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The “San Michele Arcangelo” historic trail (Aurunci Regional Park, central Italy), located along the southern slope of Mt. Altino, which is highly prone to rockfalls, is hiked every year by thousands of faithful on pilgrimage who are exposed to such kinds of instabilities. To contribute to a better understanding of the condition and evolution of such phenomena, providing a susceptibility scenario able to support the adoption of mitigation measures, a specific analysis was completed based on field and literature data. Three-dimensional virtual outcrop models were obtained through both photogrammetric and iPad Pro LiDAR surveys to derive geomechanical features of outcropping rocks and estimate potential detaching block volume. Possible mechanisms of detachment were then analyzed using the Markland test method. Susceptibility to rockfall propagation and block deposition was analyzed using GIS processing and rockfall propagation simulations based on deterministic/stochastic models. Such models consist of a combination of a deterministic algorithm able to simulate the physics of rockfall movement during propagation and a stochastic treatment of input parameters based on random sampling within defined interval. Two different rockfall simulations were compared in this study using the Rockyfor3D™ (ecorisQ Association) software and the newly developed RocFall3© (RocScience) code. The use of iPad Pro LiDAR survey provides accurate and high-resolution point clouds, with high speed of acquisition and real-time processing of data. Discontinuity sets identified from 3D models have represented the input for kinematic analyses of slopes, allowing to identify potential failure mechanisms among wedge and planar sliding or toppling. Rockfall simulations indicate the potential for rock blocks propagation and deposition over the whole study area. Comparing the results of rockfall simulations with the geomorphological map of the area it is evident the control exerted by the hydrographic network on rockfall propagation as demonstrated by the presence of screes and slope deposits along the main channels. Understanding the potential susceptibility to both propagation and deposition of rock blocks along the trail provides useful indication for the assessment of appropriate mitigation measures to realize for the safer touristic fruition of the site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Historic center of Naples is one of the UNESCO word heritage sites. • Cathedrals, churches and chapels are subject to cavity collapse. • Places of worship are above a connected network of underground cavities. • DInSAR analysis suggest the presence of anomalous areas. • 95 places of worship of the historic center of Naples are susceptible to sinkholes. The historic center of Naples (southern Italy) is characterized by a variety of elements which, forming its cultural asset, have contributed to its recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Among these, cathedrals, churches and chapels are particularly relevant due to their diffusion and differentiation in age. A singular feature of these places of worship is the presence of a frequently connected network of underground cavities. Such cavities, excavated for quarrying tuff blocks, are susceptible to sudden collapses generating sinkholes which in a number of cases have been responsible for the loss of human lives. On this basis and considering the importance of such elements as attractors of visitors, an analysis of susceptibility to sinkholes of cathedrals, churches and chapels has been here carried out. A sinkhole, cavities and places of worship inventory was prepared using available data and was used, in association to ongoing ground deformation data obtained by DInSAR. Results indicated that 40% of the inventoried sinkholes are a product of cavity collapses and in 45 cases cavities lie underneath places of worship. Geodetic data obtained by Differential Interferometric SAR technique indicate that approximately 1 km2 of the historic center of Naples is subject to ongoing subsiding deformation that in several cases is localized above cavities. The susceptibility map derived from available data indicate the presence of a zone where no cathedral, church and chapel can be subject to sinkholes (1) and 3 zones where they can be subject to sagging (2), potential future cavity collapses (3) and future cavity collapses anticipated by ongoing deformation (4); in detail, 34 places of worship are in zone 2, 57 in zone 3 and 9 in zone 4. Considering an increasing susceptibility level of the identified zones, the 9 places of worship located in zone 4 require a quick response in terms of characterization, stability analysis and real time monitoring have been identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Differential Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (DInSAR) techniques have repeatedly proved to be an effective tool for built environments monitoring in areas affected by geological hazards. This paper describes how the Coherent Pixel Technique (CPT) approach has been successfully applied to assess the response of an unstable slope to the different phases of remedial works following a landslide event. The CPT technique was performed on 59 COSMO-SkyMed images obtained between May 2011 and August 2016 and centred on the Quercianella settlement (a small hamlet of Livorno municipality, Tuscany, Italy), where the reactivation of a dormant shallow slide had occurred in March 2011 and, hereafter, a geotechnical intervention, designed with the aim of mitigating the risks, has been conducted from August 2013, lasting thirteen months. The time series of CPT results show a deformation pattern with sudden accelerations (up to 21 mm in few months) corresponding to the beginning of the interventions, during which the area has been excavated to install a drainage well, followed by mild decelerations resulting from the stabilization of the area after the conclusion of the works. In particular, the integration of ground-based subsurface monitoring (inclinometers and piezometers) and DInSAR superficial data has provided consistent results for landslide characterization and helped defining the state of activity and the areal distribution of the sliding surface. Moreover, the performance of remedial works in the landslide-affected area has been observed, showing stabilization in the upper part of the hamlet and the ongoing movement in the lower part. The combined monitoring system also led the geotechnical company in charge of remedial works to design further stabilization works in order to preserve buildings and roads in the moving area. Therefore, the integration of remote sensing techniques and in situ instruments represents a timely and cost-efficient solution for intervention works monitoring, opening new perspectives on designing engineering solutions for the stabilization of unstable slopes. Highlights • DInSAR and conventional monitoring techniques were applied in Livorno, Italy. • Such integration supported the design of remedial works of the landslide. • The performances of the drainage well were observed by DInSAR and inclinometers. • The monitoring system led the company in charge to plan further stabilization works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landslides are among the most important and frequent natural calamities that cause severe socio-economic and human losses. After earthquakes, landslides are responsible for the greatest number of casualties and the largest amount of damage to man-made structures. On average, southern Italy is affected by a high spatial density of landslides due to its complex geological setting, which often predisposes it to slope instability phenomena under both natural and anthropogenic influences. Structurally complex formations are widespread in the southern Apennines and are characterized by high heterogeneity and very poor mechanical properties. Thus, these formations represent one of the main factors contributing to the predisposition of slopes to landsliding. In this paper, landslide-induced damage was investigated and analyzed in an area within the municipality of Agnone (Molise region), which is affected by a complex landslide that involves a structurally complex formation. The approaches used were based on six different methods that have previously been described in the literature, and a comparison of the results was made. Data regarding the damage, which consists largely of cracks