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Fabio Luino graduated in Geological Sciences in July 1987 at the University of Turin. After a period of 18 months with a scholarship he was definitively hired at the CNR IRPI of Turin. He began his activity on December 27, 1989. His research concerns floods, mud-debris flows and landslides: he studies these processes from a geomorphological and historical point of view analysing their interferences in town-and-country planning. RESEARCH Since the date of his hiring, it has been carrying out research, programming, dissemination, coordination of studies concerning floods, torrential debris flows, and landslides analyzed mainly from a geomorphological and historical point of view. His studies are aimed at optimizing territorial management. In particular, he analyzes the geo-hydrological phenomena during the paroxysmal phase and studies their effects and damage: he studied in depth the alluvial events of July 1985 (Stava-TN), July 1987 (Valtellina), September 1993 (southern Piedmont), November 1994 (Tanaro and Belbo basins) and October 2000 (Val d'Aosta and Western Piedmont), Western Piedmont (May 2008), Abruzzo (April 2009), Liguria (October 2010), Cinque Terre (October 2011), Olbia (November 2013), Piedmont (November 2016), Livorno (September 2017), Southern Piedmont (October 2019), Cuneo (October 2020).
Flash floods represent one of the natural hazards that causes the greatest number of victims in the Mediterranean area. These processes occur by short and intense rainfall affecting limited areas of a few square kilometers, with rapid hydrological responses. Among the causes of the flood frequency increase in the last decades are the effects of the urban expansion in areas of fluvial pertinence and climatic change, namely the interaction between anthropogenic landforms and hydro-geomorphological dynamics. In this paper the authors show a comparison between flood events with very similar weather-hydrological characteristics and the ground effects occurred in coastal areas of three regions located at the top of a triangle in the Ligurian Sea, namely Liguria, Tuscany and Sardinia. With respect to the meteorological-hydrological hazard, it should be noted that the events analyzed occurred during autumn, in the conditions of a storm system triggered by cyclogenesis on the Genoa Gulf or by the extra-tropical cyclone Cleopatra. The “flash floods” damage recorded in the inhabited areas is due to the vulnerability of the elements at risk in the fluvio-coastal plains examined. There are numerous anthropogenic forcings that have influenced the hydro-geomorphological dynamics and that have led to an increase in risk conditions.
Francesco Faccini; Fabio Luino; Guido Paliaga; Anna Roccati; Laura Turconi. Flash Flood Events along the West Mediterranean Coasts: Inundations of Urbanized Areas Conditioned by Anthropic Impacts. Land 2021, 10, 620 .
AMA StyleFrancesco Faccini, Fabio Luino, Guido Paliaga, Anna Roccati, Laura Turconi. Flash Flood Events along the West Mediterranean Coasts: Inundations of Urbanized Areas Conditioned by Anthropic Impacts. Land. 2021; 10 (6):620.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFrancesco Faccini; Fabio Luino; Guido Paliaga; Anna Roccati; Laura Turconi. 2021. "Flash Flood Events along the West Mediterranean Coasts: Inundations of Urbanized Areas Conditioned by Anthropic Impacts." Land 10, no. 6: 620.
Man-made terraces are widely diffused in hilly-mountainous areas, representing an ancient anthropogenic landscape modification for agricultural purposes. Then, terraces have been involved in several changes through times: socio-economic evolution caused a progressive general abandonment of terraced areas causing land use change and even their obliteration or collapse. In some cases, terraces deeply shaped the landscape and then their maintenance is considered crucial for cultural, aesthetic and even touristic value.
Terraces belong to the soil and water conservation measures as they allow to reduce erosion, improve slope stabilization and retain water runoff; as such they fit perfectly into the Natured-Base Solution definition. The artificial immobilization of debris and stone in terraces may turn in a possible source of geo-hydrological hazard in case of heavy rains, as happened in the Riviera Ligure in the last 20 years; a sequence of events was associated to landslides and flash flood, causing damages and casualties. Then, the proper terraces maintenance and monitoring is crucial for the maintenance of the geomorphological and geotechnical slope stability.
We focused on terraces identification and on the evaluation of debris/stones volume trapped after centuries of human activity in the pilot area of the Portofino Park, which represents a unique natural and cultural landscape that is severely endangered by geo-hydrological hazards. The further step has been the spatial relationships assessment with the exposed elements like buildings, infrastructures and culverted stream, that is the basis of risk assessment and land use planning activities.
The research has been carried out within the framework of the Horizon 2020 RECONECT - Regenerating ECOsystems with Nature-Based Solutions for hydro-meteorological risk rEduCTion; the Italian RECONECT demonstrator is set in the Portofino Park.
Using a detailed Lidar survey, the edges of dry-stone walls were firstly identified, allowing a detailed mapping. Focusing to terrace bases allowed to recognize a possible natural surface through their interpolation along the slope: the difference between the terraced slope profile and the interpolated one allowed a preliminary volume assessment.
Dry-stone wall basis has been detected applying a local upslope curvature routine that is the weighted mean of local curvatures of the directly neighboring upslope contributing cells, controlled with 5 cm orthophoto. In very steep areas terraces stored volume mediumly accounts about 0.35 m3/m2, which agrees with the back analysis estimation of volumes collapsed after recent geo-hydrological events in the Ligurian Riviera.
Stored volume is an essential parameter for prioritizing terraces restoration interventions for risk reduction through NBS techniques. Finally, the survey and analysis outcome may be useful to investigate the recent numerous geo-hydrological events that have been triggered in terraced areas in large sectors of the Mediterranean.
