United States

In this note we illustrate a joint project carried out by ISPRA and Monti Sibillini National Park focused on the 2016 Central Italy earthquakes surface faulting enhancement and protection along the Monte Vettore - Monte Bove fault system. The project aims at increasing public awareness to natural hazards within the territory of the park, and to keep the memory of the event through the enhancement of such highly scientific value sites. In fact, the coseismic ruptures induced along the Monte Vettore - Monte Bove fault system by the two main shocks (24 August and 30 October) represent the largest and most documented surface faulting example in Italy. Three areas have been identified along the Monte Vettore – Monte Bove system to be preserved and to be pointed out with the aim of showing and describe the most evident geological evidences of this geological event: at Colli Alti e Bassi, where the recent coseismic rupture is marked by a white stripe at the base of the fault plane, allowing to estimate the amount of displacement equal to about 60 cm; along the Cordone del Vettore fault scarp, where is possible to observe a total amount of displacement of about two meters high and along a gully in the southern slope of Monte Vettoretto. The project consists of a geological itinerary marked by ten viewpoints, where information boards illustrate surface faulting phenomena and some other ground effects induced by the 2016 earthquake. Two other introductive panels, in Visso and in Arquata del Tronto, invite the visitors to join the geological itinerary. Those interested in learning more in depth about the 2016 Central Italy earthquake, will be able to access directly from their smartphone to further multimedia web resources (i.e., videos and papers), through a QR code. The project comprehends also some protection works against weathering on the fault mirrors revealed by the 2016 earthquakes.

SGI 2021

A project for the protection and enhancement of surface faulting effects induced by the 2016 Central Italy seismic sequence along the Monte Vettore – Monte Bove fault system

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L'Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e Geofisica Sperimentale - OGS e il Dipartimento di Matematica e Geoscienze dell'Università di Trieste sono orgogliosi di ospitare il 90° Congresso della Società Geologica Italiana a Trieste dal 14 al 16 settembre 2021. La modalità del congresso è interamente online.

Con il motto "Geologia senza frontiere" questo evento mira a promuovere le Scienze della Terra come disciplina scientifica proiettata nel futuro, oltre i confini geografici, politici e disciplinari, per comprendere meglio l'interno del Pianeta Terra e la struttura del sottosuolo, difendere la società da pericolosi eventi geologici, comprendere meglio la variabilità climatica, pianificare l'utilizzo delle georisorse in modo etico e nel rispetto dell'ambiente.


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The National Institute of Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics - OGS and the Department of Mathematics and Geosciences of the University of Trieste are proud to host the 90th Congress of the Italian Geological Society in Trieste on 14-16 September 2021.  The Congress will be held entirely online.

With the motto "Geology Without Borders" this event aims to promote Earth Sciences as a scientific discipline projected into the future, beyond geographical, political and disciplinary boundaries, to better understand the interior of Planet Earth and the structure of the subsurface, defend society from dangerous geological events, better understand climatic variability, plan the use of geo-resources in an ethical way and respecting the environment.


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Earth Sciences should be understood not only as necessary for a better understanding of the interior of the planet Earth, but also as a defense of society from dangerous geological events, for the understanding of climatic variations, for the planning and use of georesources in a ethical and respecting and protecting the environment.

technical paper

Riverbed morphological dynamics are the result of the complex interaction between natural and human factors, at both local and regional scale. The study of these dynamics is essential to better understand the mechanisms that rule the functioning of fluvial systems, allowing predictions of their future evolution to be made and appropriate management measures to be taken, remediating the risks related to them. This work presents the geomorphological features related to the anthropic morphogenesis of the Peiros River catchment, NW Peloponnese, Greece, combined with the geo-hydrological hazards associated with bank retreats and floods. During Holocene, human groups almost continuously occupied the area. The archaeological finds consist of pottery and other traces of human activity (temples, baths, houses, etc.) that date from the Early Helladic to the Late Roman period (c. 3000 BC- 600 AD). The material was discovered over the floodplain superficially or at depths ranging from 1.5 to 3.2 m. The deepest buried finds were found under alluvial sediments, indicating that some floods potentially tied to paleoenvironmental and climatic variations occurred in the area. The study revealed that restriction of fluvial sediment supply, shoreline retreat, bank erosion and related riverbed migration took place over the last decade, that complies with the local tectonics of the area. The morphological changes are mainly attributed to human intervention, such as the construction of a dam and consolidation weirs that altered sediment and water fluxes. These factors combined with the climate change resulted in a dramatic alteration of the morphology in the area. These morphological changes, resulted in loss of property and boundary issues, and made the area vulnerable to flash flood events. Structures close to the coast are exposed to higher risk because of the shoreline retreat. No remediation measures have been taken so far, except for the installation of riprap of limited length and one groin, in an attempt to contrast the ongoing retreat process and reduce wave action. Other severe morphological changes were due to anthropogenic interventions related to urban sprawl and agriculture. Thus, anthropogenic modifications of the former landscape have been particularly widespread and pervasive over the coastline, the floodplain, and the slopes. They included a general alteration of the landforms, channelization of riverbeds, and slopes terracing. The output of this research is a large-scale map, which allowed us to assess the existing relationships among structures and infrastructures, anthropogenic landforms, erosion processes and flood-prone areas. Thus, this tool provided relevant information for land-use planning and land management, in particular under the perspective of geo-hydrological hazards reduction.

