Thanks to the improvement of surveying equipments, i.e. Terrestrial Laser Scanners (TLS) and Unma... more Thanks to the improvement of surveying equipments, i.e. Terrestrial Laser Scanners (TLS) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), dense point clouds and very precise 3D models of inaccessible rock cliffs can be obtained. Both commercial and self-developed data processing software packages allow the extraction of some parameters regarding discontinuity sets (i.e. orientation, intensity, Vb, etc.). Nevertheless, maps with the distribution of such parameters are still not common. A procedure for obtaining raster maps with the distribution of significant parameters for the geomechanical characterization of rock cliffs, open pit mine slopes and tunnel faces is presented in this paper. Some selected case studies in the Italian Alps will be presented. reducing shadow areas and providing very detailed 3D models of inaccessible rock cliffs with an accuracy of few centimeters. By applying proper software packages, it’s now possible to extract not only the attitude of rock mass discontinuity surfac...
<p&amp... more <p>In the last decades, climate change effects are spreading on cryosphere of mid latitude high mountains, affecting all environmental and territorial components. The Italian Alpine Club (CAI) is a privileged institution for observing climate change effects on cryosphere in high mountains, as well as for supporting scientists to proper assessment studies of related natural hazards, exposure, vulnerability effects, particularly those around alpine refuges and access routes. CAI has started a cooperative research with University of Torino (UniTO), Politecnico of Milano (PoliMI) and IMAGEO srl, focused in deglaciation, permafrost degradation and slope instabilities at the Punta Gnifetti peak (“Signal Kuppe, 4554 m a.s.l.), Monte Rosa (Pennine Alps, border between Italy and Switzerland). Here is the Margherita Hut, the highest refuge in Europe and a physical-meteorological observatory, as well as home to medical and scientific UniTO laboratories.</p><p>Activities started on May 2019 with a retrospective collection and interpretation of photos and archival news on the Punta Gnifetti environment. Multi-temporal geomorphological settings are compared to meteorological historical series for creating a morphoclimatic "timeline".</p><p>Instrumental monitoring and in situ field work began on August 2019, including: 1) determination of the ice thickness of the glacial cover by using georadar; 2) characterization of the geomechanical structure of the rock mass by means of terrestrial laser scanner; 3) establishment of a topographical reference point and georeferencing of all measuring points; 4) collection of litho-structural and geomorphological data for a reference geological model of the Punta Gnifetti; 5) photogrammetric helicopter flight for the 3D reconstruction of the site; 6) direct measurements of internal areas in order to obtain as-built building plans; 7) assessment of building services.</p><p>Preliminary results are presented here, together with directions for an effective data collection to be continued on 2020, including comparative analyses designated to: a) identify the relevant geomechanical features for rock mass stability; b) verify presence of ice inside fractures; c) reconstruct the ice-covered morphology of the Punta Gnifetti peak.</p>
Rendiconti Online della Società Geologica Italiana
Landfill mining is a rather new area of science connecting all the essential elements of the effe... more Landfill mining is a rather new area of science connecting all the essential elements of the effective implementation of circular economy. In this context, SMART GROUND project intends to promote resource recovery in landfills by improving the availability and accessibility of data and information on secondary raw materialin the EU. Our task within the project consisted of topographic and morphologic 3D characterization of several test-sites to obtain a detailed reconstruction of the topographic surface, useful for the 3D modelling in each site and also for the secondary raw materials volume evaluation. Topographic characterization was carried out by different survey methods, as Terrestrial Laser Scanner, aerial photogrammetry and remote sensing techniques. The main new processed data arehigh resolution digital orthophotos and Digital Terrain Models of the test-sites, which allowed the creation of 3D models and, in some cases, also landfill dumps volume estimation.
Rock glaciers are the most prominent geomorphic features related to the presence of permafrost in... more Rock glaciers are the most prominent geomorphic features related to the presence of permafrost in mountain areas. Climate warming is likely to have strong impacts on permafrost status, making cold areas at high altitudes especially vulnerable. Therefore, climate evolution and its impact on abiotic and biotic components of permafrost environments is a research topic of increasing importance. In this work the active Col d’Olen rock glacier, located in the Istituto Mosso LTER (Long Term Ecological Research) site, in the Aosta Valley Region (NW-Italian Alps), is the object of an interdisciplinary investigation. Instrumentation and techniques are described below. Climatic data from automatic weather stations have been collected in the study area and they will be updated and analysed. Moreover, a network of portable instruments will be established (during the summer 2014) on the rock glacier for collecting meteorological data, after a dedicated calibration procedures to assess the uncerta...
The Aosta Valley (NW-Italy) is an alpine region where debris flows frequently occur, interacting ... more The Aosta Valley (NW-Italy) is an alpine region where debris flows frequently occur, interacting with human activities and structures. For a best debris flow hazard assessment, research and mapping activities have been organized. First, aerial photo-interpretation and DEMs analyses were performed at a regional scale to inventory alluvial fans. Second, data on debris flow events have been collected from different sources, such as bibliographic and historical data, municipality hazard maps and drainage basin technical studies. For each event photo-interpretation and geomorphologic analyses have been performed to validate historical data and finally GIS statistical analysis have been carried out. The analysis led to the identification of about 200 single events, thus successfully upgrading a regional database on natural instabilities. Collected data allowed improvements to local knowledge on debris flows, through the recognition of multiple events in the same alluvial fan. Estimation of temporal occurrences led to more precise hazard assessment, useful for proper land planning.
