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Prof. Francesco Faccini
University of Genoa, Italy

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Research Keywords & Expertise

0 Environmental Geology
0 Natural Hazards
0 Flash flood
0 Geomorphological mapping
0 urban geomorphology

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Flash flood
urban geomorphology
Natural Hazards
Geomorphological mapping

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Short Biography

Francesco Faccini is an applied geomorphologist with an educational background in engineering geology and physical geography. He is an Associate Professor of Physical Geography and Geomorphology at the University of Genoa. In 2020, he obtained a qualification as Full Professor. In the 2020/21 academic year, he taught ‘Geo-hydrological hazard’ teaching in the Master course of Geological Sciences and ‘Geomorphological survey and mapping' in the Bachelor course of Earth Sciences. His research interests include mainly geo-hydrological hazards in urban areas, from their identification to management and risk reduction measurements, and geomorphological mapping, especially addressed to urban planning.

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Journal article
Published: 24 August 2021 in Remote Sensing
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Landslides are a major threat for population and urban areas. Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI) is a powerful tool for identifying landslides and monitoring their evolution over long periods and has proven to be very useful especially in urban areas, where a sufficient number of PS can be generated. In this study, we applied PS interferometry to investigate the landslide affecting Santo Stefano d’Aveto (Liguria, NW Italy) by integrating classic interferometric techniques with cross-correlation analysis of PS time-series and with geological and geotechnical field information. We used open-source software and packages to process Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images from the Copernicus Sentinel-1A satellite for both ascending and descending orbits over the period 2015–2021 and calculate both the vertical motion and the E-W horizontal displacement. By computing the cross-correlation of the PS time-series, we identified three families of PS with a similarity greater than 0.70. The cross-correlation analysis allowed subdividing the landslide in different sectors, each of which is characterized by a specific type of movement. The geological meaning of this subdivision is still a matter of discussion but it is presumably driven by the geomorphological setting of the area and by the regional tectonics.

ACS Style

Evandro Balbi; Martino Terrone; Francesco Faccini; Davide Scafidi; Simone Barani; Silvano Tosi; Laura Crispini; Paola Cianfarra; Flavio Poggi; Gabriele Ferretti. Persistent Scatterer Interferometry and Statistical Analysis of Time-Series for Landslide Monitoring: Application to Santo Stefano d’Aveto (Liguria, NW Italy). Remote Sensing 2021, 13, 3348 .

AMA Style

Evandro Balbi, Martino Terrone, Francesco Faccini, Davide Scafidi, Simone Barani, Silvano Tosi, Laura Crispini, Paola Cianfarra, Flavio Poggi, Gabriele Ferretti. Persistent Scatterer Interferometry and Statistical Analysis of Time-Series for Landslide Monitoring: Application to Santo Stefano d’Aveto (Liguria, NW Italy). Remote Sensing. 2021; 13 (17):3348.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Evandro Balbi; Martino Terrone; Francesco Faccini; Davide Scafidi; Simone Barani; Silvano Tosi; Laura Crispini; Paola Cianfarra; Flavio Poggi; Gabriele Ferretti. 2021. "Persistent Scatterer Interferometry and Statistical Analysis of Time-Series for Landslide Monitoring: Application to Santo Stefano d’Aveto (Liguria, NW Italy)." Remote Sensing 13, no. 17: 3348.

Journal article
Published: 09 June 2021 in Land
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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.

ACS Style

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 Style

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 (6):620.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Francesco 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.