Peri-urban geomorphology in Western Patraikos Gulf area associated with Peiros River evolution (NW Peloponnese, Hellas)

Despite the variety of cultural approaches, delineating the geographical boundaries of urban areas is a complex task. The simplest solution is using administrative boundaries instead of using criteria based on presence/absence of population, or of alternative proxies of human presence. Administrative boundaries, though, do not necessarily represent human presence, nor geomorphological settings. This work analyzes the urban boundaries, proposed by Alvioli (2020) for the whole of Italy, with the geological and geomorphological features in Umbria, Central Italy. Urban areas – namely, “natural cities” - were delineated with a parameter-free method based the head/tail breaks of areas related to human mobility, using open data for settlements and road networks. Umbria is an excellent example of the geomorphological evolution resulting from the compressive and successive tectonic phases occurred in central Italy, showing a strong correlation between human settlements and morphological setting (Della Seta et al., 2017). We found that the factors showing the most relevant correlations with urban areas are the geological and geomorphological settings. A weighted spatial analysis in GIS, and comparison of the geological and geomorphological features with existing urban areas, identified “geomorphological corridors” as promising geographical areas for development of mobility infrastructures. In addition, the resulting areas may be analyzed considering both natural risks and natural resources. The susceptibility to earthquake, flooding and landslide events may be measured as well as areas characterized by a high value of geoheritage resources. These negative and positive characteristics of a geographic area can decrease or increase their attitude to human presence. Therefore, the geomorphological units can suggest not only the best location and the best position for new urban areas but also the landscape management for a sustainable and environmentally friendly future. In the post-Covid19 era, finding new ways of living beyond urban sprawl seems a mandatory task, and the approach presented here may relevant to single out new areas for urban development.

Urban areas and geological and geomorphological setting in Central Italy

In 2018, ISPRA, Geological Survey of Italy, with the intent to coordinate all geological institutions, created the Italian Net of Geological Surveys. This is a connecting structure between the Geological Survey of Italy and all Regional technical institutions, Autonomous Provinces and ARPA. The operative structure dictates the establishing of round-table discussions, namely Tables, dealing with geological themes. The Table concerned with geological heritage compares the experiences of 18 Italian Regions and one Autonomous Province in the field of the knowledge and protection of regional geological heritage. Currently, the advancement of different regions is distinctly disparate. This is especially in the inventory of geosites, which is the basic instrument for the study of geoheritage. Hence, the Table, based on the experience of each region in safeguarding geosites, designated a small group to redact guidelines, both technical and practical. These guidelines are to be used in local inventory and to safeguard and promote regional geosites. The debate considered geosites as geological assets to be safeguarded, as they are representative of “geodiversity” rather than “cultural heritage,” as designated in the Urbani Code. Moreover, it offered the opportunity to separate the term “landscape” and the term "geosite". In the past, when there was a lack of specific laws, the term allowed to safeguard geosites using the planning and legislation that regulated cultural and environmental heritage (Urbani Code, territorial and landscape planning). Today however, this term appears limiting. In the National Inventory of Geosites (ISPRA), geosites are currently considered of international, national, regional and local interest. This classification is based on scientific criteria and it is then combined with the distinction based on the prevalent geological characteristics of each site. This distinction determines that a geosite can be categorised as geomorphological, paleontological, etc. This framework determines that the sole term “geosite” should be used, defining said geosite afterwards, using its prevalent scientific characteristic (i.e. geomorphological geosite, palaeontological geosite, etc). Other terms present in literature, such as “geomorphosites,” “archeogeosites” and “geological emergencies,” should be abandoned. In accordance with the European Tables, it is necessary to examine the identification and classification criteria of the Global Geosites Project, so as to verify its applicability to the Italian situation. The method defines the categories of geosites of international, national and regional level and dictates the identification of geological frameworks. The geosites are recognised in the light of such frameworks through the field work of specialists. Still recognising the validity of the method, in hindsight it becomes comparatively difficult to apply. An initial version of these guidelines for the identification and characterization of Italian geosites has also been drawn.