observed in buildings and at the ground, were compiled through field surveys. The results were critically analyzed to note the advantages and constraints of each classification scheme. The aim of the work was to apply and compare different approaches in order to test the best and most accurate procedures for assessing damage due to landslides at the scale of individual buildings as well as to provide an objective assessment of the degree of landslide damage to structures and facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persistent Scatterers Interferometry (PSI) represents one of the most powerful techniques for Earth's surface deformation processes' monitoring, especially for long-term evolution phenomena. In this work, a dataset of 34 TerraSAR-X StripMap images (October 2013–October 2014) has been processed by two PSI techniques - Coherent Pixel Technique-Temporal Sublook Coherence (CPT-TSC) and Small Baseline Subset (SBAS) - in order to study the evolution of a slow-moving landslide which occurred on February 23, 2012 in the Papanice hamlet (Crotone municipality, southern Italy) and induced by a significant rainfall event (185 mm in three days). The mass movement caused structural damage (buildings' collapse), and destruction of utility lines (gas, water and electricity) and roads. The results showed analogous displacement rates (30–40 mm/yr along the Line of Sight – LOS-of the satellite) with respect to the pre-failure phase (2008–2010) analyzed in previous works. Both approaches allowed detect the landslide-affected area, however the higher density of targets identified by means of CPT-TSC enabled to analyze in detail the slope behavior in order to design possible mitigation interventions. For this aim, a slope stability analysis has been carried out, considering the comparison between groundwater oscillations and time-series of displacement. Hence, the crucial role of the interaction between rainfall and groundwater level has been inferred for the landslide triggering. In conclusion, we showed that the integration of geotechnical and remote sensing approaches can be seen as the best practice to support stakeholders to design remedial works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of an investigation on a Deep Seated Gravitational Slope Deformation (DSGSD), previously only hypothesized by some authors, affecting Bisaccia, a small town located in Campania region, Italy. The study was conducted through the integration of conventional methods (geological-geomorphological field survey, air-photo interpretation) and an Advanced-Differential Interferometry Synthetic Aperture Radar (A-DInSAR) technique. The DSGSD involves a brittle lithotype (conglomerates of the Ariano Irpino Supersynthem) resting over a Structurally Complex Formation (Varycoloured Clays of Calaggio Formation). At Bisaccia, probably as a consequence of post-cyclic recompression phenomena triggered by reiterated seismic actions, the rigid plate made up of conglomeratic sediments resulted to be split in five portions, showing different rates of displacements, whose deformations are in the order of some centimeter/year, thus inducing severe damage to the urban settlement. A-DInSAR techniques confirmed to be a reliable tool in monitoring slow-moving landslides. In this case 96 ENVIronmental SATellite-Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (ENVISAT-ASAR) images, in ascending and descending orbits, have been processed using SUBSOFT software, developed by the Remote Sensing Laboratory (RSLab) group from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC). The DInSAR results, coupled with field survey, supported the analysis of the instability mechanism and confirmed the historical record of the movements already available for the town. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An integrated system to analyze slope instabilities over vast areas through the intercomparison of measurements obtained by in-situ and persistent scatterer (PS) interferometry processing of satellite synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data, is here introduced and tentatively named landslide detection integrated system (LaDIS).The persistent scatterer pair (PSP) SAR interferometry technique has been used to process high-resolution SAR images acquired in the 2008–2011 time span by the COSMO-SkyMed satellite constellation, available in a 40 km × 40 km study area in the Palermo Province (Sicily region—Italy). Derived displacement rate estimates from COSMO-SkyMedPS measurements have been analyzed in approximately 10% of the study area for landslide research. Within this area, according to the official landslide inventory map, extremely slow to very slow landslides are dominant, being favored by the presence of heterogeneous clay formations characterized by poor mechanical properties. To prove COSMO-SkyMedPS displacement rates an engineering-geological approach was adopted, tailored to allow a continuous and rapid updating of landslide-inventory maps; to this aim a detailed geological field work has been performed. To guarantee an independent assessment, field surveys have been carried out without sharing information derived from PS data. Almost half (49%) of the active unstable areas identified through COSMO-SkyMedPS measurements were confirmed by the field work. In an additional 26% of cases the greater sensitivity of the satellite has allowed to identify movements, even if very slow, that did not show superficial evidence. A confirmation of the great potentialities of the latest generation of satellite systems also comes from the comparison with the current official landslide-inventory map, updated in 2006. Among the 58% of the total PS measurements that have been used to contour the landslides “in remote”, 84.3% falls outside the polygons of the failures detected in the existing maps, which implies a significant percentage of data to be associated to new landslides or extension of pre-existing landslides. Advantages and drawbacks of exploiting COSMO-SkyMed X-band SAR data to study landslides over wide areas through the proposed approach are finally discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper presents the application of Differential Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) interferometry (DInSAR) algorithms for the precise monitoring of earth dams ground deformation. The test site selected for this study is the Conza Dam, located in the southern Apennines (Italy), very close to the epicenter of the big earthquake (Mw =6.9) which took place on November 23th, 1980, striking the Irpinia region. Among the multiple advanced DInSAR techniques developed by the SAR community during the last decade, this work uses the so-called SUBSOFT software, developed by the Remote Sensing Laboratory (RSLab) group from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), which is based on the use of Coherent Pixels Technique (CPT) algorithm. The analysis is carried out using 51 ENVIronmental SATellite-Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (ENVISAT-ASAR) images, corresponding to the period from 29th of November 2002 to the 30th of July 2010. In this framework, ground displacements recorded by a network of conventional ground-based sensors are also available for the same temporal span. Indeed, the embankment dam is well instrumented to measure internal settlements by means of cross-arms placed in six different cross-sections, and superficial displacements by means of targets for precise leveling. A statistical analysis has been performed to carry out a better comparison between the measurements obtained with the conventional field sensors and the interferometric data. The high agreement between final DInSAR displacements and in-situ instrumental data, demonstrates the reliability of such technique for the precise monitoring of civil infrastructures, and concretely, in dams with a high exposure factor and its consequent risk. