An integrated geophysical approach for urban underground characterization: the Avigliano town (southern Italy) case study

Abstract

A geophysical approach, based on the integration of satellite differential interferometric SAR technique and in situ geoelectrical and seismic methods, was applied with the aim to characterize a portion of urban area of Avigliano (PZ) town in Basilicata Region (southern Italy) affected by ground instability phenomena. Satellite analysis helped to discriminate areas of the town affected by superficial deformations and to monitor the dynamic behaviour of the structures located in these areas. Results from geoelectrical and seismic (active and passive) methods were compared with direct data (stratigraphic) and were interpreted with the aim to reconstruct the geometry of the subsoil. The joint application of both in situ techniques allowed the overcoming of the specific limits of each method and to improve the poor quality of the data due to the noise conditions typical of measurements carried out in urban areas. A preliminary geophysical model of the subsoil was obtained. The geophysical contrasts highlighted the presence of lithological discontinuities due to the superficial deformation processes that are affecting the portion of the investigated urban area. All the information has been transferred to the public administration technicians involved in the mitigation of hydrogeological risk in Basilicata Region.

Review of Satellite Interferometry for Landslide Detection in Italy

“…Basilicata region proposes some interesting landslide case studies from the Province of Potenza and Matera. Authors focus their analysis on the Montescaglioso [118][119][120], Maratea [121], Avigliano [122], and Costa della Gaveta [123] landslides.…”

“…In situ measurements, such as inclinometers (e.g., [96,[149][150][151]); • Additional remote sensing monitoring tools, such as topographic levelling techniques, TLS (Terrestrial Laser Scanning), or GBInSAR (e.g., [76,92,148,151]); • Geophysical surveys data, such as seismic or geoelectrical surveys (e.g., [122,152]); • Photogrammetry (e.g., [108,153]); • Thermography (e.g., [144,154]); • Rainfall data, hydrogeological conditions, and water table fluctuations (e.g., [123,155]).…”

“…Characterization e.g., Bovenga et al [56] Integration of multi-band InSAR data e.g., Tofani et al [96] Integration between InSAR and in situ deformation measurements e.g., Frodella et al [92] Integration of satellite-and ground-based interferometry e.g., Carlà et al [77] Integration with GNSS data e.g., Ciampalini et al [45] InSAR analysis supported by building damage surveys e.g., Refice [144] Integration between InSAR and borehole information e.g., Calamita et al [122] InSAR analysis supported by electrical tomography and seismic profiles e.g., Del Soldato et al [108] Integration between InSAR and multi-temporal photogrammetric reconstruction e.g., Pappalardo et…”

Application of the SBAS-DInSAR technique for deformation monitoring in Tunis City and Mornag plain

“…The algorithm of this technique allows us to obtain extensive, accurate and dense measurements of ground surface deformation maps (Casu 2009). It also makes it possible to use a large number of images while avoiding some problems of noise decorrelation (Calamita et al 2019;Vicari et al 2019). Therefore, this method is a tool of high accuracy in the analysis of surface deformation along the line of sight (LOS), and it can allow a better understanding of the mechanisms generating these displacements.…”

New Insights into the Internal Structures and Geotechnical Rock Properties of the Giant San Andrés Landslide, El Hierro Island, Spain

“…In particular, small-aperture seismic arrays using multiple stations can be used to describe the rock environment at great depths (up to hundreds of meters). Ensuring the reliability of results inferred from these passive seismic methods remains a challenging task that has been tackled either through the adaptation of multiple geophysics techniques [18][19][20] or by including the results from remote sensing [13]. The aforementioned methods can also be used to investigate deeper parts of landslide bodies, depending on the frequency contents of the recorded ambient noise data and the degree of deformation in the strata (not violating the 1D assumption), typically in combination with active seismic methods, especially seismic refraction tomography (SRT) and multi-channel analysis of surface waves (MASW) [20].…”