Sharing of the criteria and methodology for the management of the national geological heritage

The Taburno-Camposauro Regional Park extends for almost 137 km2 in the internal areas of Campania. The park includes the mountain ranges that give it its name, which are located in the southern segment of the Apennine chain, as well as their foothills. Belonging to this segment is evident from the geological history, which can be read in the outcrops of the rocks, in the form of the landscape and in the surface and underground waters present in this area. The same history of man, who has frequented these places from very long times, seems to be embedded in these characteristics, indeed over the centuries man has appreciated the advantages of using these assets. In fact, as it was not possible to detect in the eastern Camposauro, the beauty of the shallow marine limestone outcrops of the middle Cretaceous. In that period these limestones were found suddenly emerged and therefore subject to phenomena of atmospheric degradation, so they were altered and corroded. The filling of the cracks and cavities with residual deposits has caused these rocks to assume polychrome colours mostly of various shades of red. Soon they became the object of mining, and today these worked stones, called "marbles", adorn the monumental buildings not only in Italy (Caserta, Naples, Rome), but also abroad (France, England and even Russia). But how can we forget among the geological assets, the richness of the widespread karst forms of the Taburno and Camposauro. Those present on the highest plateaus are represented by sinkholes and polje, which are still frequented today by flocks and herds of one of the oldest activities in these territories: the breeding. While, the numerous caves that open on their slopes, not always entirely attributable to karst phenomena, were places of worship and devotion, or a refuge for shepherds, brigands and hermits. Today in some of them we recognize the "footprints" they left behind (eg the 12th century rock paintings). Another aspect that should not be underestimated is water. In addition to the numerous small springs scattered almost everywhere in the Park area and the hydrographic network that diverges from the reliefs to extend to the surrounding plains to feed the precious crops of the territory, the water spring of the south-eastern side Taburno known since Roman times. They were once so abundant that they fed the western coastal areas with monumental aqueducts, also recognized by UNESCO. These geological assets, mentioned above, are just some of those present in the Park heritage, which could be enhanced to ensure not only their protection, but the development of economic and tourist activities in an internal area. In fact, the position of this area places it in constant marginalization. Such enhancement integrated by the variety of ecosystems as well as other cultural, gastronomic and intangible heritages in the Taburno-Camposauro Regional Park could represent a real development opportunity for the present and for future generations.

The enhancement of the geological heritage of the Taburno-Camposauro Regional Park as an opportunity for sustainable development in Campania (Italy)

The “Tevere alla Magliana” urban Park extends for one kilometre in the floodplain area on the right bank of the river, upstream of Ponte della Magliana, behind an area of recent and heavy urbanization, identified as a marginal area of Rome. Here a well-managed green space, inaugurated in 2014, that still keeps the signature of the natural environment, represents a laboratory for cultural and naturalistic exploration that can greatly benefit the wellbeing of the citizens of the district and the city. In spring 2021, Roma Tre University students attending the Course “Agenda 2030 for sustainable development for Life and Earth Sciences” developed in the Park their practical stage to study specific features of this natural environment in the urban context such as the endemic vs exotic plant distribution, the rocks from Latium used for urban decoration (statues, fountain, etc.), the river dynamics, the effectiveness of a phytodepurative system, underlying the area resources and vulnerabilities. The scientific contents were then syntethised and simplified for Natural Science dissemination with reference to some of the Goals of the Agenda 2030. The presentation will illustrate the steps and outcomes of this teaching and dissemination experience. 