Guido Paliaga; Francesco Faccini; Fabio Luino; Laura Turconi; Zoran Vojinovic. The role of man-made terraces as NBS measure for geo-hydrological risk reduction in the Portofino Park (Italy) - H2020 RECONECT project. 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleGuido Paliaga, Francesco Faccini, Fabio Luino, Laura Turconi, Zoran Vojinovic. The role of man-made terraces as NBS measure for geo-hydrological risk reduction in the Portofino Park (Italy) - H2020 RECONECT project. . 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGuido Paliaga; Francesco Faccini; Fabio Luino; Laura Turconi; Zoran Vojinovic. 2021. "The role of man-made terraces as NBS measure for geo-hydrological risk reduction in the Portofino Park (Italy) - H2020 RECONECT project." , no. : 1.
The Horizon 2020 RECONECT - Regenerating ECOsystems with Nature-Based Solutions for hydro-meteorological risk rEduCTion - Project aims to contribute to a European reference framework on NBS by demonstrating, upscaling and spreading large-scale NBSs in natural areas.
The Italian RECONECT demonstrator is set in the Portofino Park, which represents a unique natural and cultural landscape but is severely endangered by geo-hydrological hazards.
The most frequent processes are shallow landslides and flash floods, sea-storm surges, rockfalls and mud-debris flows. Often, several different processes can occur simultaneously during an intense meteorological event, causing a location specific multi-hazard effect.
This research introduces the NBSs interventions designed within the RECONECT Italian case study in two pilot catchments (San Fruttuoso and Paraggi basins), accessed by thousands of tourists throughout the year.
Amongst all possible interventions that can be implemented in the protected area, NBSs are considered to be most suitable due to their minimal impact and the possibilities for integration within the natural environment. The Portofino Park has already been promoting interventions aimed at reducing the impact of geo-hazards within the protected area in response to climate change. As part of the RECONECT project, and in order to achieve sound engineering and technological solutions which can also preserve unique landscapes of natural and cultural heritage, the Park authority is realizing a set of NBSs in San Fruttuoso and Paraggi catchments. The purpose of the design is to demonstrate how NBSs can be integrated into such areas and how to reduce geo-hydrological risk for given climate change scenarios within the framework of an ecosystem based holistic approach for risk reduction.
The main scope of NBSs in San Fruttuoso is to address following basic challenges: stabilizing of rock masses; reduction of geo-hydrologic risks in order to intercept and reduce suspended and solid transport along the streams as well as reducing erosion; forest management focused to improve biodiversity, to remove non-native species and dangerous old specimen (Pine trees), not suitable in a Mediterranean climate, in order to select the climax species (i.e. Quercus ilex); restoration of dry-stone walls with the aim to valorize the terraced landscape as well as stabilizing the slopes.
The reconstruction of terraces and the regeneration of natural and man-made ecosystems will also be implemented within the Paraggi basin. In addition, hydraulic-forestry arrangements on water courses will be undertaken to improve the outflow and decrease solid transport and floating debris. Furthermore, other measures such as riverbed and tributary implementations, maintenance along hiking paths, slope stabilization, and cleaning and removing dead vegetation and dirt will also be undertaken.
The project also includes hydro-meteorological monitoring activities in the selected basins and the periodic checking of NBSs performance indicators. Lastly, remote sensing surveys are used to quantitatively assess the ongoing gemorphogical processes.
In relation to future projections of natural and socio-economic impacts of climate change, NBS represent a relevant mitigation and adaptation strategy for the Portofino case study, which may be upscaled to national and international level.
Francesco Faccini; Andrea Benedettini; Valentina Brodasca; Umberto Bruschini; Riccardo Giammarini; Fabio Luino; Cristiana Mortola; Francesca Neonato; Paolo Noce; Andrea Robbiano; Laura Turconi; Guido Paliaga. Nature-Based solutions for geo-hydrological risk reduction: the Portofino Park (Italy) experience in the H2020 RECONECT project. 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleFrancesco Faccini, Andrea Benedettini, Valentina Brodasca, Umberto Bruschini, Riccardo Giammarini, Fabio Luino, Cristiana Mortola, Francesca Neonato, Paolo Noce, Andrea Robbiano, Laura Turconi, Guido Paliaga. Nature-Based solutions for geo-hydrological risk reduction: the Portofino Park (Italy) experience in the H2020 RECONECT project. . 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFrancesco Faccini; Andrea Benedettini; Valentina Brodasca; Umberto Bruschini; Riccardo Giammarini; Fabio Luino; Cristiana Mortola; Francesca Neonato; Paolo Noce; Andrea Robbiano; Laura Turconi; Guido Paliaga. 2021. "Nature-Based solutions for geo-hydrological risk reduction: the Portofino Park (Italy) experience in the H2020 RECONECT project." , no. : 1.
Landslide susceptibility mapping is essential for a suitable land use managing and risk assessment. In this work a GIS-based approach has been proposed to map landslide susceptibility in the Portofino promontory, a Mediterranean area that is periodically hit by intense rain events that induce often shallow landslides. Based on over 110 years landslides inventory and experts’ judgements, a semi-quantitative analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method has been applied to assess the role of nine landslide conditioning factors, which include both natural and anthropogenic elements. A separated subset of landslide data has been used to validate the map. Our findings reveal that areas where possible future landslides may occur are larger than those identified in the actual official map adopted in land use and risk management. The way the new map has been compiled seems more oriented towards the possible future landslide scenario, rather than weighting with higher importance the existing landslides as in the current model. The paper provides a useful decision support tool to implement risk mitigation strategies and to better apply land use planning. Allowing to modify factors in order to local features, the proposed methodology may be adopted in different conditions or geographical context featured by rainfall induced landslide risk.
Anna Roccati; Guido Paliaga; Fabio Luino; Francesco Faccini; Laura Turconi. GIS-Based Landslide Susceptibility Mapping for Land Use Planning and Risk Assessment. Land 2021, 10, 162 .
AMA StyleAnna Roccati, Guido Paliaga, Fabio Luino, Francesco Faccini, Laura Turconi. GIS-Based Landslide Susceptibility Mapping for Land Use Planning and Risk Assessment. Land. 2021; 10 (2):162.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAnna Roccati; Guido Paliaga; Fabio Luino; Francesco Faccini; Laura Turconi. 2021. "GIS-Based Landslide Susceptibility Mapping for Land Use Planning and Risk Assessment." Land 10, no. 2: 162.
