A new methodological approach to assess the stability of discontinuous rocky cliffs using in-situ surveys supported by UAV-based techniques and 3-D finite element model: a case study

Fazio, Nunzio Luciano; Perrotti, Michele; Andriani, Gioacchino Francesco; Mancini, Francesco; Rossi, Paolo; Castagnetti, Cristina; Lollino, Piernicola

doi:10.1016/j.enggeo.2019.105205

Cited by 34 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 44 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Intersections between the two segments represent two tip damage zones (base map from https ://www.sit.pugli a.it/; modified) difficult and time consuming processes due to the quality of the available data linked to the limited site accessibility, dense vegetation and influence of human activities. Integrated approaches for the stability assessment of slopes and caves, including in situ specific geostructural and geomechanical surveys, three-dimensional UAV-based photogrammetric structural models, laboratory geotechnical tests and, 2-and 3-D finite element analysis (FEM), in addition to providing information about the most hazardous discontinuities affecting the site, allow for the creation of parametric analyses with qualitative and quantitative data on the potential failure mechanisms and the probabilities of the potential failure modes (Fazio et al 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multidisciplinary approach for assessment of the factors affecting geohazard in karst valley: the case study of Gravina di Petruscio (Apulia, South Italy)

Andriani

Loiotine

2020

Environ Earth Sci

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Management plans, actions and strategies for preventing and mitigating natural disasters require detailed information on natural and human-induced geohazards for the area under evaluation. Karst areas are particularly prone to instability due to the natural fragility of their environment but are also vulnerable due to human activity. In-depth studies of the factors controlling mass movement processes, including land use over time, become crucial for understanding instability mechanisms and future landscape evolution, as well as for designing preventive measures and control techniques. The Murge area, in the central part of Apulia (South Italy), is crossed by a vast network of dry valleys, locally named lame and gravine, whose morphology may resemble the most well-known canyons and gorges of the world. The genesis of these dry valleys is controversial and still the subject of continued debate, although their origin is directly related to the geostructural setting and the uplift of the Apulia foreland since the middle Pleistocene. Each of these karst valleys has particular morphometric characteristics as well as their own morpho-evolutionary history strongly linked to the different types of fault or fracture on which they developed. Also, geological and geotechnical characteristics of the rock substrate channel, and historic human-made slope excavation or remodeling play an important role. Unfortunately, several tragic events which occurred during the last decades have shown the susceptibility of the Apulian dry valleys to natural hazards, sometimes caused by human activities. This paper proposes, by means of a case study on a dry valley called Gravina di Petruscio in the Arco Ionico Tarantino subregion, a multidisciplinary approach using traditional methods of investigation and combining results to arrive at a critical appraisal of information that are suitable for a geohazard susceptibility analysis in karst environments. Geological, geostructural and geomechanical surveys, together with petrographic observations in thin sections of the outcropping materials, allow to understand the genesis of the valley and then its evolution mainly due to slope retreat processes. Both sides of the valley have been found to be affected by planar slides, wedge slides, direct toppling and falls, while the caves, mostly modified by humans, are affected by thinning, spalling and crushing of pillars, and partial or total collapse of cave roofs. The predisposing and triggering factors of the most common mass movements are presented and discussed. Mitigation and prevention measures for future planning, and remedial engineering structures are reported.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multidisciplinary approach for assessment of the factors affecting geohazard in karst valley: the case study of Gravina di Petruscio (Apulia, South Italy)

Andriani

Loiotine

2020

Environ Earth Sci

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The litho-facies are represented by stratified fossiliferous yellowish marly calcisiltites and yellowish to light grey calcarenites fine and medium grained, poorly cemented, locally well stratified, with the presence of benthic foraminifera, echinoids, briozoa, red algae. The texture is grainstone or packstone (Fazio et al 2019). The Apulian foreland is weakly deformed and affected by Apenninic (NW-SE) and anti-Apenninic (NE-SW) trending faults (Fazio et al 2019).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The texture is grainstone or packstone (Fazio et al 2019). The Apulian foreland is weakly deformed and affected by Apenninic (NW-SE) and anti-Apenninic (NE-SW) trending faults (Fazio et al 2019).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The low mechanical strength of the rock masses represents a predisposing factor of the failure processes, along with discrete joint patterns; in particular, joint systems and cracks that are enlarged by the hydraulic action and abrasion processes represent highly weak elements where failure propagation accelerates (Fazio et al 2019) (Figure 2a). The most widespread mechanism of cliff instability in the study area is represented by block falls followed by free fall of debris, controlled by the presence of tension cracks, parallel to the cliff face; however, when persistent joints exist in the rock mass, slice detachments, topplings and wedge failures along two intersecting fractures can also occur.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Multi-scale approach to analyse the evolution of soft rock coastal cliffs and role of controlling factors: a case study in South-Eastern Italy

