Coastal Erosion and Flooding Threaten Low-Lying Coastal Tracts at Lipari (Aeolian Islands, Italy)

Lipari is the largest and most populated island in the Aeolian Archipelago, a UNESCO site, and a highly frequented touristic destination. As in many other insular settings, the low-lying coastal stretches in the E and NE sectors of Lipari are locally exposed to coastal erosion and flooding, enhanced by subsidence effects leading to local sea level rise. Most of these coastal sectors appear critical, being narrow and increasingly threatened by the risk of permanent inundation and beach disappearance. In this study, this setting is placed in the wider context of the decadal evolution of the main beaches, analysed through a multidisciplinary approach, which includes remote sensing techniques (aero-photogrammetry, unmanned aerial vehicle survey, and satellite data), offshore geophysical surveys (high-resolution multibeam bathymetry), and field observations. The results show a variable interaction in space and time between natural and anthropogenic factors in the long- and mid-term evolution of the studied coastal areas. Considering that part of the local economy at Lipari depends on beach tourism, proper future management is required in the view of natural risk reduction and in the light of future climate changes and related impacts

InSAR Monitoring of Italian Coastline Revealing Natural and Anthropogenic Ground Deformation Phenomena and Future Perspectives

In this work, we use X and C-band SAR data provided by the COSMO-SkyMed and ENVISAT missions to detect and measure some ground deformation phenomena along six coastal areas of Italy. In particular, we exploit multi-temporal interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR), i.e., small baseline subsets (SBAS) and interferometric point target analysis (IPTA) methods, to retrieve the deformation rate maps and time series for each investigated area. Multi-temporal InSAR analysis revealed local subsidence and uplifting effects in Ravenna Coastal Areas, Fiumicino, Campi Flegrei, Sibari Plain, Augusta Bay, and Taranto Gulf. Our work is meant as a demonstrator to show how InSAR-based analysis can provide a detailed understanding of the coastal hazards. Such analysis also opens up new monitoring scenarios such as the possibility of designing a near real-time surveillance service based on Sentinel-1 SAR data.Publishedid 31522T. Deformazione crostale attivaJCR Journa

A S.M.A.R.T. system for the seismic vulnerability mitigation of Cultural Heritages

Both assessment and mitigation of seismic vulnerability connected to cultural heritages monitoring are non-trivial issues, based on the knowledge of structural and environmental factors potential impacting the cultural heritage. A holistic approach could be suitable to provide an effective monitoring of cultural heritages within their surroundings at different spatial and temporal scales. On the one hand, the analysis about geometrical and structural properties of monuments is important to assess their state of conservation, their response to external stresses as well as anomalies related to natural and/or anthropogenic phenomena (e.g. the aging of materials, seismic stresses, vibrational modes). On the other hand, the investigation of the surrounding area is relevant to assess environmental properties and natural phenomena (e.g. landslides, earthquakes, subsidence, seismic response) as well as their related impacts on the monuments. Within such a framework, a multi-disciplinary system has been developed and here presented for the monitoring of cultural heritages for seismic vulnerability assessment and mitigation purposes*. It merges geophysical investigations and modeling, in situ measurements and multi-platforms remote sensing sensors for the non-destructive and non-invasive multi-scales monitoring of historic buildings in a seismic-prone area. In detail, the system provides: a) the long-term and the regional-scale analysis of buildings’ environment through the integration of seismogenic analysis, airborne magnetic surveys, space-borne Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and multi-spectral sensors. They allow describing the sub-surface fault systems, the surface deformation processes and the land use mapping of the regional-scale area on an annual temporal span; b) the short-term and the basin-scale analysis of building’s neighborhood through geological setting and geotechnical surveys, airborne Light Detection And Radar (LiDAR) and ground-based SAR sensors. They enable assessing the site seismic effects, the built-up structural features and the surface deformation processes of the local-scale area on a monthly temporal span; c) the real- to near-real-time and building scale analysis of the heritage through proximal remotely sensing tools (e.g. terrestrial laser scanning, infrared thermal cameras and real aperture radar), combined with ambient vibration tests. They allow analyzing geometric, structural and material properties / anomalies of buildings as well as the state of conservation of structures on a real-time temporal span. The proposed approach is: Specific (it targets the cultural heritages monitoring for seismic mitigation purposes); Measurable (it provides synthetic descriptors or maps able to quantify structural and the environmental properties / anomalies / trends); Action-oriented (it provides information to plan consolidation and restoration actions for prevention activity); Relevant (it allows achieving consolidated results for cultural heritage monitoring); Time-related (it specifies when the results can be achieved). Meaningful results, obtained for the Saint Augustine Complex (XVI century) located in the historic center of the Calabrian chief town of Cosenza, are presented in terms of a web-based Geographic Information System (GIS) platform and a 3-dimensional (3D) visual software for the monitoring of environmental/urban landscapes and buildings. These tools represent the added-value products of the proposed SMART system, which allow integrating and combining multi-sensors analyses in order to support end-users involved into a cultural heritage monitoring.Copernicus MeetingsPublishedVienna | Austria | 17–22 April 20165T. Sismologia, geofisica e geologia per l'ingegneria sismic

The Monitoring of Urban Environments and Built-Up Structures in a Seismic Area: Web-Based GIS Mapping and 3D Visualization Tools for the Assessment of the Urban Resources