The knowledge of flood-induced ground effects and flood-water dynamics is a crucial issue for hydro-geomorphic hazards assessment and mapping, and thus for river management and land use planning. This paper and the related 1:15,000 map illustrate the lower Orba River (NW Italy) and its adjacent floodplain geomorphic response to the 21–22 October 2019 extreme flood. This was estimated to be a 500-years flood and caused severe damage to cultivated fields, structures, and infrastructures. The research is based on extensive post-flood field surveys, ante- and post-flood GNSS surveys, and aerial photographs interpretation. Intense in-channel sediment mobilization, bank retreats, and channelization structures collapses were surveyed. Furthermore, alluvial gullies, overbank deposits, crevasse splays, and surficial-erosion evidences were mapped over the floodplain, along with the flooded area (17.65 km2) and the flood-water features. A specific legend developed for flood-related and anthropogenic elements mapping in a typical lowland agricultural landscape with regulated rivers is proposed.
Andrea Mandarino; Fabio Luino; Francesco Faccini. Flood-induced ground effects and flood-water dynamics for hydro-geomorphic hazard assessment: the 21–22 October 2019 extreme flood along the lower Orba River (Alessandria, NW Italy). Journal of Maps 2021, 1 -16.
AMA StyleAndrea Mandarino, Fabio Luino, Francesco Faccini. Flood-induced ground effects and flood-water dynamics for hydro-geomorphic hazard assessment: the 21–22 October 2019 extreme flood along the lower Orba River (Alessandria, NW Italy). Journal of Maps. 2021; ():1-16.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAndrea Mandarino; Fabio Luino; Francesco Faccini. 2021. "Flood-induced ground effects and flood-water dynamics for hydro-geomorphic hazard assessment: the 21–22 October 2019 extreme flood along the lower Orba River (Alessandria, NW Italy)." Journal of Maps , no. : 1-16.
The effects of climate change on landslide activity may have important environmental, socio-economic, and political consequences. In the last decades, several short-term extreme rainfall events affected Mediterranean regions, resulted in damaging geo-hydrological processes and casualties. It is unequivocal that the impact of landslides in several Mediterranean countries is increasing with time, but until now, there has been little or no quantitative data to support these increases. In this paper, both rainfall conditions for the occurrence of shallow landslides and rainfall trends were investigated in the Portofino promontory, which extends in the Ligurian Sea, where heavy rainfall and related ground effects often occur. Adopting a frequentist approach, the empirical intensity-duration threshold was estimated. Our findings highlight that the rainfall intensity required to trigger landslides is lower for the same duration than those expected in other similar environments, suggesting a high susceptibility to rainfall-induced landslides in the Portofino territory. Further, the Mann-Kendall test and Hurst exponent were used for detecting potential trends. Analysis of long-term rainfall time series showed statistically significant increasing trends in short duration precipitation occurrence and rainfall rates, suggesting a possible future scenario with a more frequent exceedance of the threshold triggering value and an increase of landslide risk.
Anna Roccati; Guido Paliaga; Fabio Luino; Francesco Faccini; Laura Turconi. Rainfall Threshold for Shallow Landslides Initiation and Analysis of Long-Term Rainfall Trends in a Mediterranean Area. Atmosphere 2020, 11, 1367 .
AMA StyleAnna Roccati, Guido Paliaga, Fabio Luino, Francesco Faccini, Laura Turconi. Rainfall Threshold for Shallow Landslides Initiation and Analysis of Long-Term Rainfall Trends in a Mediterranean Area. Atmosphere. 2020; 11 (12):1367.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAnna Roccati; Guido Paliaga; Fabio Luino; Francesco Faccini; Laura Turconi. 2020. "Rainfall Threshold for Shallow Landslides Initiation and Analysis of Long-Term Rainfall Trends in a Mediterranean Area." Atmosphere 11, no. 12: 1367.
The southern Piedmont Region (north-west Italy) is characterized by a hilly zone called “Langhe” that covers an area of about 2300 km2 and is bordered by Tanaro River at north and west, by Orba River at east, and by Apennine mountains at south. The Langhe is rolling hills famous for their excellent wine, populated by many small inhabited centers since ancient times. An idea of the Langhe geomorphology can be gained by studying the word “Langa”: it may have been derived from either “landa,” which means a wild and uninhabited place or from “lingua,” which means a strip of land. The morphology of the Langhe hills is characterized by asymmetrical valleys with steep south-east facing slopes and more gentle north-west facing slopes: their profile is defined “saw toothed” by local inhabitants. The asymmetric shape is clearly conditioned by the geology. Severe hydrological events occurred in the last 100 years in Piedmont in particular on May 1926, February and March 1972, February 1974, and November 1994. During these long rainy periods, on the gentler slopes, translational rock-block slides involve tertiary flyschoid complexes represented by rhythmic series of deposits with varied grain size. These landslides often damage or destroy buildings and roads, even if rarely claim human lives.
Fabio Luino; Laura Turconi. Translational Rock-Block Slides in a Tertiary Flyschoid Complexes of Southern Piedmont Region (North-West Italy). Landslides - Investigation and Monitoring 2020, 1 .
AMA StyleFabio Luino, Laura Turconi. Translational Rock-Block Slides in a Tertiary Flyschoid Complexes of Southern Piedmont Region (North-West Italy). Landslides - Investigation and Monitoring. 2020; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFabio Luino; Laura Turconi. 2020. "Translational Rock-Block Slides in a Tertiary Flyschoid Complexes of Southern Piedmont Region (North-West Italy)." Landslides - Investigation and Monitoring , no. : 1.
