is located at the mouth of Fondaco Stream. Although the catchment has a limited size—its highest altitude is just over 200 m a.s.l.—the watercourse drainage culverts built in the late 19th century cause hazards caused by gravity, owing water and wave action. We used the following methods: a) bibliographic and map research of scienti-c papers; b) a geological field survey, preceded by photo interpretation; c) stratigraphic and geotechnical data collection where building sites are located; and d) laboratory tests to determine rock strength. This paper presents an example of geocartography that could be applied to land planning in areas with high landscape value but threatened by geomorphological hazards.

Environmental Geological Maps of San Fruttuoso Bay (Portofino Park, Italy)

Abstract Please click here to download the map associated with this article. This paper presents environmental geological maps (applied geomorphology, morpho-sedimentology, ecological set-up, geomorphological hazard geothemes) of San Fruttuoso Bay (Portofino Park, Italy). The hamlet of San Fruttuoso is the most popular attraction of Portofino Natural Park and is internationally known. This charming village is located at the mouths of two steep and tiny valleys, which have headwaters at about 600 m a.s.l.; their catchments are developed entirely on conglomerate rocks. The value of the landscape and cultural heritage of this area are immense, but they are at risk from geo-hazards. The geomorphological hazards fall into three categories: landslides, debris ows and coastal erosion. Our detailed maps are based on geological, geomorphological and ecological data collected according to the following methods: a) analysis of aerial photographs at 1:13,000 scale; b) geological field survey; c) observation and comparison of historical images and maps; d) granulometric analysis of soil samples; and e) underwater survey. We believe that such geo-maps are important tools in land management studies, especially in areas threatened by natural hazards. In the case of San Fruttuoso Bay, this kind of study is even more important, given the need to preserve a world-class natural heritage site

Engineering geological map of the Chiavari city area (Liguria, Italy)

An engineering geological map at a scale of 1:10,000 of the Chiavari city area (Northern Italy) – a major tourist and economic attraction of the Ligurian East Riviera – is presented in this paper. The municipality land shows an excellent geomorphological case-study of the well-known Ligurian coast: a floodplain, fairly wide and inhabited, formed by several floods of the two main rivers, a hill hinterland, reasonably inhabited, developed in marly limestones and sandy shales flysch and the coast – featuring cliffs and narrow pebbly beaches – deeply modified. This map was compiled by combining available geological data with a new engineering geomorphological field survey and including geotechnical data which were obtained from studies carried out for town planning and building purposes. On the basis of the critical review of the available lithostratigraphic data from drilling, as well as geotechnical and geophysical analyses carried out between 1981 and 2010 on the municipality land, an engineering geological map was compiled. Nine engineering geological units were established, based on their physical characterizations and geomechanical properties. This paper presents an example of geocartography that could be applied to urban land planning for housing and construction of technical works; it also represents the base for geological hazard evaluation.

Flash Flood Events and Urban Development in Genoa (Italy): Lost in Translation

Coastal locations in the Mediterranean area experienced several geo-hydrological events from the beginning of the 3rd Millennium. Among the most flooded areas featuring the Ligurian coastal environment, Genoa is sorrowfully at international level, for the flash flood characteristics and consequent damage: the last event of 4 November 2011, once again, caused the loss of human lives. Genoa, in fact, can be considered an interesting case study for geo-hydrological risks: it can be said that to a general trend of increasing hazard, due to global and particular climate changes of the Mediterranean area, corresponds an increase of the vulnerability due to the urban growth on the flood plains. In this paper are analyzed the unusual meteorological characteristics of the Gulf of Genoa, the changes in the rate of daily precipitation using the recorded data at the station of Genoa, in use since 1833. The most significant periods of the land urban development are also briefly described. They have determined important changes of the territory, modifying the water balance of the basins in a considerable way.

Geo-hiking map of Mt. Penna and Mt. Aiona area (Aveto Natural Park, Italy)

This work presents a geo-hiking map of Mt. Penna and Mt. Aiona area (Aveto Natural Park, Italy), an original and useful tool in the Earth science mapping field. Aveto Park is one of the best known Italian protected areas; it is located in the Ligurian Apennines and belongs to the Ophiolitic Protected Areas Coordination (‘C.A.P.O.’) and to the European Ecological Network Nature 2000. The Park area is crossed by more than 500 km of paths and trails where hikers, climbers and mountain lovers walk every year. The geo-hiking map was compiled by combining available geological and geomorphological bibliographic data with a field survey and basic information derived from hiking and tourist maps. The main stages used for production of the map are as follows: (a) bibliographic and map research of scientific papers; (b) a geological and geomorphological field survey; (c) trail and route data from tourist park maps; (d) research of geotouristic elements of interest. This work shows an example of geocartography research that really contributes to the implementations of documents and maps useful in the hiking tourism field. The main map is complemented with a natural hazard map; increasing tourism during the whole year in areas with geomorphological hazards results in a relationship between the human element, natural processes and hazard phenomena.

Geoheritage map of the Portofino Natural Park (Italy)

ABSTRACT This paper introduces a novel geoheritage map of the Portofino Natural Park. The park is an internationally well-known area, protected since 1935, located in the Ligurian Apennines, 25 km E of Genoa. It has 80 km of hiking trails which are used by visitors all year around. The map was produced by combining geological and geomorphological data, geoheritage elements and data from hiking and tourist maps. It is intended to be a base map from which can be derived applied maps. With appropriate integrations and simplifications, these can be useful tools for the management of highly frequented protected areas. The methodological approach involved aerial photo interpretation, bibliographical research, field work and the use of data from the Park archives. The original base map was produced by using a Digital Terrain Model raster (5 m) and vector layers for the different cartographical elements.

Urban Geomorphology in Coastal Environment: Man-Made Morphological Changes in a Seaside Tourist Resort (Rapallo, Eastern Liguria, Italy)

Abstract This research focuses on the reconstruction of the morphological modifications of the coastal floodplain of Rapallo (Eastern Liguria, NW Italy) due to human intervention since the eighteenth century. By the second half of the nineteenth century Rapallo became a popular tourist destination: as a consequence, the urban development of the floodplain started and became very intense after Second World War, strongly modifying former landforms. The study was carried out using multi-temporal cartographic and photographic comparison, the analysis of geo-thematic cartography and documentation from the Basin Master Plan and the town plan of Rapallo, the interpretation of cores from regional database and field data from direct urban surveys. Man-made landforms were mapped and classified using the new geomorphological legend which is in progress in the framework of the Working Groups on “Cartography” and “Urban Geomorphology” of the Italian Association of Physical Geography and Geomorphology (AIGEO). The main significant morphological changes were stream diversions and channeling, excavations and filling, quarry activities, embankments along the shoreline and overurbanization. Human interventions, in addition to local geomorphological and climate features, increased flood hazard and risk, which historically affected the city of Rapallo.