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Natural hazards such as landslides, soil erosion and floods are increasingly affecting many regions of the world in relation to ongoing climate change and the abandonment of rural areas. In the last decades, the need to mitigate such phenomena and preserve natural resources, including landscapes, has motivated a number of local and national authorities to promote the use of soil bioengineering techniques. Consequently, these techniques have been increasingly used with variable success rates. This study analysed the efficiencies of different bioengineering structures to mitigate geo-hydrological risks by examining the interventions installed between 2007 and 2013 in the Avellino Province southern Italy. To this end, a specific project consistency analysis and functionality classification were carried out and the causes of inefficiencies were identified. The analysis showed that after a few years, only a small number of the installed bioengineering structures were fully functional and efficient. Overall, the installed structures were generally affected by maintenance issues and in many cases they suffered from design and execution issues, inducing a generally lower degree of efficiency, with most of them classified as 'not very efficient'. The conclusions of this work are that i) the long-term efficiency of a bioengineering structure is related to its correct design, installation, and maintenance; ii) the design of a bioengineering structure should account for the geological, geotechnical and hydrological characteristics of the area of interest, and iii) maintenance must not affect the short-term efficiency of a structure, but may affect the long-term efficiency. • The efficiency of bioengineering structure was analysed. • Bioengineering structure functionality was estimated three years after the installation. • A matrix-based approach accounting for causes of inefficiency was used. • Only 7% of the interventions were fully working and integrated with the landscape. • Most of the bioengineering structures were affected by design and installation issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different forms of hazard can affect structures throughout their existence. The occurrence of a seismic event in areas exposed to different risks or already affected by other phenomena is highly likely, especially in countries characterized by high seismicity and equally high hydrogeological risk, as Italy. Nevertheless, the seismic safety assessment of reinforced concrete (RC) structures is commonly carried out considering the seismic action only, generally applied to an analytical model, neglecting the stress–strain state induced by previous ongoing phenomena. The aim of this work is to highlight the importance of the seismic safety assessment in a multi-hazard analysis, cumulating the action coming from two different hazards: landslide and earthquake. An existing RC building, located in an area affected by an intermittent landslide phenomenon with slow kinematics, that may also be subjected to strong earthquakes, is used as case study. The Differential Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (DInSAR) approach is used to monitor the evolution in time of the landslide. DInSAR deformation data are used to detect surface ground movements applied to building foundations. A non-linear static analysis procedure is implemented for the code-based seismic safety assessment, in two different scenarios. The seismic assessment of the case-study building is implemented in a condition of structure deformed only for gravity loads, and, then, in a state of known landslide-induced deformed configuration. A comparison is proposed between the building seismic safety assessment performed in both cases, with or without the consideration of the landslide-induced displacements, showing the importance of a multi-hazard evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increasing number of satellite platforms provide daily images of the Earth's surface that can be used in quantitative monitoring applications. However, their cost and the need for specific processing software make such products not often suitable for rapid mapping and deformation tracking. Google Earth images have been used in a number of mapping applications and, due to their free and rapid accessibility, they have contributed to partially overcome this issue. However, their potential in Earth's surface displacement tracking has not yet been explored. In this paper, that aspect is analyzed providing a specific procedure and related MATLAB™ code to derive displacement field maps using digital image correlation of successive Google Earth images. The suitability of the procedure and the potential of such images are demonstrated here through their application to two relevant case histories, namely the Slumgullion landslide in Colorado and the Miage debris-covered glacier in Italy. Result validation suggests the effectiveness of the proposed procedure in deriving Earth's surface displacement data from Google Earth images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A tool to detect spatio-temporal landslide-induced effects on buildings is presented. • Building performace is investigated by DInSAR and structural analyses. • Pre- and post-repair intervention is analyzed by DInSAR time-series. Slow-moving landslides are a natural hazard which affects wide areas in the world and often are cause of significant damage to structures and infrastructures. Analysis of landslide evolution and of their interaction with existing man-made structures plays a key role in risk prevention and mitigation activities. To this purpose, a considerable interest towards innovative approaches has grown among the scientific community and land management institutions. In this work, Synthetic Aperture Radar data acquired by C-band and X-band sensors, combined with numerical analyses, have been successfully applied as a tool to detect spatial and temporal landslide-induced effects, in terms of deformations and structural behavior of a building affected by ground instability. Such approach has been applied to Moio della Civitella urban settlement (Salerno province, Italy), whose whole territory is interested by several slow-moving landslides. In detail, performance of a masonry building aggregate and the efficacy of restoration works have been investigated through an integrated assessment of displacement time-series pre- and post-repair intervention, and structural analysis performed with numerical code. Historical DInSAR data have permitted firstly the interpretation of building displacement time-series corresponding to pre- and post-works configurations; subsequently, the analysis of interpolated interferometric products has allowed to define gradient maps of vertical and horizontal displacements and to identify part of aggregate which can suffer a greater susceptibility to damage as a consequence of deformation gradients. Finally, the comparison of satellite and numerical data showed a substantial agreement with local failures and damage surveyed, thus confirming the capability of DInSAR technique to investigate building performance where no in situ displacement measurements were available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, the increasing number and severity of wildfires have become a major concern in many regions of the world. Besides having direct consequences for forests, crops, and settlements, wildfires can have significant effects on the catchment's hydrology, altering their response to rainfall and promoting enhanced runoff and erosion. Increased runoff in burnt areas can result in catastrophic damage and loss of life from destructive debris flows and floods. Although observed in many regions of the world, post-wildfire debris flows/floods seem to prevail in the western USA and southern Europe. In Italy, post-wildfire debris flows/floods have been observed in a number of sectors of the Apennine range, and a total of 113 events occurred between 2001 and 2021 in the Campania region. A recent event occurred on August 24, 2020, in the Fosso delle Pescine catchment, on the southwestern slope of Mt. Omo in the L'Aquila municipality, hit by a severe wildfire at the beginning of the month. The consequences of the event on people and properties indicate the need for an evaluation of debris flow/flood hazard in both pre- and post-wildfire conditions. The analysis of these events may often be complex, requiring time and many input data. In this context, a simplified method of analysis which accounts for event initiation and propagation through a shallow water equation-based approach would represent a new and innovative solution for fast and preliminary debris flow/flood analyses. In this research, a reduced complexity analysis based on probability analysis of rainfall and 2D hydrodynamic modeling was carried out by estimating (i) wildfire extent and severity, (ii) sediment characteristics and availability, (iii) potential runoff induced by rainfall, and (iv) inundation by debris flow/flood. A debris flow/flood