Anthropogenic modifications at catchments scale may be reconducted primarily at soil sealing and streams culverting, even if important consequences result from roads density and, more in general, infrastructures as they cause landscape fragmentation, and agricultural areas extension. Their most important outcomes in terms of hydrologic balance are the decreasing time of concentration and the increasing flood risk at catchment scale. The research introduces a methodological approach to classify the degree of anthropogenic modifications at catchment scale: clustering techniques have been applied to 508 catchments in a high-risk flooding sector of the Mediterranean region. Then, flood data recorded in the study area in the 1900–2018 period have been compared to clustering classification, pointing out the relationships with soil sealing and hydrographical network culverting in the catchment. The analysis has been performed considering fourteen subsets of 8 descriptive parameters each that differ in the evaluation of culverting in the terminal part of the hydrographical network; the analysis has been conducted identifying the optimal number of descriptive parameters and the corresponding best number of clusters on quantitative basis. The results show that three classes clustering is the more appropriate from a computational point of view. That division looks coherent with the features of the studied basins and is well correlated with floods occurrence in the last 100 years. Finally, the proposed methodology of anthropogenic disturbance classification at catchment scale may be applied to other areas even adapting and implementing other descriptive parameters. Then, it may be used to support the planning of mitigation strategies in term of flood risk.
Guido Paliaga; Francesco Faccini; Fabio Luino; Anna Roccati; Laura Turconi. A clustering classification of catchment anthropogenic modification and relationships with floods. Science of The Total Environment 2020, 740, 139915 .
AMA StyleGuido Paliaga, Francesco Faccini, Fabio Luino, Anna Roccati, Laura Turconi. A clustering classification of catchment anthropogenic modification and relationships with floods. Science of The Total Environment. 2020; 740 ():139915.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGuido Paliaga; Francesco Faccini; Fabio Luino; Anna Roccati; Laura Turconi. 2020. "A clustering classification of catchment anthropogenic modification and relationships with floods." Science of The Total Environment 740, no. : 139915.
The integration of field surveys, bibliographic research and multitemporal analysis of historical maps, aerial photographs and satellite images in a GIS environment, allowed the current and past geomorphological features of the old city of Alessandria and its surrounding areas, NW Italy, to be identified and mapped. Their analysis provided an overview of the geomorphological evolution of the city that is strictly related to the historical vicissitudes occurred since the Middle Ages. Nowadays, the most representative landforms and deposits characterizing the urban landscape result from human interventions and are associated with ancient military facilities and infrastructures, a historical man-made channel network no longer recognizable, the Tanaro riverbed channelization, and the urban sprawl occurred from the second half of the nineteenth century onwards. This study represents a useful tool for urban planning and management and for raising the citizens’ awareness of the urban-landscape geomorphological features and evolution, and therefore the geo-hydrological risk.
Andrea Mandarino; Fabio Luino; Laura Turconi; Francesco Faccini. Urban geomorphology of a historical city straddling the Tanaro River (Alessandria, NW Italy). Journal of Maps 2020, 1 -13.
AMA StyleAndrea Mandarino, Fabio Luino, Laura Turconi, Francesco Faccini. Urban geomorphology of a historical city straddling the Tanaro River (Alessandria, NW Italy). Journal of Maps. 2020; ():1-13.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAndrea Mandarino; Fabio Luino; Laura Turconi; Francesco Faccini. 2020. "Urban geomorphology of a historical city straddling the Tanaro River (Alessandria, NW Italy)." Journal of Maps , no. : 1-13.
From 19 to 21 October 2019 a severe rainfall event occurred in the south eastern part of the Piemonte Region, in particular in the catchments of the Orba and Scrivia Rivers (NW Italy). It originated widespread shallow landslides, soil erosion processes, flood peaks, debris transport along the minor hydrographic network, morphological changes along the main rivers and flooding of lowland areas. All of this caused one casualty and severe damage to transport infrastructure, private homes and agricultural activities. The most critical phase of the event was registered in the afternoon and evening of Monday 21, and it was associated with a thunderstorm cell formed on the Ligurian Sea and then extended northward on the aforementioned catchments, where it remained stationary for some 12 hours. This dynamic resulted into exceptional rainfalls in terms of both cumulated values and intensity.
The rainfall-induced geomorphic effects were particularly severe within the Stura, Piota, Albedosa and Lemme Valleys, namely all the main right-bank tributaries of the Orba River. This contribute aims at documenting the rainfall magnitude and presenting the preliminary results concerning the analysis and mapping of landforms and geomorphic processes related to this rainfall event, within the middle and lower Lemme River catchment. The research is based on field survey and interpretation of aerial photographs taken along the main valley floor.
Considering the entire Lemme River catchment (180 km2), all rainfall-induced ground effects were substantially surveyed in its middle and lower parts, which present a mountain-hilly landscape and large fluvial terraces, respectively. Within the study area, with reference to the Gavi Ligure rain gauge, a cumulative rainfall of 428 mm in 12 h was registered, along with maximum values of rainfall intensity of 76.4 mm in 1 h, 205.8 mm in 3 h, 318.4 mm in 6 h. The cumulative rainfall measured during the 19-21 October 2019 event was 548,6 mm, that is approximatively half of the mean annual rainfall.
As a result, wide lowland areas were flooded by both the main channels and the minor hydrographic network. Wide plots of land on slopes were affected by sheet erosion and rills development. Numerous and widespread landslides were mapped both on slopes and on terrace scarps. Generally, they were shallow and involved eluvial-colluvial and anthropically reworked deposits directly overlying the bedrock. These landslides often evolved into debris-avalanches or debris-flows. A relevant sediment input affected the minor channels and newly-formed in-channel deposits and alluvial fans were observed along them. The main fluvial stems experienced severe riverbed widening and intense sediment mobilization. These ground effects involved facilities, infrastructures and cultivated areas causing widespread and severe damage.