In this paper, a non-invasive infrastructural system called MASSIMO is presented for the monitoring and the seismic vulnerability mitigation of cultural heritages. It integrates ground-based, airborne and space-borne remote sensing tools with geophysical and in situ surveys to provide a multi-spatial (regional, urban and building scales) and multi-temporal (longterm, short-term and near-real-time scales) monitoring of test areas and buildings. The measurements are integrated through web-based Geographic Information System (GIS) and 3-dimensional visual platforms to support decision-making stakeholders involved in urban and structural requalification planning. An application of this system is presented over the Calabria region for the town of Cosenza and a test historical complex.The present work is supported and funded by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR) under the research project PON01-02710 "MASSIMO" - "Monitoraggio in Area Sismica di SIstemi MOnumentali".Published9-134T. Sismologia, geofisica e geologia per l'ingegneria sismicaN/A or not JC

The MASSIMO system for the safeguarding of historic buildings in a seismic area: operationally-oriented platforms

In this paper, the non-invasive system MASSIMO is presented for the monitoring and the seismic vulnerability mitigation of the cultural heritage. It integrates ground-based, airborne and space-borne remote sensing tools with geophysical and in situ surveys to provide the multi-spatial (regional, urban and building scales) and multi-temporal (long-term, short-term, near-real-time and real-time scales) monitoring of test areas and buildings. The measurements are integrated through web-based GIS and 3D visual platforms to support decision-making stakeholders involved in urban planning and structural requalification. An application of this system is presented over the Calabria region for the town of Cosenza and a test historical complex

Dallo spazio al territorio: Un sistema per l'Osservazione della Terra in tempo reale

From space to land: a real time Earth Observation system from INGV Since many years INGV (Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia) in collaboration with several national and international research institutes, contributes to develop new spatial technologies dedicated to volcano, earthquake and environmental monitoring according to GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security) guide lines in a national and European context. In order to maintain and increase such volcano survey, already operative since several years, a technological investment has been allocated in the context of the convention with the Italian Civil Protection (2007-2009). The new system allows to improve the real time acquisition of remote sensing data for different geophysical applications in the Mediterranean basin and in Central Europe

Dallo spazio al territorio: un sistema per l'Osservazione della Terra in tempo reale

L’Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV), insieme ad altri organismi nazionali ed internazionali, da molti anni contribuisce allo sviluppo delle tecnologie spaziali orientate al monitoraggio vulcanico, sismico ed ambientale secondo le linee guida indicate dal programma europeo GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security). Al fine di sostenere ed incrementare le attività che riguardano il monitoraggio di eventi eruttivi dei vulcani italiani è stato realizzato, nell’ambito della convezione con il Dipartimento di Protezione Civile (2007-2009), un sistema che consente di migliorare l’acquisizione di dati telerilevati in tempo reale per diverse applicazioni geofisiche nell’area del bacino del Mediterraneo e dell’Europa Centrale.Published6-105IT. Osservazioni satellitariN/A or not JC

L’utilizzo di strumenti GIS per la ricerca geofisica e per la sorveglianza sismica

L’INGV costruisce e gestisce numerose reti di monitoraggio a livello nazionale e regionale per lo studio dei fenomeni geofisici, geologici e geochimici. Componente del servizio nazionale di protezione civile, gestisce i servizi di sorveglianza sismica e vulcanica in convenzione con il Dipartimento della Protezione Civile. La quasi totalità dei dati prodotti e analizzati all’INGV è di tipo territoriale, ovvero distribuito geograficamente sulla superficie della Terra (ad es. elementi neotettonici) oppure al suo interno (ipocentri di terremoti) o ancora nell’atmosfera che la circonda (sondaggi elettrici verticali). Spesso si tratta di dati che hanno anche un’evoluzione nel tempo, rappresentabili quindi con serie temporali discrete (campionamenti geochimici) o quasi continue (misure GPS)

The relationship between seismic deformation and deep-seated gravitational movements during the 1997 Umbria Marche (Central Italy) earthquakes

International audienceThis paper re-evaluates the origin of some peculiar patterns of ground deformation in the Central Apennines, observed by space geodetic techniques during the two earthquakes of the Colfiorito seismic sequence on September 26th, 1997. The surface displacement field due to the fault dislocation, as modelled with the classic Okada elastic formulations, shows some areas with high residuals which cannot be attributed to non-simulated model complexities. The residuals were investigated using geomorphological analysis, recognising the geologic evidence of deep-seated gravitational slope deformations (DSGSD) of the block-slide type. The shape and direction of the co-seismic ground displacement observed in these areas are correlated with the expected pattern of movement produced by the reactivation of the identified DSGSD. At least a few centimetres of negative ?Line of Sight? ground displacement was determined for the Costa Picchio, Mt. Pennino, and Mt. Prefoglio areas. A considerable horizontal component of movement in the Costa Picchio DSGSD is evident from a qualitative analysis of ascending and descending interferograms. The timing of the geodetic data indicates that the ground movement occurred during the seismic shaking, and that it did not progress appreciably during the following months. This work has verified the seismic triggering of DSGSD previously hypothesized by many researchers. A further implication is that in the assessment of DSGSD hazard seismic input needs to be considered as an important cause of accelerated deformation