hazard model was developed on the basis of multiple return periods (10, 50, 100, and 300 years) for debris flow inundation scenarios derived by non-Newtonian 2D hydrodynamic modeling of debris flow hydrograph and qualitatively validated on the basis of the extent of alluvial fan deposits. Potential drawbacks of the model are related to the possible overestimation of surface runoff, related to the consideration of the whole catchment contributing area, and the limited volumetric sediment budget available at the headwater, which might not sustain a high return period event generation. A debris flow/flood event might originate from rainfall concentrated at the headwater of the catchment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last years, metropolitan areas are more and more exposed to natural risks often intensified by the effects of climatic changes. Clear and complete information about hazards impending on the territory is indispensable for local authorities to define efficient territorial management strategies focused on the risk reduction. A flexible hazard tool which works at different scale and with several sources of hazard is here proposed. We drew maps of monothematic and synthetic indices to describe the hazard status of metropolitan areas. A hazard hotspot map was also elaborated to identify both the areas with high hazard for the single dangerous event and the areas characterized by the concomitance of several hazards. We computed hazard indices for Napoli and Pozzuoli, a densely populated area, located in the Somma-Vesuvio and Campi Flegrei multi-source volcanic zone and also exposed to landslide, flood and coastal erosion hazard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cinque Terre National Park (38 km2) has recently recorded a remarkable increase in tourists involved in outdoor activities such as hiking. However, due to the actual slope degradation issues that affect this outstanding terraced landscape, hiking trails are increasingly threatened by the impact of landslides. This produces severe landslide-related risk scenarios for hikers. In this study, a landslide inventory map (at 1:45000 scale) has been prepared through the revision/update of previous database and the analysis of air-photos and satellite images coupled with field surveys. Furthermore, a quantitative evaluation of the interaction between landslides and hiking trails has been performed by the definition of a Footpath Landslide Index. More than 400 landslides were identified highlighting that these phenomena represent the main source of hazard. The findings of this study reveal that side-hill trails are the most hazardous since hikers can be potentially affected by flow-like or fast-moving landslides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flow-like landslides triggered by rainfall are a major concern in the peri-Vesuvian region of southern Italy. On December 19th, 2019, a landslide occurred along the Crocelle slope (Sarno Mountains), which had previously experienced a similar event in February 1986. This study was conducted to assess the characteristics of this event in terms of triggering and propagation conditions and, with reference to the 1986 landslide, to evaluate the evolution of residual landslide hazards at recurring landslide sites. Data collection included field surveys, visual analysis of a Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-based photogrammetric model, geotechnical laboratory testing, rainfall and slope stability analysis, and propagation modeling. Results suggest that the landslide i) originated below a trail, ii) involved an initial volume of 450 m3, which did not significantly grow due to the limited entrainment of slope sediments, iii) was initiated after 13 h of rainfall (return period ∼4 years), and iv) propagated along a channel with an estimated velocity of up to 10 m/s. Comparison of the 2019 event with the 1986 event revealed a significant difference in terms of landslide magnitude (i.e., volume), potentially due to the occurrence of multiple events, which may have led to the temporal depletion of available materials along a slope repeatedly affected by landslides, and possibly to the different behavior of primary layered deposits (involved in the 1986 event) compared to reworked deposits (involved in the 2019 event). This suggests a reduction in the residual landslide hazard associated with a decrease in the expected magnitude and frequency of prospective events. • The 2019 Palma Campania landslide was initiated following 13 h of precipitation; • The landslide encompassed reworked pyroclastic deposits underneath a trail; • The landslide propagated within a channel with a velocity of up to 10 m/s; • Slope failure is facilitated by prior hydrological conditions; • Slope-scale landslide hazard potentially decreases due to multiple landslides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, developing countries have experienced an increase in the impact of natural disasters due to ongoing climate change and the sustained expansion of urban areas. The intrinsic vulnerability of settlements, due to poverty and poor governance, as well as the lack of tools for urban occupation planning and mitigation protocols, has made such impacts particularly severe. Cuenca (Ecuador) is a significant example of a city that in recent decades has experienced considerable population growth (i.e. exposure) and an associated increase in loss due to landslide occurrence. Despite such effects, updated urban planning tools are absent, so an evaluation of multitemporal exposure to landslides and related risks is required. In this perspective, a potential urban planning tool is presented based on updated data depicting the spatial distribution of landslides and their predisposing factors, as well as population change between 2010 and 2020. In addition, a multitemporal analysis accounting for changes in exposure between 2010 and 2020 and an estimation of relative landside risk was carried out. Due to the absence of spatially distributed population data, energy supply contract data have been used as a proxy of the population. The results show that the current higher exposure and related relative risk are estimated for parishes (parroquias) located in the southern sector of the study area (i.e. Turi, Santa Ana, Tarqui, Nulti, Baños and Paccha). Moreover, the exposure multitemporal analysis indicates that most parishes located in the hilly areas bounding the city centre (i.e. Sayausi, San Joaquin, Tarqui, Sidcay, Baños, Ricaurte, Paccha and Chiquintad) are experiencing sustained population growth and will be potentially exposed to an increased risk with a consistently growing trend. The obtained relative risk map can be considered a valuable tool for guiding land planning, land management, occupation restriction and early warning strategy adoption in the area. The methodological approach used, which accounts for landslide susceptibility and population variation through proxy data analysis, has the potential to be applied in a similar context of growing population cities in low- to mid-income countries, where data usually needed for a comprehensive landslide risk analysis are non-existing or only partially available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports a detailed study on some relevant portions of the main façades of Caserta Royal Palace (Reggia di Caserta), one of the most important Italian monuments, comparable for its impressive architecture to the Royal Palace of Versailles in France and considered the largest royal palace in the world by volume. The research was focused on the weathering pathologies affecting the stone surfaces that, in the last decades, suffered several detachments of fragments from the coatings and from other architectural elements such as string courses, eaves, and capitals. A preliminary characterization of the materials of the façades and an evaluation of the relative weathering pathologies provided the information required for appropriate restoration and securing of these portions of the building. In particular, an innovative evaluation procedure which draws on techniques typical of the earth sciences allowed the proposal of a 'risk attitude' applied to discrete portions of the geomaterials used in the built heritage which is based on the influence of different factors leading to weakening of the stone and to the final detachment of rock fragments. Such a large and complete set of information should be carefully considered by the project planners to adopt