The findings of this study are useful: i) to document another relevant case in this area of Piemonte Region that has been often affected by serious geo-hydrological events; ii) to implement future researches on landslides, surface erosion processes and flood-related fluvial dynamics; iii) to provide relevant information for land management under a geo-hydrological risks mitigation perspective.
Andrea Mandarino; Fabio Luino; Francesco Faccini. Ground effects triggered by the 19-21 October 2019 extreme rainfall in the middle-lower Lemme River catchment (NW Italy). 2020, 1 .
AMA StyleAndrea Mandarino, Fabio Luino, Francesco Faccini. Ground effects triggered by the 19-21 October 2019 extreme rainfall in the middle-lower Lemme River catchment (NW Italy). . 2020; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAndrea Mandarino; Fabio Luino; Francesco Faccini. 2020. "Ground effects triggered by the 19-21 October 2019 extreme rainfall in the middle-lower Lemme River catchment (NW Italy)." , no. : 1.
The European Horizon RECONECT Project (Regenerating ECOsystems with Nature-based solutions for hydro-meteorological risk rEduCTion) aims to contribute to a European reference framework on NBS by demonstrating, upscaling and spreading large-scale NBS in rural and natural areas.
The Italian RECONECT demonstrator is set in the Portofino Natural Park, which represents a unique natural landscape element with high ecologic, social, and economic (touristic) value and severely endangered by hydro-meteorological hazards.
The Portofino Promontory is historically affected by geo-hydrological events. They can produce natural instability processes related to the interaction between meteorological phenomena and the geological environment, which can potentially cause loss of the exposed elements at risk, as happened in the past. The more frequent processes are: shallow landslides and flash floods, sea-storm surges, rockfalls and mud-debris flows. Often, different processes can occur simultaneously during an intense meteorological event, interacting each other and causing an avalanche effect.
This research introduces the NBS interventions proposed in the RECONECT case study of Portofino over two pilot catchments (San Fruttuoso and Paraggi basins), visited by thousands of tourists all over the year. The project envisages the setting up of meteorological-hydrological stations for studying and monitoring geomorphological processes.
In particular, RECONECT project foresees the selection, installation and operation of hydro-meteorological instruments that include three weather stations, two hydrometers and two cameras to monitor small and very steep catchments.
Monitoring activity include the use of remote sensing survey LIDAR data, orthophotography and infrared aerial photography, whose acquisition has been carried out in January 2020.
Remote sensing and monitoring data are used to quantitatively assess the morphological features and processes, allowing to: a) evaluate the critical-instability areas along the slope and channels and to support the reconstruction of dry stone walls of the widespread terraced areas; b) evaluate the potentially more susceptible source areas of mud-debris flows and the identification of thresholds in meteorological conditions.
In relation to future projections of natural, social and economic impacts of climate change, NBS represent a relevant mitigation and adaptation strategy for the Portofino case study, which may be upscaled at national and international level.
Francesco Faccini; Fabio Luino; Alessandra Marchese; Guido Paliaga; Laura Turconi. Hydro-meteorological monitoring activities in Portofino Natural Park (Italy) as demonstrator of the H2020 RECONECT project: preliminary results. 2020, 1 .
AMA StyleFrancesco Faccini, Fabio Luino, Alessandra Marchese, Guido Paliaga, Laura Turconi. Hydro-meteorological monitoring activities in Portofino Natural Park (Italy) as demonstrator of the H2020 RECONECT project: preliminary results. . 2020; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFrancesco Faccini; Fabio Luino; Alessandra Marchese; Guido Paliaga; Laura Turconi. 2020. "Hydro-meteorological monitoring activities in Portofino Natural Park (Italy) as demonstrator of the H2020 RECONECT project: preliminary results." , no. : 1.
This research presents a geomorphological map of the Entella River floodplain (scale 1:10,000), one of the largest and urbanized Ligurian Tyrrhenian flat area. The coastal floodplain suffered substantial modifications due to human activities since the latter half of the nineteenth century, which transformed the natural landscape into an anthropogenic environment. Fluvial, marine and anthropogenic geomorphological features have been investigated through a multi-temporal analysis and the reviewing, re-elaboration and summarization of previous geographical and geomorphological materials. An historical analysis has been performed to reconstruct morphological modifications and their correlation with anthropogenic interventions. The main geomorphological map includes a multi-temporal analysis of shoreline and major anthropogenic landforms. Small sketch maps on the geographical, geological and land use settings are also provided. The detailed geomorphological map can be used for urban and land planning, including the mitigation of the meteo- and geo-hydrological risk, which historically has dramatically influenced the Entella coastal floodplain.
Anna Roccati; Andrea Mandarino; Luigi Perasso; Andrea Robbiano; Fabio Luino; Francesco Faccini. Large-scale geomorphology of the Entella River floodplain (Italy) for coastal urban areas management. Journal of Maps 2020, 1 -15.
AMA StyleAnna Roccati, Andrea Mandarino, Luigi Perasso, Andrea Robbiano, Fabio Luino, Francesco Faccini. Large-scale geomorphology of the Entella River floodplain (Italy) for coastal urban areas management. Journal of Maps. 2020; ():1-15.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAnna Roccati; Andrea Mandarino; Luigi Perasso; Andrea Robbiano; Fabio Luino; Francesco Faccini. 2020. "Large-scale geomorphology of the Entella River floodplain (Italy) for coastal urban areas management." Journal of Maps , no. : 1-15.