The Aosta Valley (NW-Italy) is a small alpine Region (area = 3262 km2) where alluvial fans occupy... more The Aosta Valley (NW-Italy) is a small alpine Region (area = 3262 km2) where alluvial fans occupy large sectors of the main valley bottom and also of the tributary valleys; most towns and villages lie in these sectors which are frequently affected by different geomorphological processes, including debris flows. For a best environmental hazard assessment and management of alluvial fans,
Engineering Geology for Society and Territory - Volume 2, 2015
During the last decade, a large rockslide along the NW slope of the Mont de la Saxe (Courmayeur, ... more During the last decade, a large rockslide along the NW slope of the Mont de la Saxe (Courmayeur, AO—Italy) showed a significant increase in the rate of activity in conjunction with snow melting periods and more recently with important amount of rainfall. The ca 8 mm3 rockslide affects a heavily tectonised and intensely fractured mass of black schists, for a surface area of about 150,000 m2. The rockslide failure surface is typically located at depths of 60–80 m b.g.l. Because of the highly valuable exposed elements regional authorities commissioned a comprehensive ground investigation and monitoring campaign, as well as theoretical and numerical analyses, in order to assess slope stability conditions, the possible evolution and the suitable stabilization and mitigation countermeasures. Here we present the recent rockslide evolution till spring 2014 when a major seasonal reactivation of a 400,000 m3 mass occurred. Finally, with the aim to develop a possible tool for displacement prediction, the results of a series of 1D visco-plastic simulations are presented, discussing the possible role of each of the main controlling factors (e.g. groundwater recharge and piezometric level oscillation, rock degradation).
English abstract: This paper deals with the use of landslide records in the analysis of landscape... more English abstract: This paper deals with the use of landslide records in the analysis of landscape sensitivity, with particular reference to climate change as a forcing process. The dating of past landslide events is useful to reconstruct the evolution of the slope-system at a broad temporal scale and to recognize the different formative events it has experienced. If the environmental context can be defined by means of a multidisciplinary approach which comprises geomorphological, sedimentological, palaeobotanical, dendrochronological ...
Thanks to the improvement of surveying equipments, i.e. Terrestrial Laser Scanners (TLS) and Unma... more Thanks to the improvement of surveying equipments, i.e. Terrestrial Laser Scanners (TLS) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), dense point clouds and very precise 3D models of inaccessible rock cliffs can be obtained. Both commercial and self-developed data processing software packages allow the extraction of some parameters regarding discontinuity sets (i.e. orientation, intensity, Vb, etc.). Nevertheless, maps with the distribution of such parameters are still not common. A procedure for obtaining raster maps with the distribution of significant parameters for the geomechanical characterization of rock cliffs, open pit mine slopes and tunnel faces is presented in this paper. Some selected case studies in the Italian Alps will be presented. reducing shadow areas and providing very detailed 3D models of inaccessible rock cliffs with an accuracy of few centimeters. By applying proper software packages, it’s now possible to extract not only the attitude of rock mass discontinuity surfac...
<p&amp... more <p>In the last decades, climate change effects are spreading on cryosphere of mid latitude high mountains, affecting all environmental and territorial components. The Italian Alpine Club (CAI) is a privileged institution for observing climate change effects on cryosphere in high mountains, as well as for supporting scientists to proper assessment studies of related natural hazards, exposure, vulnerability effects, particularly those around alpine refuges and access routes. CAI has started a cooperative research with University of Torino (UniTO), Politecnico of Milano (PoliMI) and IMAGEO srl, focused in deglaciation, permafrost degradation and slope instabilities at the Punta Gnifetti peak (“Signal Kuppe, 4554 m a.s.l.), Monte Rosa (Pennine Alps, border between Italy and Switzerland). Here is the Margherita Hut, the highest refuge in Europe and a physical-meteorological observatory, as well as home to medical and scientific UniTO laboratories.</p><p>Activities started on May 2019 with a retrospective collection and interpretation of photos and archival news on the Punta Gnifetti environment. Multi-temporal geomorphological settings are compared to meteorological historical series for creating a morphoclimatic "timeline".</p><p>Instrumental monitoring and in situ field work began on August 2019, including: 1) determination of the ice thickness of the glacial cover by using georadar; 2) characterization of the geomechanical structure of the rock mass by means of terrestrial laser scanner; 3) establishment of a topographical reference point and georeferencing of all measuring points; 4) collection of litho-structural and geomorphological data for a reference geological model of the Punta Gnifetti; 5) photogrammetric helicopter flight for the 3D reconstruction of the site; 6) direct measurements of internal areas in order to obtain as-built building plans; 7) assessment of building services.</p><p>Preliminary results are presented here, together with directions for an effective data collection to be continued on 2020, including comparative analyses designated to: a) identify the relevant geomechanical features for rock mass stability; b) verify presence of ice inside fractures; c) reconstruct the ice-covered morphology of the Punta Gnifetti peak.</p>
Rendiconti Online della Società Geologica Italiana
Landfill mining is a rather new area of science connecting all the essential elements of the effe... more Landfill mining is a rather new area of science connecting all the essential elements of the effective implementation of circular economy. In this context, SMART GROUND project intends to promote resource recovery in landfills by improving the availability and accessibility of data and information on secondary raw materialin the EU. Our task within the project consisted of topographic and morphologic 3D characterization of several test-sites to obtain a detailed reconstruction of the topographic surface, useful for the 3D modelling in each site and also for the secondary raw materials volume evaluation. Topographic characterization was carried out by different survey methods, as Terrestrial Laser Scanner, aerial photogrammetry and remote sensing techniques. The main new processed data arehigh resolution digital orthophotos and Digital Terrain Models of the test-sites, which allowed the creation of 3D models and, in some cases, also landfill dumps volume estimation.