the required steps for a suitable risk mitigation and for securing the site during restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different interferometric approaches have been developed over the past few decades to process SAR data and recover surface deformation, and each approach has advantages and limitations. Finding an accurate and reliable interval for preparing mean deformation rate maps (MDRMs) remains challenging. The primary purpose of this paper is to implement an application consisting of three unsupervised clustering algorithms (UCAs) for determining the best interval from SAR-derived deformation data, which can be used to interpret long-term deformation processes, such as subsidence, and identify displacement patterns. Considering Port Harcourt (in the Niger Delta) as the study area, it was essential to remove the sources of error in extracting deformation signals from SAR data, spatially ionospheric and tropospheric delays, before using UCAs to obtain its characteristics and real deformation data. Moreover, another purpose of this paper is to implement the advanced integration method (AIM) for atmospheric phase screen (APS) correction to enhance deformation signals obtained through different SAR processing approaches, including interferometric SARs (two-pass interferometry, InSAR) and multitemporal interferometry SARs (n-pass interferometry, DInSAR; permanent scatterer interferometry (PSI); and small baseline subset (SBAS)). Two methods were chosen to evaluate and find the best technique with which to create an MDRM: The first one was to compare the signals corrected by the AIM and the vertical component of the GPS station, which showed the AIM providing 58%, 42%, and 28% of the matching with GNSS station outputs for InSAR, PSI, and SBAS, respectively. Secondly, similarity measures and Davies–Bouldin index scores were implemented to find an accurate and reliable interval in which the SBAS technique with the unsupervised K-medians method has been chosen. Based on GNSS vertical deformation in a 500 m radius around the station, the SBAS K-medians technique expressed up to 5.5% better deformation patterns than the map of SAR processing techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on Deep-Seated Gravitational Slope Deformations (DSGSDs) identified in the Molise region (Italy), along the central-southern sector of the Apennines chain. These phenomena were detected and mapped through a combination of aerial-photo interpretation, morphological analyses, and field surveys, integrated through satellite SAR interferometry (InSAR). The obtained general map is organized in different sections: inventory map with identification of DSGSDs and main geological and orographic features, geostructural scheme, representative cross sections, list and characteristics of DSGSDs, geomorphometric maps, landslides map, and seismotectonic setting. This study allowed us to realize a complete inventory of DSGSDs in the Molise region and define the main characteristics of each phenomenon. Through this research, it was possible to establish a general correlation between the analyzed deformations and the geological and geomorphological setting of the region as well as with its geodynamic context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents a sinkhole susceptibility and risk assessment mapping in Guidonia-Bagni di Tivoli plain (Italy), a travertine sinkhole-prone area where sudden occurrences of sinkholes have happened in past and recent times. We collected a point-like sinkhole inventory and we considered a series of different sinkholecontrolling and precursory factors over the study area, related to its geo-litho-hydrological setting and to its terrain deformational scenario, i.e. ground motion rates derived from InSAR COSMOSkyMed imagery. A sinkhole susceptibility map was produced through a machine learning model, namely Maximum Entropy algorithm (MaxEnt). Results highlight that the most determining factors for sinkhole formation are the lithology, the travertine thickness, groundwater and the land use. The sinkhole susceptibility map was then combined with data on vulnerability and elements-at-risk economic exposure in order to provide a sinkhole risk map of the area. The outcomes show that areas at higher risk covers about 2% of the total study area and primarily relies on the zoning of the main urban fabric. In particular, it is worth to highlight that 5% of the whole road-network pavement and 27% of all the residential buildings fall into High and Very High risk classes. Overall, results of this work demonstrate capabilities of machine learning models to assess sinkhole susceptibility for predicting potential sinkhole areas, and provide a sinkhole risk map, along with information on urban environment, as a useful tool for urban planning and geohazard risk management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep-seated gravitational slope deformations (DSGSDs) show a wide range of geomorphological characteristics and kinematic behaviours. In many cases, deforming rock masses move on a continuous surface or a thick basal shear zone (BSZ) overlying the stable bedrock. The nature of this boundary is a significant issue in scientific debates since examples of BSZs have been observed or inferred in some DSGSDs worldwide. In the central Apennines, although several cases of DSGSDs have been described in recent decades, no evidence of BSZs has been documented thus far. This work presents the first case of a BSZ found in the region at the bottom of a large-scale gravitational deformation that affects the Mesozoic-Cenozoic carbonate ridge overhanging the Luco dei Marsi village (Abruzzi region). The BSZ consists of several metres-thick, cataclastic breccia developed within middle-Upper Cretaceous biodetritic limestone. The breccia level is exposed for approximately 200 m with a subhorizontal geometry and shows severe rock damage and weathering. The DSGSD hosting the BSZ affects an NNW-SSE-oriented and wide Miocene anticline whose eastern limb is dismembered by Pliocene-Quaternary normal faults delimiting the edge of a large Quaternary intermontane basin (the Fucino Basin). Field survey, aerial photointerpretation, and remote sensing (DInSAR technique) analyses outline an active gravity-driven process. This is characterized by several kinds of geomorphological features, including downhill- and uphill-facing scarps, ridge-top depressions, gravitational grabens and trenches in the upper and middle parts of the ridge, and bulging at the toe of the slope. These features, which can be distinguished from tectonic elements due to their shape and extension, are an indication of a high degree of internal deformation and a compound sagging geometry for the Luco dei Marsi DSGSD. The short-term activity of the process was revealed by DInSAR time series covering almost thirty years of satellite datasets, including ERS1/2, ENVISAT, COSMO-SkyMed, and SENTINEL 1 constellations. Strain rates on the order of a few mm/yr were inferred, with a marked difference between different sectors of the DSGSD area. The long-term (y > 102) lifespan of the DSGSD was framed into a multiple-step conceptual model summarizing the Early Pleistocene-Holocene geological evolution of the area. The model results outline the control exercised by extensional tectonics on DSGSD development, as progressive displacements along normal faults in the latest Pleistocene were the cause of lateral unconfinement at the toe of the slope. This work further contributes to the increasing knowledge on DSGSDs in the central Apennines and the understanding of the relationship between deformation features induced by slope morphogenesis, such as the BSZ, and Quaternary tectonics within the mountain belt. • An unknown case of DSGSD found in the central Apennines is presented. • For the first time a basal shear zone was observed in the mountain belt. • DInsar datasets elaboration proved the present state of activity of the DSGSD. • Slope deformation was originated by Quaternary normal faulting along the footslope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • PRISMA imagery provides valid support in the delineation of hydrothermal and supergene alteration zones. • Spectral feature parameters aids in identifying and characterising alteration minerals. • Mineral mapping of Porphyry-Cu and IOCG systems assists in mineral exploration at the province- and district-scales. • Hyperspectral satellite interpretation helps in the delineation of new exploration targets. This