Journal article
Published: 18 May 2021 in ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information
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In recent years, there has been growing interest in urban geomorphology both for its applications in terms of landscape planning, and its historical, cultural, and scientific interest. Due to recent urban growth, the identification of landforms in cities is difficult, particularly in Mediterranean and central European cities, characterized by more than 1000 years of urban stratification. By comparing and overlapping 19th-century cartography and modern topography from remote sensing data, this research aims to assess the morphological evolution of the city of Genoa (Liguria, NW Italy). The analysis focuses on a highly detailed 1:2’000 scale map produced by Eng. Ignazio Porro in the mid-19th century. The methodology, developed in QGIS, was applied on five case studies of both hillside and valley floor areas of the city of Genoa. Through map overlay and digitalization of elevation data and contour lines, it was possible to identify with great accuracy the most significant morphological transformations that have occurred in the city since the mid-19th century. In addition, the results were validated by direct observation and by drills data of the regional database. The results allowed the identification and quantification of the main anthropic landforms. The paper suggests that the same methodology can be applied to other historical urban contexts characterized by urban and architectural stratification.

ACS Style

Martino Terrone; Pietro Piana; Guido Paliaga; Marco D’Orazi; Francesco Faccini. Coupling Historical Maps and LiDAR Data to Identify Man-Made Landforms in Urban Areas. ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information 2021, 10, 349 .

AMA Style

Martino Terrone, Pietro Piana, Guido Paliaga, Marco D’Orazi, Francesco Faccini. Coupling Historical Maps and LiDAR Data to Identify Man-Made Landforms in Urban Areas. ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information. 2021; 10 (5):349.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Martino Terrone; Pietro Piana; Guido Paliaga; Marco D’Orazi; Francesco Faccini. 2021. "Coupling Historical Maps and LiDAR Data to Identify Man-Made Landforms in Urban Areas." ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information 10, no. 5: 349.

Science
Published: 21 April 2021 in Journal of Maps
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Hydrogeological mapping is a key tool for groundwater resource management. Generally, hydrogeological maps focus mainly on porous or karst aquifer at large scale. In a fractured-rock aquifer, the groundwater flow path is not immediately deductible due to the intrinsic complexity of fracture systems. Then, it is of crucial importance collecting a complete dataset describing the site of interest: fault and strata patterns, geomorphological features, occurrence of springs. Here we present the hydrogeological map at 1:10,000 scale of the fractured rock aquifer of Conglomerate of Portofino (Italy). The graphical information contained in this map is based on the authors’ field survey and the revision of papers written for academic purposes and technical reports. The aim of the research is to achieve a useful tool for land planning, conservation of groundwater resource and geo-hydrological risk reduction in the unique area of the Natural Park of Portofino.

ACS Style

M. Terrone; G. Paliaga; N. Bazzurro; A. Marchese; F. Faccini. Groundwater resources in a fractured-rock aquifer, Conglomerate of Portofino. Journal of Maps 2021, 17, 268 -278.

AMA Style

M. Terrone, G. Paliaga, N. Bazzurro, A. Marchese, F. Faccini. Groundwater resources in a fractured-rock aquifer, Conglomerate of Portofino. Journal of Maps. 2021; 17 (2):268-278.

Chicago/Turabian Style

M. Terrone; G. Paliaga; N. Bazzurro; A. Marchese; F. Faccini. 2021. "Groundwater resources in a fractured-rock aquifer, Conglomerate of Portofino." Journal of Maps 17, no. 2: 268-278.

Preprint content
Published: 03 March 2021
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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.

ACS Style

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 Style

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.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Guido 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.

Preprint content
Published: 03 March 2021
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Geodiversity is an important natural resource that must be considered in developing an effective land management strategy. In recent times there has been a great impulse on the research on geodiversity topics; particular attention has been given to geodiversity assessment methodologies, both qualitative and quantitative. The Liguria region in Northern Italy, despite its small geographic scale, encompasses a great variety of natural and cultural features of international significance. This wide variety is due to its particular geographical, geological and geomorphological conditions. In this work a first preliminary assessment of geodiversity in the Liguria region has been carried out, according to the quantitative method proposed by Melelli et al (2017). This GIS-based method uses spatial analysis techniques, taking into account five parameters: a geological index (lithology) and four morphometric indices (drainage density, roughness, slope position index and landform category), combined to obtain a total Geodiversity Index. The results show that the Liguria region is characterized by many areas with high geodiversity. The most important examples are the western Ligurian Alps, the Finalese, the Sestri-Voltaggio Zone and its surroundings, the eastern Ligurian Apennines, the Cinque Terre, which are in fact the areas with the greatest morphological and lithological variety. Most of these areas are well known by geoscientists for their significant geological and geomorphological heritage, and by the general public for their impressive landscapes. There is a correspondence between the most geodiverse areas, the main natural parks and the Natura 2000 network of protected areas, established to protect and enhance biodiversity. This suggest a link between geodiversity and biodiversity, that may be subject to further research.