Lollino

Pagliarulo

Trizzino

et al. 2021

Geomatics, Natural Hazards and Risk

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The evolution of soft rock coastlines is strictly related to natural and anthropogenic conditions, which in some cases can determine also an acceleration of coastal retreat. The recent evolution of a soft rocky coastal stretch on the Italian southern Adriatic sector is analysed. To investigate the most important contributing factors to coastal evolution, a detailed multi-temporal (1954-2017) morphological analysis with photo-interpretation is carried out, which allows gaining a general understanding of the cliff evolution. The coastal retreat was then evaluated by exploiting the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) tool. From that, site-specific analyses are carried out to explore the role of four environmental factors: rock mechanical properties, geostructural setup of the rock mass along the coast, emerged rock platform at the toe, and the storm waves. Analyses highlighted how the most significant retreat is detected along cliff segments characterized by the presence of low strength rocks susceptible to waterinduced weakening, moderate fracturing degree of the rock mass, absence of the emerged platform at the toe, and wave storms. This work shows how a multi-scale methodology could represent an efficient approach to gain an interpretation of the instability processes and thus prepare risk mitigation plans and land management strategies.

show abstract

“…In the last 20 years Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commonly referred to as drones, have been successfully applied to monitor plant communities for ecological research and for conservation and applicative purposes, but their use regards only horizontal plant communities [29][30][31][32][33][34][35]. On the other hand, for many years, UAVs and digital photogrammetry software have been successfully applied to assess and monitor geological risk in steep slope rocky cliffs [36][37][38][39][40]. The solution to draw detailed thematic and geometrically reliable maps of steep slope cliffs by acquisition of accurate oblique and horizontal photographs can be potentially applied in the field of plant science as well.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Monitoring of Plant Species and Communities on Coastal Cliffs: Is the Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Suitable?

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Cliffs are reservoirs of biodiversity; therefore, many plant species and communities of inland and coastal cliffs are protected by Council Directive 92/43/EEC (European Economic Community), and their monitoring is mandatory in European Union countries. Surveying plants on coastal cliff by traditional methods is challenging and alternatives are needed. We tested the use of a small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) as an alternative survey tool, gathering aerial images of cliffs at Palinuro Cape (Southern Italy). Four photo-interpreters analysed independently the derived orthomosaic and plotted data needed for the monitoring activity. Data showed to be not affected by photo-interpreters and reliable for the prescribed monitoring in the European Union (EU). Using the GIS analysis tools, we were able to: (a) recognise and map the plant species, (b) derive and measure the area of distribution on the cliff of habitat and species, and (c) count Eokochia saxicola individuals and gather quantitative data on their projected area. Quality of the images represented the main constraint, but incoming technological improvements of sensors and UAVs may overcome this problem. Overall results support the use of UAVs as an affordable and fast survey technique that can rapidly increase the number of studies on cliff habitats and improve ecological knowledge on their plant species and communities.

show abstract

A new methodological approach to assess the stability of discontinuous rocky cliffs using in-situ surveys supported by UAV-based techniques and 3-D finite element model: a case study

Cited by 34 publications

References 44 publications

Multidisciplinary approach for assessment of the factors affecting geohazard in karst valley: the case study of Gravina di Petruscio (Apulia, South Italy)

Multidisciplinary approach for assessment of the factors affecting geohazard in karst valley: the case study of Gravina di Petruscio (Apulia, South Italy)

Multi-scale approach to analyse the evolution of soft rock coastal cliffs and role of controlling factors: a case study in South-Eastern Italy

Monitoring of Plant Species and Communities on Coastal Cliffs: Is the Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Suitable?

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About