study provides an overview of the application of hyperspectral imagery acquired by the Italian satellite mission "PRecursore IperSpettrale della Missione Applicativa" (PRISMA), for mapping hydrothermal and supergene mineral alteration zones associated with different Cu deposits in the Chilean Andes. Study areas include the Marimaca Copper Project in the Naguayán district (Antofagasta Province), hosting Late Jurassic – Early Cretaceous iron oxide-copper–gold mineralizations and the Río Blanco-Los Bronces district (Santiago Region) known for its Late Miocene – Early Pliocene copper-molybdenum porphyry deposits. These mineral systems exhibit hydrothermal alteration haloes extending over several kilometers, with upward and outward mineral zonation. To characterize the surface-exposed alteration, the satellite imagery was processed using a multiple feature extraction workflow targeting the relative abundances and compositions of specific supergene and hydrothermal alteration minerals, including Fe-oxides and hydroxides (hematite-goethite), phyllosilicates (micas-kaolinite-chlorite), hydroxyl-bearing sulfates (alunite-natroalunite-jarosite) and epidote. The results reveal a zonation from proximal sulfates (natroalunite to alunite) and Al-rich white mica (ranging from 0.3 km-wide for the area identified to the east of the Marimaca deposit to 1 km-wide in correspondence of the Los Sulfatos deposit, respectively) to distal Al-poor white mica (0.2 to 0.5 km-wide, respectively) and an outer chlorite-epidote zone. In the Marimaca Project area, the structurally-controlled alteration evolves west to east from chlorite-rich to phengitic white mica (Al-poor). A NNE-SSW trending supergene leached cap covers a 6 km-long and up to 2 km-wide area from north to south. Our study documents how spaceborne hyperspectral imaging spectroscopy can support mineral exploration by enabling non-invasive reconnaissance mapping of the outcropping rocks, providing specific targeting information for follow-up field surveys and drilling campaigns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has increased the likelihood of the occurrence of disasters like wildfires, floods, storms, and landslides worldwide in the last years. Weather conditions change continuously and rapidly, and wildfires are occurring repeatedly and diffusing with higher intensity. The burnt catchments are known, in many parts of the world, as one of the main sensitive areas to debris flows characterized by different trigger mechanisms (runoff-initiated and debris slide-initiated debris flow). The large number of studies produced in recent decades has shown how the response of a watershed to precipitation can be extremely variable, depending on several on-site conditions, as well as the characteristics of precipitation duration and intensity. Moreover, the availability of satellite data has significantly improved the ability to identify the areas affected by wildfires, and, even more importantly, to carry out post-fire assessment of burnt areas. Many difficulties have to be faced in attempting to assess landslide risk in burnt areas, which present a higher likelihood of occurrence; in densely populated neighbourhoods, human activities can be the cause of the origin of the fires. The latter is, in fact, one of the main operations used by man to remove vegetation along slopes in an attempt to claim new land for pastures or construction purposes. Regarding the study area, the Camaldoli and Agnano hill (Naples, Italy) fires seem to act as a predisposing factor, while the triggering factor is usually represented by precipitation. Eleven predisposing factors were chosen and estimated according to previous knowledge of the territory and a database consisting of 400 landslides was adopted. The present work aimed to expand the knowledge of the relationship existing between the triggering of landslides and burnt areas through the following phases: (1) Processing of the thematic maps of the burnt areas through band compositions of satellite images; and (2) landslide susceptibility assessment through the application of a new statistical approach (machine learning techniques). The analysis has the scope to support decision makers and local agencies in urban planning and safety monitoring of the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Statistical landslide susceptibility mapping is a topic in complete and constant evolution, especially since the introduction of machine learning (ML) methods. A new methodological approach is here presented, based on the ensemble of artificial neural network, generalized boosting model and maximum entropy ML algorithms. Such approach has been tested in the Monterosso al Mare area, Cinque Terre National Park (Northern Italy), severely hit by landslides in October 2011, following an extraordinary precipitation event, which caused extensive damage at this World Heritage site. Thirteen predisposing factors were selected and assessed according to the main characteristics of the territory and through variance inflation factor, whilst a database made of 260 landslides was adopted. Four different Ensemble techniques were applied, after the averaging of 300 stand-alone methods, each one providing validation scores such as ROC (receiver operating characteristics)/AUC (area under curve) and true skill statistics (TSS). A further model performance evaluation was achieved by assessing the uncertainty through the computation of the coefficient of variation (CV). Ensemble modelling thus showed improved reliability, testified by the higher scores, by the low values of CV and finally by a general consistency between the four Ensemble models adopted. Therefore, the improved reliability of Ensemble modelling confirms the efficacy and suitability of the proposed approach for decision-makers in land management at local and regional scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Apennine provinces of Campania Region (southern Italy), Benevento, Avellino and Salerno, are known for their ‘unstable towns’ suffering periodic damage from landslides. Their identification and mapping are very challenging tasks, since boundary mapping under urban settlements is not always possible without time-consuming field analysis of building damage and/or expensive mid-term diffuse ground-surface deformation monitoring. To overcome this problem, an inventory of town-damaging landslides, guided by available Permanent Scatterers (PS) ground-deformation data, was prepared. It provides an updated tool suitable to guide future land planning and historical site restoration in the Apennine provinces of Campania Region. Our fourteen Map Sheets show active and local reactivation of suspended/dormant landslides. Overall, 356 landslides were identified, amongst which 162 were identified as flows, 101 as slides, 1 as a spreads and 92 as complex landslides. To supplement our maps, a simplified distribution analysis based on major landslide morphometric characteristics was completed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • PRISMA hyperspectral images are promising for rapid mineral detection and mapping. • Feature Extraction Indices are simple but achieve high accuracy in mapping. • Hyperspectral imagery can be used to explore carbonate-hosted base metals deposits. • Hydrothermal dolomites and gossans may be targets for spectral remote sensing. • The method is applicable to other hydrothermal mineralization types in sedimentary basins. Delineating hydrothermal alteration and supergene caps is fundamental for mineral exploration of sulfide ores. The aim of this study is to apply a multi-scale workflow based on hyperspectral remote and proximal sensing data in order to delineate hydrothermal dolomitization and supergene alteration associated with the Mississippi Valley-Type Zn-Pb(-Ag) deposit of Jabali (Western Yemen). The area was investigated through hyperspectral images derived from the new launched Italian Space Agency's PRISMA satellite, which has a higher spectral resolution compared to multispectral sensors and covers the mineral-diagnostic wavelength regions (such as the 2100 nm to 2300 nm range) with a Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) ≥ 100. Spectral mineral maps were produced through the band ratios method using specific feature extraction indices applied to the hyperspectral satellite data. The results were validated by using Visible Near InfraRed (VNIR) to Short Wave InfraRed (SWIR) reflectance spectra, mineralogical (XRPD) and geochemical (ICP-ES/MS) analyses on