ACS Style

Andrea Ferrando; Francesco Faccini; Flavio Poggi; Paola Coratza. Geodiversity in the Liguria region: a preliminary GIS-based quantitative assessment. 2021, 1 .

AMA Style

Andrea Ferrando, Francesco Faccini, Flavio Poggi, Paola Coratza. Geodiversity in the Liguria region: a preliminary GIS-based quantitative assessment. . 2021; ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Andrea Ferrando; Francesco Faccini; Flavio Poggi; Paola Coratza. 2021. "Geodiversity in the Liguria region: a preliminary GIS-based quantitative assessment." , no. : 1.

Preprint content
Published: 03 March 2021
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Geoheritage is an important natural resource that can represent a link between geosciences and the wider public, and all over the world initiatives have emerged to protect, value and enhance it. Therefore, geoheritage assessment is a fundamental step in choosing a correct land management strategy. The Liguria Region in Northern Italy is characterized by a wide geological and geomorphological variety, encompassing an important and valuable geoheritage. In Liguria, a regional law (L.R. 39/2009) protect and enhance geodiversity and geosites, establishing the Regional Inventory of Geosites. However, an approved official inventory is still lacking. In the present work a first reasoned inventory of 120 geosites is proposed for the Liguria Region, based on field surveys and literature review. A quantitative assessment of the value and the degradation risk was carried out. The value assessment takes into account the scientific value, the additional (aesthetic and cultural) value and the potential for use value; these three values are combined to obtain a total value (Q). Nine geosites obtain a Q value higher than 4: these geosites are among the best known of the Liguria region and are already exploited for tourism, such as the Palmaria and Tino islands, the Portovenere cliffs, the Gambatesa Mine, the Mt. Ramaceto sandstones, the Fascette Gorge, the S. Bernardino karst plateau, the Capo Mortola nummulitic limestones, the ophiolite outcrops of the Beigua Geopark and Framura. The degradation risk assessment takes into account both fragility and vulnerability of the geosites. The geosites selected and assessed in the present research will be implemented in the Regional Inventory of Geosites. Moreover, the results provides the necessary ground for interested parties to take actions for the implementation of effective regional geoconservation strategy or environmental management plan.

ACS Style

Andrea Ferrando; Francesco Faccini; Flavio Poggi; Paola Coratza. Inventory and assessment of geoheritage in the Liguria region (Italy) within the framework of land management and development. 2021, 1 .

AMA Style

Andrea Ferrando, Francesco Faccini, Flavio Poggi, Paola Coratza. Inventory and assessment of geoheritage in the Liguria region (Italy) within the framework of land management and development. . 2021; ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Andrea Ferrando; Francesco Faccini; Flavio Poggi; Paola Coratza. 2021. "Inventory and assessment of geoheritage in the Liguria region (Italy) within the framework of land management and development." , no. : 1.