The Urban Park “Tevere alla Magliana” (Rome) as a natural laboratory for the teaching and dissemination of Natural Sciences in the context of the Agenda2030 for Sustainable Development

The heavy urbanized areas are characterized by the close relationship between Earth's processes and human activities, here the historical human presence and its industry modelled the landscape. Geosciences and Archaeology, sharing the space and time analysis of an area, analyze separately or in collaboration the one and the other element of this relationship. In collaboration case, geoarchaeology uses geoscience tecniques in the archaeological record analysis. Thus, geoarchaeology strongly supports the urban environmental analysis, especially in Mediterranean cities, characterized by thousands years of natural and artificial substrate stratification. Rome city is an emblematic case. In the context of the city urban geomorphological analysis, based on anthropic transformations reconstruction, objective of this work are the analysis of geoarchaeological literature about the city center, the data classification and the collection of informations about landscape anthropic transformations.This study focuses on the south est area of Rome historical centre, collecting papers about archaeological, geognostic and stratigraphic surveys, paleoenvironmental reconstructions, geomorphological and hydrogeological investigations. The collection of geoarchaeological scientific literature is systematized by scientific topic, area of interest, historical period, kind of data obtained for the landscape reconstruction. Anthropic transformations in the landscape results from the geoarchaeological literature analysis, some examples:

Geoarchaeology Role in the Urban Environmental Analysis: Rome's landscape anthropic transformations

The Apuan-Versilia plain (northwestern Tuscany) is a dynamic territory subject to continuous environmental evolution and characterized by a widespread archaeological heritage of considerable importance (Bini et al., 2013). In Versilia, tourism is mainly seaside with a concentrated flow in the summer with overcrowding problems (Marchi et al., 2021). However, the cultural and environmental visitor centers located in the immediate hinterland are still poorly known. The study of the environmental evolution (from prehistoric times to today, up to possible future scenarios) could be used as vector to enhance the cultural heritage of the Versilia area as a whole. This work wolud like to identify past palaegeographic scenarios by integrating data from different sources (archaeological, historical, cartographic, geological, environmental) into the GIS environment. These paleogeographic maps can be used to connect the various archeological and geological sites located throughout the territory and therefore increase their visibility and importance. This could increase of visits in cultural sites could be help on the sensibilization of the visiting and the citizens on the themes of the cultural heritage and climate change. In fact, the effects of climate change, including global warming and sea level rise, are particularly relevant for coastal areas (IPCC, 2018), such us the study area, where climate chanhge threat cultural and environmental heritage.

The use of paleogeographic reconstructions as a vector to increase the visibility of archaeological and geological heritage

“Il Cammino” of the Montefeltro's Duke is a cross-section of geological and human history in the Umbrian-Marchigiano Apennines that starting from Urbino, UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the cultural capital of the Italian Renaissance passes through woods, countryside, mountains, and villages to reach the medieval Gubbio where Federico the future Montefeltro's Duke was born. A Team of the University of Urbino made up of geologists, historians, archaeologists, sociologists, and economists, together with CAI (Club Alpino Italiano), which has provided a small but significant economic contribution (Terre Alte Research Fund 2021) proposes and develops a project to define this new way. It passes through places, such as the Furlo and Bottaccione Gorges, which are very famous not only among geologists. The geological history that starts from 200 My and reaches the present, crossing time and telling of mass extinctions, climate change, and much more is well exposed here and it is just waiting to be disclosed. The Gubbio - Urbino geological cross-section encloses all these stories, as well as the history of man and the culture which developed in these places. The great landscape charm resulting from the interaction between man and nature has provided the raw material for the main artists: Ariosto reports on Furlo when he describes the places of Orlando furioso; Torquato Tasso composes his Ode al Metauro; Raphael portraits the Candigliano valley in his paintings; Dante tells about Fonte Avellana on the slopes of Monte Catria in Divina Commedia. In addition to the tracing and survey of geo-touristic peculiarities carried out also involving students of different courses of the University of Urbino, tools for communication and spreading of knowledge have been developed, such as an informative geological map of paths and geological and geomorphological points of interest of the Furlo Nature Reserve, together with digital aids (BOT on Telegram: “furlo_geo_bot”). The "Cammini" are “a slow mobility network giving the country a veritable green infrastructure and offering the ability to travel throughout Italy on foot" (MIC - https://www.turismo.beniculturali.it/home-cammini-ditalia/atlante-dei-cammini /), cross regions that are often wrongly treated as marginal, to tell stories, which become a tool for sustainable and responsible tourism development. The project, which starts from a tale of the geological history that crosses the human one, aims to promote the territory by providing alternative chances for sustainable economic growth of entrepreneurial realities (touristic, artisanal, eno-gastronomic activities) often small but very rich in hospitality and typicality of the high lands of this part of the Apennines. Attention to the social impact of the path takes concrete form in the intention, right from the conceptual phase, careful to cross, together with geological and historical emergencies, even the wounds that have been inflicted on the landscape by non-sustainable development choices. At the same time, the engagement of a multidisciplinary team is aimed at developing tools and methods for detecting both the economic and social impact of the journey itself through mapping techniques of institutional and associational activities and realities that can contribute to the involvement and synergies at a territorial level. In this way we want also to enhance the synergies that can be created between this and other projects promoted by educational agencies, associations, and businesses in the area.