rock samples collected in the Jabali area. The dolomites footprint was mapped using a PRISMA Level 2C image, by enhancing the spectral differences between limestones and dolomites in the SWIR-2 region (major features centered at 2340 nm and 2320 nm, respectively). Gossans were detected due to the Fe3+ absorption band in the VNIR region at 900 nm. The Zn-Pb mineralized area, extended for approximately 25 km2, was thus identified by recognizing gossan occurrences in dolomites. The study demonstrates that the PRISMA satellite is effective in identifying Zn-Pb mineralized outcrops in sedimentary basins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep-seated landslides are important agents of relief shaping and can have substantial impact on human settlements. Many examples are present in the Campania region of southern Italy, where the association of complex lithostratigraphic and structural geologic conditions might have effect on landslide initiation and evolution. On this basis and considering the effect that the deep-seated landslide have had in the last years on the urban settlement, the Buonalbergo landslide was analyzed in terms of decadal kinematics and geological control and insights in prospective evolution were provided. The analysis of data derived by geological and landslide field mapping, settlement damage analysis, Persistent Differential Interferometry SAR data analysis, and Finite Elements stability analysis revealed i) the approximately constant rate movement of the landslide in the last three decades with a consistent enlargement of its area, ii) the presence of a large overturned anticline, characterized by a complex lithostratigraphic arrangement and multiple discontinuity sets, iii) the presence of faults responsible for morphological depression development, iv) a rotational mechanism characterizing the upper sector of the landslide and the ongoing translational sliding of blocks located at its toe and v) the effect of potential pore pressure scenarios on prospective kinematics (i.e. single to multiple stages creep) with the observed constant rate movement potentially related to a pore pressure at the landslide base ranging between 300 and 400 kPa. Result interpretation suggests i) the role of the structural and lithostratigraphic setting of the slope as predisposing factor for landslide development, ii) the potential of fold-related fabric in controlling landslide geometry and fragmentation, iii) the possible occurrence of multiple landslide events affecting the slope affected by the deep-seated landslide and iv) the potential of hydrologic conditions in modulating landslide velocity and evolution toward slope failure. The relevance of results is related to the representativeness of the Buonalbergo landslide as common process in the Apennine context in terms of potential long-term morphologic evolution of the slope and the existence of many landslides that develop in similar geological conditions driving sediment production and inducing persistent topographic changes in mountainsides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Defining the origin of ground deformation, which can be a very challenging task, may be approached through several investigative techniques. Ground deformation can originate in response to both natural (e.g., tectonics) and anthropic (e.g., groundwater pumping) contributions. These may either act simultaneously or be somewhat correlated in space and time. For example, the location of structurally controlled basins may be the locus of enhanced human-induced subsidence. In this paper, we investigate the natural and anthropic contributions to ground deformation in the urbanized area of the inner Sarno plain, in the Southern Apennines. We used a multidisciplinary approach based on the collection and analysis of a combination of geomorphological, stratigraphical, structural, hydrogeological, GPS, and DInSAR datasets. Geomorphological, stratigraphical, and structural data suggested the occurrence of a graben-like depocenter, the Sarno basin, bounded by faults with evidence of activity in the last 39 ka. Geodetic data indicated that the Sarno basin also experienced ground deformation (mostly subsidence) in the last 30 years, with a possible anthropogenic contribution due to groundwater pumping. Hydrogeological data suggested that a significant portion of the subsidence detected by geodetic data can be ascribed to groundwater pumping from the alluvial plain aquifer, rather than to a re-activation of faults in the last 30 years. Our interpretation suggested that a positive feedback exists between fault activity and the location of area affected by human-induced subsidence. In fact, fault activity caused the accumulation of poorly consolidated deposits within the Sarno basin, which enhanced groundwater-induced subsidence. The multidisciplinary approach used here was proven to be successful within the study area and could therefore be an effective tool for investigating ground deformation in other urbanized areas worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present paper, the capillary barrier formation at the interface between soil layers, which is characterized by textural discontinuities, has been analyzed. This mechanism has been investigated by means of a finite element model of a two-layer soil stratification. The two considered formations, belonging to the pyroclastic succession of the "Pomici di Base" Plinian eruption (22 ka, Santacroce et al., 2008) of the Somma–Vesuvius volcano, are affected by shallow instability phenomena likely caused by progressive saturation during the rainfall events. This mechanism could be compatible with the formation of capillary barriers at the interface between layers of different grain size distributions during infiltration. One-dimensional infiltration into the stratified soil was parametrically simulated considering rainfall events of increasing intensity and duration. The variations in the suction and degree of saturation over time allowed for the evaluation of stability variations in the layers, which were assumed as part of stratified unsaturated infinite slopes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents the ideal combination of space-borne and ground-based (GB) Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) applications. In the absence of early investigation reporting and specialized monitoring, the Zhongbao landslide unexpectedly occurred on 25 July 2020, forming a barrier lake that caused an emergency. As an emergency measure, the GB-InSAR system was installed 1.8 km opposite the landslide to assess real-time cumulative deformation with a monitoring frequency of 3 min. A zone of strong deformation was detected, with 178 mm deformation accumulated within 15 h, and then a successful emergency warning was issued to evacuate on-site personnel. Post-event InSAR analysis of 19 images acquired by the ESA Sentinel-1 from December 2019 to August 2020 revealed that the landslide started in March 2020. However, the deformation time series obtained from satellite InSAR did not show any signs that the landslide had occurred. The results suggest that satellite InSAR is effective for mapping unstable areas but is not qualified for rapid landslide monitoring and timely warning. The GB-InSAR system performs well in monitoring and providing early warning, even with dense vegetation on the landslide. The results show the shortcomings of satellite InSAR and GB-InSAR and a clearer understanding of the necessity of combining multiple monitoring methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In most countries, landslides have caused severe socioeconomic impacts on people, cities, industrial establishments, and lifelines, such as highways, railways, and communication network systems. Socioeconomic losses due to slope failures are very high and they have been growing as the built environment expands into unstable hillside areas under the pressures of growing populations. Human activities as the construction of buildings, transportation routes, dams, and artificial canals have often been a major factor for the increasing damage due to slope failures. When recovery actions are not durable from an economic point of view, increasing the population's awareness is the key strategy to reduce the effects of natural and anthropogenic events. Starting from the case study of the Pan-American Highway (the Ecuadorian part), this article shows a multi-approach strategy for infrastructure monitoring. The combined use of (i) DInSAR