Preprint content
Published: 03 March 2021
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Rainfall-induced shallow landslides characterize most of the geomorphological phenomena occurred in Liguria (North West Italy) in the last decades: high frequency is observed between the beginning of October and the end of April, reasonably correlated with the seasonal rainfall regime.Over the years, in national and international scientific papers, the thickness of the debris cover, the poor geotechnical characteristics of the soil, the sparse forest and shrub areas, the runoff water erosion along the slope surface were identified as landslide causal factors.However, an aspect that does not seem to be considered in Liguria Region is the causal relationship between wildfires and surface landslides.The wildfire determines a series of physical and chemical changes on the slope surface, first of all the wood and shrub cover reduction. The rapid change in land use determines an increase in the run-off and a consequent soil erosion evolving into landslides.This research aims to create a first basic statistics at regional scale among landslides and wildfire, crossing different databases and inventories, estimating a trend line both in the spatial and in the temporal domain.

ACS Style

Martino Terrone; Francesco Faccini; Guido Paliaga; Monica Solimano. Wildfire and shallows landslides: a first statistical description in Liguria (North-West Italy). 2021, 1 .

AMA Style

Martino Terrone, Francesco Faccini, Guido Paliaga, Monica Solimano. Wildfire and shallows landslides: a first statistical description in Liguria (North-West Italy). . 2021; ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Martino Terrone; Francesco Faccini; Guido Paliaga; Monica Solimano. 2021. "Wildfire and shallows landslides: a first statistical description in Liguria (North-West Italy)." , no. : 1.

Preprint content
Published: 03 March 2021
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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.

ACS Style

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 Style

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.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Francesco 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.

Journal article
Published: 22 February 2021 in Sustainability
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The Liguria Region in Northern Italy is characterized by a wide geological and geomorphological variety, encompassing an important and valuable geoheritage. The Ligurian regional law (L.R. 39/2009) protects and enhances geodiversity and geosites, establishing the Regional Inventory of Geosites; however, an approved official inventory is still lacking. In this work, a first reasoned inventory of 120 geosites is proposed for the Liguria Region on the basis of field surveys and literature review. A quantitative assessment of the value and the degradation risk of geosites has been carried out: the value assessment takes into account scientific, additional and potential-for-use values; the degradation risk assessment considers geosites’ fragility and vulnerability. The results, providing knowledge on the Ligurian geoheritage, can serve as the basis for the Regional Inventory of Geosites and can be useful tools for the implementation of any regional geoconservation strategy or environmental management plan.

ACS Style

Andrea Ferrando; Francesco Faccini; Flavio Poggi; Paola Coratza. Geosites Inventory in Liguria Region (Northern Italy): A Tool for Regional Geoconservation and Environmental Management. Sustainability 2021, 13, 2346 .

AMA Style

Andrea Ferrando, Francesco Faccini, Flavio Poggi, Paola Coratza. Geosites Inventory in Liguria Region (Northern Italy): A Tool for Regional Geoconservation and Environmental Management. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (4):2346.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Andrea Ferrando; Francesco Faccini; Flavio Poggi; Paola Coratza. 2021. "Geosites Inventory in Liguria Region (Northern Italy): A Tool for Regional Geoconservation and Environmental Management." Sustainability 13, no. 4: 2346.

Journal article
Published: 05 February 2021 in Land
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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.

ACS Style

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 Style

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 (2):162.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Anna 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.

Journal article
Published: 24 January 2021 in Journal of Maps
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This work presents the geomorphological features associated with the anthropic morphogenesis of the Bisagno Stream catchment, combined with the geo-hydrological hazards associated with landslides and floods. This catchment is internationally known for its recurring high-magnitude floods and its geo-hydrological hazards associated with the large and widespread presence of elements exposed at risks. It experienced severe morphological changes due to anthropogenic interventions related to urban sprawl and agriculture. Anthropogenic modifications to the former landscape have been particularly widespread and pervasive over the coastline, the floodplain, and the slopes. They include a general alteration of the pristine landforms, excavation and landfill forms, channelization and culvert of riverbeds, and terraced slopes. The 1:20,000 scale map allows to assess the relationships existing among structures and infrastructures, anthropogenic landforms, and landslides and flood-prone areas. Thus, this tool provides relevant information for land-use planning and land management, in particular under the perspective of geo-hydrological hazards mitigation.

