Shallow soil slips are a significant hydrogeological hazard which could affect extended areas of the high-gradient mountainous landscape. Their triggering is highly dependent on the rainfall water infiltration and its further redistribution, as well as the characteristic properties of the soil itself. The complex interaction between those factors generates a considerable degree of uncertainty in the understanding of the governing processes. In this work, we take a small step further towards the untangling of those intricate relationships through observation. The results of a set of 20 downscaled shallow land mass failures are analysed through a principal component analysis and a further detailed look at the resulting parametric trends. Moreover, electrical resistivity tomography measurements are added up to the interpretation of experimental data, by providing a glimpse on the rainfall water infiltration process at the subsurface level. The outcome of this work implies that the coupled interaction between rainfall intensity, hydraulic conductivity and soil moisture gradient is governing the stability of soil and while rainfall intensity and duration are essential instability predictors, they must be integrated with antecedent moisture and site-specific characteristics. A tentative comparison of the dataset with existing rainfall thresholds for shallow landslide occurrence suggests the potential application of experimental tests for thresholds’ definition or validation under the appropriate dimensional analysis. A dimensional analysis indicated the interconnection of parameters intrinsic to the problem, and the significance of scale effects in performing a downscaled simulation of land mass failure.

In this paper, we discuss the necessity of quantifying and correcting seasonal 3D effects on 2D electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) data measured along the embankments of rivers or artificial canals. A permanent ERT monitoring system has been continuously operating along the levee of an irrigation canal in Mantua province, Italy, since September 2015. To evaluate the importance of 3D effects and their dependence on seasonal variations, we first performed numerical simulations and also laboratory tests on downscaled levees of the study site. The results showed that 2D apparent resistivity pseudosections measured along the levee are significantly affected by 3D effects of the embankment geometry. Moreover, it was observed that 3D effects not only depend on the levee geometry, but they are also affected by seasonal fluctuations in the water level in the canal. This proved the importance of calculating 3D effects for the study site during dry and irrigation periods. Therefore, different synthetic models based on the levee geometry and water level in the canal in each period were constructed in RES2DMOD and RES3DMODx64 to quantify 3D effects for the study site. The ratios of apparent resistivity values calculated in RES3DMODx64 to the values calculated in RES2DMOD showed that 3D effects approach a maximum of 30% when the canal is empty during winter, and they arrive at a maximum of 10% when the canal is filled with water in summer. Using the graphs of the modelled 3D effects as a function of electrode spacing, apparent resistivity pseudosections measured by the permanent ERT system are corrected for 3D effects to obtain reliable resistivity sections after inversion. The final resistivity maps can be then converted into water content images using the empirical and site‐dependent relationship developed from core samples in the study area. Water content maps can be used to evaluate the stability of the levee and to detect possible seepage zones.

We present the results of laboratory experiments on a down-scaled river levee constructed with clayey material collected from a river embankment where a permanent resistivity instrument has operated since 2015. To create potential seepages through the levee, two zones (5 × 4 cm and 10 × 2 cm) were filled with sand during the levee construction. Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) technique and Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) technology were used to study time-lapse variations due to seepage. The ERT profile was spread on the levee crest and the Wenner array with unit electrode spacing a = 3 cm was used. Six organic modified ceramics (ORMOCER) coated 250 μm-diameter fibers were deployed in different parts of the levee. Time-lapse measurements were performed for both techniques from the beginning of each experiment when water was added to the river side until the water was continuously exiting from the seepage zones. The results showed that ERT images could detect seepages from the early stages. Although with a short delay compared to ERT, fiber optic sensors also showed their ability to detect water infiltrations by measuring temperature changes. Both technologies being successful, a discussion about respective peculiarities and pros and cons is proposed to suggest some criteria in choosing the proper technique according to the specific needs.