Nature-based solutions (NBS) are usually defined as complementary or alternative solutions to “grey infrastructures” (traditionally made with cement) aimed at conserving and regenerating the functionality of natural and semi-natural ecosystems. The research to date shows a considerable potential of NBS to address the current challenges related to climate change and geo-hydrological risks. Despite significant interest in NBS by researchers and practitioners, knowledge concerning their practical implementation, monitoring, and evaluation is still lacking. This is particularly true for large-scale NBS. The present paper discusses how such solutions can be implemented in the context of hydro-meteorological risk reduction in small Mediterranean catchments with a strong tourist vocation. The work presented here is situated within the RECONECT Project (Regenerating ECOsystems with Nature-based solutions for hydro-meteorological risk rEduCTion), which aims to contribute to a European reference framework on NBS by demonstrating, upscaling, and replicating large-scale NBS in rural and natural areas. The Italian case study of RECONECT is the Portofino Natural Regional Park, which represents a unique natural landscape element with high ecologic, social, and economic (touristic) value, which is threatened by a range of geo-hydrological hazards, such as flash floods, hyper-concentrated floods, shallow landslides, rockfalls, and storm surges. This paper also presents details of NBS interventions in two pilot catchments (San Fruttuoso and Paraggi) visited by thousands of tourists throughout the year. It addresses some of the key aspects related to monitoring meteorological and hydrological processes, as well as remote sensing activities (i.e., LiDAR surveys), which are necessary for the identification of critical-instability areas along waterways and the reconstruction of dry stone walls. Lastly, a discussion of relevant mitigation and adaptation strategies that are potentially replicable at national and international levels is also provided.
Laura Turconi; Francesco Faccini; Alessandra Marchese; Guido Paliaga; Marco Casazza; Zoran Vojinovic; Fabio Luino. Implementation of Nature-Based Solutions for Hydro-Meteorological Risk Reduction in Small Mediterranean Catchments: The Case of Portofino Natural Regional Park, Italy. Sustainability 2020, 12, 1240 .
AMA StyleLaura Turconi, Francesco Faccini, Alessandra Marchese, Guido Paliaga, Marco Casazza, Zoran Vojinovic, Fabio Luino. Implementation of Nature-Based Solutions for Hydro-Meteorological Risk Reduction in Small Mediterranean Catchments: The Case of Portofino Natural Regional Park, Italy. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (3):1240.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLaura Turconi; Francesco Faccini; Alessandra Marchese; Guido Paliaga; Marco Casazza; Zoran Vojinovic; Fabio Luino. 2020. "Implementation of Nature-Based Solutions for Hydro-Meteorological Risk Reduction in Small Mediterranean Catchments: The Case of Portofino Natural Regional Park, Italy." Sustainability 12, no. 3: 1240.
Stone wall terraces are a largely investigated topic in research for both their landscape and cultural/historical value. Terraces are anthropogenic landforms that interact with natural processes and need permanent maintenance to preserve their functionality. In the Mediterranean region, ground effects related to intense rain events often involve terraced slopes that, in some situations, are directly sourced areas of debris/mud flow. Starting from the 1950s, the changing socio-economic conditions caused the abandonment of large portions of rural areas. Nowadays, at the catchment scale, it is frequently difficult recognizing stone wall terraces because of their abandonment and the uncontrolled re-vegetation. This research faces the issue of identifying terraces in the Monte di Portofino promontory, which is internationally famous for its high-value natural and landscape involving broad anthropogenic modifications dating back to the Middle Ages. A remote sensing application, with LIDAR data and orthophotography, identified terraces on the Portofino promontory, enabling investigating even barely accessible areas and increasing knowledge on the territory. The aim of this paper is first of all to point out the presence of such anthropogenic morphologies in the promontory of Monte di Portofino and then to asses and highlight the related hazard. In fact, terraces can be a source of debris/hyper-concentrated flow with highly damaging power, as occurred in the recent years in neighboring areas during particularly intense hydrological events. Then, terraced area mapping, including in use and in abandonment information, is crucial to perform a spatial relationship analysis that includes hazard-exposed elements and to evaluate the possible connectivity factor of buildings, infrastructures, tourism facilities and Cultural Heritage within the hydrographical network.
Guido Paliaga; Fabio Luino; Laura Turconi; Jerome V. De Graff; Francesco Faccini. Terraced Landscapes on Portofino Promontory (Italy): Identification, Geo-Hydrological Hazard and Management. Water 2020, 12, 435 .
AMA StyleGuido Paliaga, Fabio Luino, Laura Turconi, Jerome V. De Graff, Francesco Faccini. Terraced Landscapes on Portofino Promontory (Italy): Identification, Geo-Hydrological Hazard and Management. Water. 2020; 12 (2):435.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGuido Paliaga; Fabio Luino; Laura Turconi; Jerome V. De Graff; Francesco Faccini. 2020. "Terraced Landscapes on Portofino Promontory (Italy): Identification, Geo-Hydrological Hazard and Management." Water 12, no. 2: 435.
Geo-hydrological risk reduction policies are becoming a critical challenge for environmental sustainability, both at the national and international levels. The reason is twofold: On the one hand, climate change has increase rainfall frequency and intensity, while on the other, reckless urban expansion has increased exposure to such hazards over time. Italy is a country that is very vulnerable to flood and landslide hazard; the city of Genoa, which, in recent decades, has been frequently hit by severe floods, has risen to symbolize Italian geo-hydrological risk. Recent studies on Genoa’s geo-hydrological hazard have focused on the analysis of hydro-geomorphological features of the Bisagno stream basin, yet their main focus was on hazard control. Very little research has been done to enhance the understanding of the source of risk in such catchments. This paper presents a study on the increased urban exposure and vulnerability to geo-hydrological hazard along the Bisagno stream catchment area over the last 200 years. Morphometric analyses were coupled with historical documents showing the evolution of the urban layout in this area. The results show that the “Bisagno Master Plan”, a territorial planning strategy aimed at reducing geo-hydrological hazard and risk, has not produced the expected benefits. In spite of the plan, critical changes in land use and the hydrographic network, along with uncontrolled anthropization of the Genoa metropolitan area, has continued over the last two decades.
Guido Paliaga; Fabio Luino; Laura Turconi; Fausto Marincioni; Francesco Faccini. Exposure to Geo-Hydrological Hazards of the Metropolitan Area of Genoa, Italy: A Multi-Temporal Analysis of the Bisagno Stream. Sustainability 2020, 12, 1114 .