ACS Style

Andrea Mandarino; Francesco Faccini; Martino Terrone; Guido Paliaga. Anthropogenic landforms and geo-hydrological hazards of the Bisagno Stream catchment (Liguria, Italy). Journal of Maps 2021, 118 -131.

AMA Style

Andrea Mandarino, Francesco Faccini, Martino Terrone, Guido Paliaga. Anthropogenic landforms and geo-hydrological hazards of the Bisagno Stream catchment (Liguria, Italy). Journal of Maps. 2021; ():118-131.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Andrea Mandarino; Francesco Faccini; Martino Terrone; Guido Paliaga. 2021. "Anthropogenic landforms and geo-hydrological hazards of the Bisagno Stream catchment (Liguria, Italy)." Journal of Maps , no. : 118-131.

Science
Published: 11 January 2021 in Journal of Maps
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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.

ACS Style

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 Style

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.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Andrea 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.

Journal article
Published: 17 December 2020 in Atmosphere
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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.

ACS Style

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 Style

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 (12):1367.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Anna 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.

Journal article
Published: 15 December 2020 in Journal of Maps
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Deep-seated gravitational slope deformation (DsGSD) represents a relevant geological-geomorphological feature of the landscape and has drawn scientific attention for the past several decades. During a detailed fieldwork in the Ligurian Alps, we identified areas (larger than ca 5 km2), characterized by very low percentage of outcrops, with rock blocks on the watershed and many morpho-tectonic evidences. Through the integration of geological-geomorphological mapping, structural data, photo interpretation, GIS-based analyses, we identified a number of typical DsGSDs. The example here described is one major complex-sagging-type DsGSD that is not present in national land planning and/or management databases but that is likely at the origin of the large-scale landslides which affected the villages of the area. This DsGSD is also located within the Beigua UNESCO Global Geopark, in an area of unique natural and historical value. This study once again highlights the importance of ground truth observations as the basis for further investigations.

ACS Style

F. Faccini; L. Federico; S. Torchio; A. Roccati; G. Capponi; L. Crispini. A mountain slope deformation in an alpine metaophiolitic massif (Ligurian Alps, Italy). Journal of Maps 2020, 1 -13.

AMA Style

F. Faccini, L. Federico, S. Torchio, A. Roccati, G. Capponi, L. Crispini. A mountain slope deformation in an alpine metaophiolitic massif (Ligurian Alps, Italy). Journal of Maps. 2020; ():1-13.

Chicago/Turabian Style

F. Faccini; L. Federico; S. Torchio; A. Roccati; G. Capponi; L. Crispini. 2020. "A mountain slope deformation in an alpine metaophiolitic massif (Ligurian Alps, Italy)." Journal of Maps , no. : 1-13.

Journal article
Published: 29 July 2020 in Journal of Maps
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This paper describes the anthropogenic landforms of the alluvial-coastal plain of Rapallo (Eastern Liguria, NW Italy). Since the second half of the nineteenth-century Rapallo experienced a progressive urban sprawl that became particularly intense after the Second World War and severely modified the former landforms. The identification and mapping of morphological changes was performed through a multi-temporal comparison of historical and recent maps and aerial photographs, an analysis of geo-thematic maps and urban planning documents, an interpretation of stratigraphic data from boreholes, and a field survey activity. The main anthropogenic interventions that shaped the urban landscape of Rapallo were riverbed diversions and channelization, excavations, fillings, and embankments construction along the shoreline. These elements highlight the relevant extent of the human imprint on the pristine environment. Furthermore, the identified anthropogenic geomorphological features, combined with the local physiographic and climatic features, increased flood and sea storm hazards and risks.

ACS Style

Pierluigi Brandolini; Andrea Mandarino; Guido Paliaga; Francesco Faccini. Anthropogenic landforms in an urbanized alluvial-coastal plain (Rapallo city, Italy). Journal of Maps 2020, 1 -12.

