GEOSCIENCES-IR

GeoSciences IR (WP.3.2 Sinkhole and underground cavities) – Study of underground cavity systems in some urban centres of Latium, susceptible to possible sinkhole phenomena (Viterbo, Rieti, Bolsena, Ardea)

GeoSciences IR.

ABSTRACT

Because of their thousand-year history, the urban centres and the beautiful Italian art cities have a subsoil rich in cavities, mostly anthropic, but in some cases also natural. These cavities may be subject to sudden collapse (sinkhole), damage to the above buildings and infrastructure and possible loss of historical monuments or human lives. These cavities are mainly concentrated in the historic centre areas and extend to peripheral and rural suburbs. Sometimes, they are associated with extensive tunnel networks and hydraulic structures from archaic and Roman times. The characteristics of these underground environments are very varied, and to be understood, they require interdisciplinary knowledge ranging from historical and archaeological research to field surveys.

In collaboration with ISPRA, the U.O. – Unitus 02 has initiated a preliminary study of the underground cavities in some historical centres such as Viterbo, Bolsena, Rieti, and Ardea. They are using an integrated approach to gather all existing geomorphological and subsurface geological data in a GIS, as well as data dispersed across numerous archaeological and historical studies. This includes information from specific discoveries and occasions of sinkhole openings or the discovery of new cavities. The activity previews the development and the finalisation of these studies to define a first map of the sinkhole susceptibility in these cities. Since this problem is wholly unknown and underestimated by local administrators, engineers, architects, and builders, training and dissemination activities, as well as creating guidelines and a widespread and shared database, are planned.

represents the final objective of the proposed activity

Identification Cod: I53C22000800006

Total project cost: € 16.671.860,79

Total cost DAFNE:  € 84.803,92

DAFNE Role: Operationa Unit – Unitus 02
Scientific Supervisor DAFNE: Prof. Sergio Madonna

Email:sermad@unitus.it.

Start date: 1/10/2022.

End date: 31/10/2025

LINK:

https://geosciences-ir.it

PARTNERSHIP

• ISPRA Dipartimento del Sevizio Geologico d’Italia (coordinator)
• Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II
• Università degli Studi di Trieste

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