“Il Cammino” of the Montefeltro's Duke: a cross-section of geological and human history in the heart of Umbria-Marche Apennines

The distinctive geodiversity and geoheritage of our territory are unique assets which preservation is under constant threat. The unawareness of this problem increases the risk of losing important evidences about the evolution history of our planet and its living systems. For that reason, we aim to promote an integrated path between geoconservation, enhancement of natural assets and information dissemination in close cooperation with relevant Public Authorities. Within this framework we present an ongoing strategy of the Geological Survey of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region: following an initial geosite’s inventory, we moved toward the implementation of a specific local legislation including protection measures but mainly enhancement tools such as the institution of specific regional grants. A recent upgrade of the specific Regional Law 15/2016 concerning the "Protection and enhancement of regional geological and speleological heritage" recognized also the need to operate directly in the territory where geodiversity is worth to be enhanced. To support this, a local network, called "Geodiversity functional network” was created and the promoters were identified to coordinate the activities of the Local Authorities operating in the sector, through its competent Geological Survey. Above mentioned actions are supported by communication and dissemination activities for all age groups including primary and secondary schools, adult public as well as training of geological guides and creation of suitable geotrails, which are essential for the development of a sustainable geotourism. All this increases the value of the territory itself and stimulate, as an indirect spin-off, a general respect and constant protection of the environment, keeping in mind that, when something is understood and comprehend, it is easier to appreciate and consequently protect, so that it continues to exist.

Geoheritage and geodiversity: an integrated path between Geoconservation, enhancement of natural assets, dissemination and geoturism

Geoheritage is increasing its global and local importance not only as a scientific research topic, but also in relation to socio-economic activities that can benefit from Georesources. In this context, sites of geological interest may represent hot-spots for outdoor activities connected to Earth Sciences (e.g., geotourism, hiking and climbing). The UNESCO IGCP 3GEO project aims at offering innovative digital tools for geoheritage and geoscience communication through geoclimbing and geotrekking activities. In particular, climbing and trekking sites within established or aspiring geoparks, and other natural areas, have high geoheritage potential (Garcia-Rodriguez & Fernandez-Escalante, 2017; Ruban & Ermolaev, 2020), and are also suitable for education activities as well (Bollati et al., 2018). The goal of this project is the development of multimedia tools for geoheritage and Earth Science communication (Perotti et al., 2020) through a global network of iconic geoheritage sites equipped for climbing or featuring trekking trails. These sites include UNESCO Global Geoparks or natural areas (e.g., PARNA Chapada Diamantina, Kütralkura, Estrela, Psiloritis, Rocca di Cerere, Sesia Val Grande) in countries (Brazil, Chile, Greece, Italy, Oman, Portugal, South Africa, Spain) spread over four continents. Climbing cliffs and trekking routes are selected according to scientific and cultural, aesthetic and socio-economic values and their employability. A set of innovative geomatic techniques (e.g., 3D photogrammetry, Structure from Motion, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle surveys) are the tools for displaying and communicating geoheritage properties along selected geocliffs and geotrails. These web-based multimedia materials (e.g., 3D model of climbing cliffs) will be shared out among different users (e.g., schools, universities and general public) both for virtual reality and outdoor activities. The multidisciplinary and multicultural context of the 3GEO project is the key for a 360 degrees’ experience of geoheritage in Geoparks or natural protected areas, taking into account accessibility issues and global travel restrictions.

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Peri-urban geomorphology in Western Patraikos Gulf area associated with Peiros River evolution (NW Peloponnese, Hellas)

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Complex deformation pattern of the October 2016 central Italy earthquakes from DInSAR data

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Next from SGI 2021

Peri-urban geomorphology in Western Patraikos Gulf area associated with Peiros River evolution (NW Peloponnese, Hellas)

Similar lecture

Complex deformation pattern of the October 2016 central Italy earthquakes from DInSAR data

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