AMA Style

Pierluigi Brandolini, Andrea Mandarino, Guido Paliaga, Francesco Faccini. Anthropogenic landforms in an urbanized alluvial-coastal plain (Rapallo city, Italy). Journal of Maps. 2020; ():1-12.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Pierluigi Brandolini; Andrea Mandarino; Guido Paliaga; Francesco Faccini. 2020. "Anthropogenic landforms in an urbanized alluvial-coastal plain (Rapallo city, Italy)." Journal of Maps , no. : 1-12.

Journal article
Published: 14 June 2020 in Journal of Maps
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Francesco Faccini; Marco Giardino; Guido Paliaga; Luigi Perotti; Pierluigi Brandolini. Urban geomorphology of Genoa old city (Italy). Journal of Maps 2020, 1 -14.

AMA Style

Francesco Faccini, Marco Giardino, Guido Paliaga, Luigi Perotti, Pierluigi Brandolini. Urban geomorphology of Genoa old city (Italy). Journal of Maps. 2020; ():1-14.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Francesco Faccini; Marco Giardino; Guido Paliaga; Luigi Perotti; Pierluigi Brandolini. 2020. "Urban geomorphology of Genoa old city (Italy)." Journal of Maps , no. : 1-14.

Journal article
Published: 06 June 2020 in Science of The Total Environment
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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.

ACS Style

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 Style

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.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Guido 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.

Preprint content
Published: 23 March 2020
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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.

ACS Style

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 Style

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.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Francesco 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.

Preprint content
Published: 23 March 2020
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In the last years there is growing interest on urban geomorphology both for the links with landscape planning and for its historical, cultural and scientific interest.

The identification of landforms in urban contexts is particularly difficult due to the progressive stratification of urban phases: the foundation of cities in the Mediterranean area dates back to ancient times and their growth in size is generally significant from the Middle Ages. This makes it frequent to find landforms which date back to more than 1000 years ago: they can be new, man-made landforms or modifications of natural ones, particularly coastal or fluvial features. Land modifications are particularly significant in the last 2 centuries, notably in the second half of the C19th and in the second half of the C20th, two periods identified as the potential start of the Anthropocene.

Anthropogenic terrain features are generally due to excavation and fill: unlike natural landforms which are generally identifiable through field surveys, the former require field observations, cartographical comparisons, multitemporal comparison of topographical views and historical photographs, geognostic investigations and geophysical surveys.

This research presents the results of a multitemporal analysis of the city of Genoa carried out by superimposing data from nineteenth-century historical cartography and topographical data from Remote Sensing.  The 1:2.000 scale map of Ignazio Porro, dating back to the first half of the C19th, has been digitalised on Lidar images from 2019 and with 1 m resolution, provided by Genoa Municipality. This methodology, developed with QGIS, has been applied on 5 sample areas particularly significant for their anthropogenic modifications: the area around Sant’Agata bridge in Val Bisagno, the area of Morandi Bridge in Val Polcevera, the road called Circonvallazione a Monte, the Promontory of the Lighthouse and the Via Digione area. Through the overlaying of multitemporal cartographies it was possible to identify and quantify with great precision excavation, landfill and mixed areas, allowing the identification of the most significant anthropogenic landforms. The obtained results have been validated through direct observations and supported by data from the geognostic regional database, revealing the potential of this approach for other urban areas.

ACS Style

Martino Terrone; Guido Paliaga; Pietro Piana; Francesco Faccini. Coupling historical maps and Lidar data to recognize man-made landforms in urban areas. 2020, 1 .

AMA Style

Martino Terrone, Guido Paliaga, Pietro Piana, Francesco Faccini. Coupling historical maps and Lidar data to recognize man-made landforms in urban areas. . 2020; ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Martino Terrone; Guido Paliaga; Pietro Piana; Francesco Faccini. 2020. "Coupling historical maps and Lidar data to recognize man-made landforms in urban areas." , no. : 1.