Rock glaciers are the most prominent geomorphic features related to the presence of permafrost in... more Rock glaciers are the most prominent geomorphic features related to the presence of permafrost in mountain areas. Climate warming is likely to have strong impacts on permafrost status, making cold areas at high altitudes especially vulnerable. Therefore, climate evolution and its impact on abiotic and biotic components of permafrost environments is a research topic of increasing importance. In this work the active Col d’Olen rock glacier, located in the Istituto Mosso LTER (Long Term Ecological Research) site, in the Aosta Valley Region (NW-Italian Alps), is the object of an interdisciplinary investigation. Instrumentation and techniques are described below. Climatic data from automatic weather stations have been collected in the study area and they will be updated and analysed. Moreover, a network of portable instruments will be established (during the summer 2014) on the rock glacier for collecting meteorological data, after a dedicated calibration procedures to assess the uncerta...
The Aosta Valley (NW-Italy) is an alpine region where debris flows frequently occur, interacting ... more The Aosta Valley (NW-Italy) is an alpine region where debris flows frequently occur, interacting with human activities and structures. For a best debris flow hazard assessment, research and mapping activities have been organized. First, aerial photo-interpretation and DEMs analyses were performed at a regional scale to inventory alluvial fans. Second, data on debris flow events have been collected from different sources, such as bibliographic and historical data, municipality hazard maps and drainage basin technical studies. For each event photo-interpretation and geomorphologic analyses have been performed to validate historical data and finally GIS statistical analysis have been carried out. The analysis led to the identification of about 200 single events, thus successfully upgrading a regional database on natural instabilities. Collected data allowed improvements to local knowledge on debris flows, through the recognition of multiple events in the same alluvial fan. Estimation of temporal occurrences led to more precise hazard assessment, useful for proper land planning.
The Aosta Valley (NW-Italy) is a small alpine Region (area = 3262 km2) where alluvial fans occupy... more The Aosta Valley (NW-Italy) is a small alpine Region (area = 3262 km2) where alluvial fans occupy large sectors of the main valley bottom and also of the tributary valleys; most towns and villages lie in these sectors which are frequently affected by different geomorphological processes, including debris flows. For a best environmental hazard assessment and management of alluvial fans,
Engineering Geology for Society and Territory - Volume 2, 2015
During the last decade, a large rockslide along the NW slope of the Mont de la Saxe (Courmayeur, ... more During the last decade, a large rockslide along the NW slope of the Mont de la Saxe (Courmayeur, AO—Italy) showed a significant increase in the rate of activity in conjunction with snow melting periods and more recently with important amount of rainfall. The ca 8 mm3 rockslide affects a heavily tectonised and intensely fractured mass of black schists, for a surface area of about 150,000 m2. The rockslide failure surface is typically located at depths of 60–80 m b.g.l. Because of the highly valuable exposed elements regional authorities commissioned a comprehensive ground investigation and monitoring campaign, as well as theoretical and numerical analyses, in order to assess slope stability conditions, the possible evolution and the suitable stabilization and mitigation countermeasures. Here we present the recent rockslide evolution till spring 2014 when a major seasonal reactivation of a 400,000 m3 mass occurred. Finally, with the aim to develop a possible tool for displacement prediction, the results of a series of 1D visco-plastic simulations are presented, discussing the possible role of each of the main controlling factors (e.g. groundwater recharge and piezometric level oscillation, rock degradation).
English abstract: This paper deals with the use of landslide records in the analysis of landscape... more English abstract: This paper deals with the use of landslide records in the analysis of landscape sensitivity, with particular reference to climate change as a forcing process. The dating of past landslide events is useful to reconstruct the evolution of the slope-system at a broad temporal scale and to recognize the different formative events it has experienced. If the environmental context can be defined by means of a multidisciplinary approach which comprises geomorphological, sedimentological, palaeobotanical, dendrochronological ...
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