technique for detection of slow ground deformations, (ii) field survey activities, and (iii) the QPROTO tool for analysis of slopes potentially prone to collapse allowed us to obtain a first cognitive map to better characterize 22 km of the highway between the cities of Cuenca and Azogues. This study is the primary step in the development of a landslide awareness perspective to manage risk related to landslides along infrastructure corridors, increasing user safety and providing stakeholders with a management system to plan the most urgent interventions and to ensure the correct functionality of the infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthetic aperture radar interferometry (InSAR) technique has been applied in monitoring the deformation of infrastructures, such as bridges, highways, railways and subways. Persistent scatterer (PS)-InSAR is one of the InSAR techniques, which utilises persistent scatterers to derive long-term displacements. This study applied time-series methods to post-process the PS-InSAR-derived time-series displacements with the use of 86 Sentinel-1A acquisitions spanning from 6 January 2018 to 27 November 2020. Empirical mode decomposition (EMD) and seasonal and trend decomposition using loess (STL) were combined to estimate the seasonal component of the total time-series displacements. Then, a temperature correlation map was generated by correlating the seasonal component with the temperature variation. Results show that the thermal expansion phenomenon is pronounced on the buildings of the Zhuhai–Macao Passenger Terminal as well as the bridge and road connecting to the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), while it is less obviously observed at the main Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB). In addition, sudden changes between subsidence and uplift can be detected through the p-values derived by applying the augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) test to the residual signals after removing the linear and seasonal components from the original ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underground mining can produce subsidence phenomena, especially if orebodies are surficial or occur in soft rocks. In some countries, illegal mining is a big problem for environmental, social and economic reasons. However, when unauthorized excavation is conducted underground, it is even more dangerous because it can produce unexpected surficial collapses in areas not adequately monitored. For this reason, it is important to find quick and economic techniques able to give information about the spatial and temporal development of uncontrolled underground activities in order to improve the risk management. In this work, the differential interferometric synthetic aperture radar (DInSAR) technique, implemented in the SUBSOFT software, has been used to study terrain deformation related to illegal artisanal mining in Ecuador. The study area is located in Zaruma (southeast of El Oro province), a remarkable site for Ecuadorian cultural heritage where, at the beginning of the 2017, a local school collapsed, due to sinkhole phenomena that occurred around the historical center. The school, named "Inmaculada Fe y Alegria", was located in an area where mining activity was forbidden. For this study, the surface deformations that occurred in the Zaruma area from 2015 to 2019 were detected by using the Sentinel-1 data derived from the Europe Space Agency of the Copernicus Program. Deformations of the order of five centimeters were revealed both in correspondence of known exploitation tunnels, but also in areas where the presence of tunnels had not been verified. In conclusion, this study allowed to detect land surface movements related to underground mining activity, confirming that the DInSAR technique can be applied for monitoring mining-related subsidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of data from different sources can be very helpful in understanding the mechanism, the geometry, the kinematic, and the area affected by complex instabilities, especially when the available geotechnical information is limited. In this work, the suitability of different techniques for the study of a deep-seated landslide affecting a bridge in Alcoy (Spain) is evaluated. This infrastructure presents such severe damage that has rendered the bridge unusable, which prevents normal access to an important industrial area. Differential SAR Interferometry (DInSAR) and terrestrial Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) remote sensing techniques have been combined with ground displacement monitoring techniques, such as inclinometers and conventional geological and geotechnical investigation, electrical-seismic tomography, damage, and topographic surveys, to determine the boundaries, mechanism, and kinematics of the landslide. The successful case study that is illustrated in this work highlights the potential and the need for integrating multi-source data for the optimal management of complex landslides and the effective design of remedial measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquifer mismanagement is a common anthropogenic cause of subsidence and uplift phenomena in alluvial plains, representing one of the main natural hazards in urban areas due to related damage to urban structures and infrastructures. In this work, the groundwater rebound phenomenon that occurred in the last decades of the 20th century in the Lufrano area (Metropolitan area of Naples, Southern Italy) has been studied by integrating geological data, hydrogeological continuous monitoring and spaceborne SAR information derived from ERS-1/2 and ENVISAT satellites. In the period of 1989–2006, the Lufrano area, which hosts an important well field made up of 180 wells extracting groundwater for drinking use, suffered an initial over-exploitation of the aquifer which was followed by a sudden and severe decrease of the volume abstraction, resulting this last in a rapid ground uplift. The coupled analysis of hydrogeological and DInSAR data have shown a correspondence between piezometric level rise (up to 15 m) and ground uplift (up to 50 mm) trends in the period 1989–2006. In order to examine the spatio-temporal evolution of the phenomena and the cause-effect relationships, showing the link between the two phenomena and their rates, longitudinal cross-sections were carried out and comparisons between piezometric level rise and time-series of displacements were reconstructed. The obtained results represent an initial contribution to the definition of ground deformation related to groundwater level rise phenomena, providing a basis for future studies focused on the modelling of the hydro-mechanical properties of the aquifer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kinematic characterization of a landslide at large, small, and detailed scale is today still rare and challenging, especially for long periods, due to the difficulty in implementing demanding ground surveys with adequate spatiotemporal coverage. In this work, the suitability of space-borne synthetic aperture radar sub-pixel offset tracking for the long-term monitoring of the Slumgullion landslide in Colorado (US) is investigated. This landslide is classified as a debris slide and has so far been monitored through ground surveys and, more recently, airborne remote sensing, while satellite images are scarcely exploited. The peculiarity of this landslide is that it is subject to displacements of several meters per year. Therefore, it cannot be monitored with traditional synthetic aperture radar differential interferometry, as this technique has limitations related to the loss of interferometric coherence and to the maximum observable displacement gradient/rate. In order to overcome these limitations, space-borne synthetic aperture radar sub-pixel offset tracking is applied to pairs of images acquired with a time span of one year between August 2011 and August 2013. The obtained results are compared with those available in the literature, both at landslide scale, retrieved through field surveys, and at point scale, using airborne synthetic aperture radar imaging and GPS. The comparison showed full congruence with the past literature. A consistency check covering the full observation period is also implemented to confirm the reliability of the technique, which results in a cheap and effective methodology for the long-term monitoring of large landslide-induced movements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]