AMA StyleGuido Paliaga, Fabio Luino, Laura Turconi, Fausto Marincioni, Francesco Faccini. Exposure to Geo-Hydrological Hazards of the Metropolitan Area of Genoa, Italy: A Multi-Temporal Analysis of the Bisagno Stream. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (3):1114.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGuido Paliaga; Fabio Luino; Laura Turconi; Fausto Marincioni; Francesco Faccini. 2020. "Exposure to Geo-Hydrological Hazards of the Metropolitan Area of Genoa, Italy: A Multi-Temporal Analysis of the Bisagno Stream." Sustainability 12, no. 3: 1114.
Identifying the minimum rainfall thresholds necessary for landslides triggering is essential to landslide risk assessment. The Italian Alps have always been affected by shallow landslides and mud-debris flows, which caused considerable damage to property and, sometimes, casualties. We analysed information provided from different sources carrying on the most thorough research conducted for this alpine area. Thousands of documents and reports of rainfall values recorded over 80 years by rain gauges distributed in Sondrio and Brescia Provinces define the mean annual precipitation (MAP)-normalized intensity–duration thresholds for the initiation of shallow landslides and mud-debris flows. The established curves are generally lower compared to those proposed in literature for similar mountain areas in Italy and worldwide. Furthermore, we found that landslides occurred primarily at the same time or within 3 h from the maximum peak of rainfall intensity in summer events and in a period from 0 to 5 h or later in spring-autumn events. The paper provides a further contribution to the knowledge framework on the rainfall conditions required for the initiation of surficial landslides and mud-debris flows and their expected timing of occurrence. This knowledge is crucial to develop better warning strategies to mitigate geo-hydrological risk and reduce the socio-economic damage.
Fabio Luino; Jerome De Graff; Anna Roccati; Marcella Biddoccu; Chiara Giorgia Cirio; Francesco Faccini; Laura Turconi. Eighty Years of Data Collected for the Determination of Rainfall Threshold Triggering Shallow Landslides and Mud-Debris Flows in the Alps. Water 2019, 12, 133 .
AMA StyleFabio Luino, Jerome De Graff, Anna Roccati, Marcella Biddoccu, Chiara Giorgia Cirio, Francesco Faccini, Laura Turconi. Eighty Years of Data Collected for the Determination of Rainfall Threshold Triggering Shallow Landslides and Mud-Debris Flows in the Alps. Water. 2019; 12 (1):133.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFabio Luino; Jerome De Graff; Anna Roccati; Marcella Biddoccu; Chiara Giorgia Cirio; Francesco Faccini; Laura Turconi. 2019. "Eighty Years of Data Collected for the Determination of Rainfall Threshold Triggering Shallow Landslides and Mud-Debris Flows in the Alps." Water 12, no. 1: 133.
This work investigated the susceptibility factors that trigger shallow landslides. In particular, the objective of the research was the implementation of a method to determine the relevant factors that can trigger shallow landslide events. However, with respect to the existing methods, the integration with historical datasets and the inclusion of spatial factors displaying dynamics in the same characteristic timescales were specific features of the developed tool. The study area included the watersheds of the Sessera and Strona rivers in the alpine area of the Province of Biella (Piedmont, NW Italy). The method was developed and tested from two sub-datasets derived from an integrated dataset that referred to an intense event, involving the same area, that occurred in 1968 (2–3 November). This allowed the implementation of an integrated representation of landslides’ predisposing factors and the identification and classification in different groups of the areas susceptible to geo-hydrological instability processes. The previously existing databases were verified and integrated into a geographic information system (GIS) environment, giving a potentially sharable source of information for planning purposes. The obtained maps represent a metric of one of the possible intrinsic environmental vulnerability factors for the area under study. Consequently, this method can represent a future instrument for determining the intrinsic environmental vulnerability dependent on landslides within an environmental impact assessment (EIA), as required by the most recent European regulation on EIA. Moreover, the shared information can be used to implement informed policy and planning processes, based on a bottom-up approach. In particular, the availability online of landslide susceptibility maps could support the generation of augmented information—useful for both local administrators and planners as well as for stakeholders willing to implement specific projects or infrastructure in vulnerable areas, such as mountains.
Laura Turconi; Fabio Luino; Mattia Gussoni; Francesco Faccini; Marco Giardino; Marco Casazza. Intrinsic Environmental Vulnerability as Shallow Landslide Susceptibility in Environmental Impact Assessment. Sustainability 2019, 11, 6285 .
AMA StyleLaura Turconi, Fabio Luino, Mattia Gussoni, Francesco Faccini, Marco Giardino, Marco Casazza. Intrinsic Environmental Vulnerability as Shallow Landslide Susceptibility in Environmental Impact Assessment. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (22):6285.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLaura Turconi; Fabio Luino; Mattia Gussoni; Francesco Faccini; Marco Giardino; Marco Casazza. 2019. "Intrinsic Environmental Vulnerability as Shallow Landslide Susceptibility in Environmental Impact Assessment." Sustainability 11, no. 22: 6285.
Since the nineteenth century, most urban catchments in Europe have been subject to significant landscape variations. These modifications have been caused by population change and the transition through rural, industrial and post-industrial economies. Land use and rainfall regime changes, together with land use variations, are frequently associated with flood hazard increase. This paper examines geomorphological landscape changes from the nineteenth century to the present day in the Bisagno Valley, Genoa metropolitan area. The Valley is internationally known for its recurring floods: the last events with fatalities occurred in 2011 and 2014. The extent of landscape change and the history of floods were examined by combining scientific data and information from historical maps, written accounts, topographical drawings and photographs. Historical–geographical and geomorphological analyses were used to reconstruct the runoff for three different periods since 1850. Our results demonstrate that geomorphological landscape variations, including modifications of the river bed, and the abandonment of the countryside and terraces are not sustainable and have progressively allowed an increase in flooding, making it necessary to implement sustainable management policies. In particular, specific spatial urban planning and management measures are necessary in order to mitigate flood hazard and vulnerability.
Pietro Piana; Francesco Faccini; Fabio Luino; Guido Paliaga; Alessandro Sacchini; Charles Watkins. Geomorphological Landscape Research and Flood Management in a Heavily Modified Tyrrhenian Catchment. Sustainability 2019, 11, 4594 .
AMA StylePietro Piana, Francesco Faccini, Fabio Luino, Guido Paliaga, Alessandro Sacchini, Charles Watkins. Geomorphological Landscape Research and Flood Management in a Heavily Modified Tyrrhenian Catchment. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (17):4594.
Chicago/Turabian StylePietro Piana; Francesco Faccini; Fabio Luino; Guido Paliaga; Alessandro Sacchini; Charles Watkins. 2019. "Geomorphological Landscape Research and Flood Management in a Heavily Modified Tyrrhenian Catchment." Sustainability 11, no. 17: 4594.
In recent decades, the Entella River basin (eastern Liguria) has been affected by several rainfall events that induced widespread shallow landslides and earth flows on the slopes; roads, buildings, structures and infrastructure suffered extensive damage due to the instability processes. In this paper, a GIS-based approach for analyzing and assessing a simplified landslide susceptibility in the Entella River catchment is presented. Starting from landslide information mainly provided from newspaper articles and unpublished reports from municipal archives, we performed a series of comparative analyses using a set of thematic maps to assess the influence of predisposing natural and anthropic factors. By evaluating the statistical distribution of landslides in different categories, we assigned weighted values to each parameter, according to their influence on the instability processes. A simplified, reproducible, but effective approach to assess landslide susceptibility in the study area was performed by combining all predisposing factors. The resulting scores in proneness to slope instability classes may be used to generate a simplified landslides susceptibility map of the catchment area which would be easy to regularly update every time a rainfall event that is able to trigger shallow landslides occurs; this would provide a useful tool for local authorities and decision makers for identifying areas which could potentially be affected by instability processes, and would help in determining the most suitable measures in land-planning and landslide risk management.
Anna Roccati; Francesco Faccini; Fabio Luino; Andrea Ciampalini; Laura Turconi. Heavy Rainfall Triggering Shallow Landslides: A Susceptibility Assessment by a GIS-Approach in a Ligurian Apennine Catchment (Italy). Water 2019, 11, 605 .
AMA StyleAnna Roccati, Francesco Faccini, Fabio Luino, Andrea Ciampalini, Laura Turconi. Heavy Rainfall Triggering Shallow Landslides: A Susceptibility Assessment by a GIS-Approach in a Ligurian Apennine Catchment (Italy). Water. 2019; 11 (3):605.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAnna Roccati; Francesco Faccini; Fabio Luino; Andrea Ciampalini; Laura Turconi. 2019. "Heavy Rainfall Triggering Shallow Landslides: A Susceptibility Assessment by a GIS-Approach in a Ligurian Apennine Catchment (Italy)." Water 11, no. 3: 605.
Landslides and floods, particularly flash floods, occurred recently in many Mediterranean catchments as a consequence of heavy rainfall events, causing damage and sometimes casualties. The high hazard is often associated with high vulnerability deriving from intense urbanization, in particular along the coastline where streams are habitually culverted. The necessary risk mitigation strategies should be applied at the catchment scale with a holistic approach, avoiding spot interventions. In the present work, a high-risk area, hit in the past by several floods and concurrent superficial landslides due to extremely localized and intense rain events, has been studied. A total of 21 small catchments have been identified: only some of them have been hit by extremely damaging past events, but all lie in the intense-rain high-hazard area and are strongly urbanized in the lower coastal zone. The question is what would happen if an intense rain event should strike one of the not previously hit catchments; some situations could be worse or not, so attention has been focused on the comparison among catchments. The aim of the research has been identifying a priority scale among catchments, pointing out the more critical ones and giving a quantitative comparison tool for decision makers to support strong scheduling of long-time planning interventions at the catchment scale. The past events' effects and the geomorphic process analysis together with the field survey allowed us to select three sets of parameters: one describing the morphometric–morphological features related to flood and landslide hazard, another describing the degree of urbanization and of anthropogenic modifications at the catchment scale and the last related to the elements that are exposed to risk. The realized geodatabase allowed us to apply the spatial multicriteria analysis technique (S-MCA) to the descriptive parameters and to obtain a priority scale among the analyzed catchments. The scale can be used to plan risk mitigation interventions starting from the more critical catchments, then focusing economic resources primarily on them and obtaining an effective prevention strategy. The methodology could be useful even to check how the priority scale is modified during the progress of the mitigation work realization. In addition, this approach could be applied in a similar context, even among sub-catchments, after identifying a suitable set of descriptive parameters depending on the active geomorphological processes and the kind of anthropogenic modification. The prioritization would allow to invest economic resources in risk mitigation interventions priory in the more critical catchments.
Guido Paliaga; Francesco Faccini; Fabio Luino; Laura Turconi. A spatial multicriteria prioritizing approach for geo-hydrological risk mitigation planning in small and densely urbanized Mediterranean basins. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences 2019, 19, 53 -69.
AMA StyleGuido Paliaga, Francesco Faccini, Fabio Luino, Laura Turconi. A spatial multicriteria prioritizing approach for geo-hydrological risk mitigation planning in small and densely urbanized Mediterranean basins. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences. 2019; 19 (1):53-69.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGuido Paliaga; Francesco Faccini; Fabio Luino; Laura Turconi. 2019. "A spatial multicriteria prioritizing approach for geo-hydrological risk mitigation planning in small and densely urbanized Mediterranean basins." Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences 19, no. 1: 53-69.