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Paul Marinos, the past president of IAEG for the term 1994 to 1998, passed away on Sunday, October 10th, 2021 aged 77. Professor Paul Marinos has shown deep and continuous commitment to the IAEG and has often helped the IAEG Council members make decisions in line with the IAEG Statute of which he has a profound knowledge. Professor Paul Marinos has given extraordinary and long-term contributions to the development of IAEG all through his life, he was awarded as the Honorary President of IAEG on October 8th, 2021 during the 3rd European Regional Conference. [Extracted from the article]

Abstract: Analysis of instability processes requires historical data over a range of temporal and spatial scales. While historical data offer a wealth of information about when, where and how a flood or a landslide happened or may recur, managing the data remains problematic. Before the data can be entered into historical and geographical databases, they need to be extracted from a vast variety of paper documents and transformed into a standard format. To do this, we developed a Geographical Information System (GIS)-based tool that permits easy data entry for comparing information on different temporal and spatial scales. The GIS tool was combined with a methodology for spatial data analysis to identify main hazardous areas. The historical and geographical databases were then queried with this tool to obtain the frequency of catastrophic events and their spatial recurrence. The GIS tool allowed accurate and rapid data management for establishing a connection between textual and spatial information for new data generation. This paper illustrates a methodology that utilizes the GIS tool for analyzing instability processes in two Italian river basins in the Western Alps. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We present a 1:20,000 scale map of the traces of the active Capitignano and San Giovanni faults in the area of the Montereale basin (central Apennines, Italy) covering an area of about 80 km2. Detailed fault mapping is based on high-resolution topography from airborne LiDAR imagery validated by extensive ground truthing and geophysical prospecting. Our analysis allowed the recognition of several features related to fault activity, even in scarcely accessible areas characterized by dense vegetation cover and rugged terrain. The identified fault traces run at the base of the NW-SE striking Montereale basin-bounding mountain front and along the base of the southwestern slope of the Monte Mozzano ridge, and have a length of about 12 and 8 km, respectively. Improving the knowledge of fault geometry is a critical issue not only for the recognition of seismogenic sources but also for surface fault hazard assessment and for local urban planning. The knowledge of the exact location of the fault traces is also crucial for the seismogenic characterization of the active faults by means of paleoseismological trenching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a new method for near-real-time monitoring of surface displacements due to landslide phenomena, namely ADVanced dIsplaCement monitoring system for Early warning (ADVICE). The procedure includes: (i) data acquisition and transfer protocols; (ii) data collection, filtering, and validation; (iii) data analysis and restitution through a set of dedicated software; (iv) recognition of displacement/velocity threshold, early warning messages via SMS and/or emails; (v) automatic publication of the results on a dedicated webpage. We show how the system evolved and the results obtained by applying ADVICE over three years into a real early warning scenario relevant to a large earthflow located in southern Italy. ADVICE has speed-up and facilitated the understanding of the landslide phenomenon, the communication of the monitoring results to the partners, and consequently the decision-making process in a critical scenario. Our work might have potential applications not only for landslide monitoring but also in other contexts, as monitoring of other geohazards and of complex infrastructures, as open-pit mines, buildings, dams, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We studied the geomorphological evolution of the Montaguto landslide, a 3.1×103 m long earthflow in the southern Apennines of Italy. Following an analysis of the different methods and techniques available to measure surface modifications caused by a large earthflow, we selected a combination of monitoring techniques compatible with the Montaguto case study. We exploited: (i) visual interpretation of aerial and satellite imagery, (ii) quantitative analysis of six digital elevation models (DEMs) covering the landslide area, and (iii) a large set of high-accuracy three-dimensional topographic measurements captured by three robotised total stations (RTSs). Integration of the results obtained from the different monitoring techniques allowed us to investigate the long (multi-decadal) and short (seasonal) term evolution of the Montaguto earthflow in the 58-year period (1954–2011). The examination of the available aerial, satellite and hill-shade images revealed a cyclic, long-term behaviour of mass movements of different types in the Rio Nocelle catchment occupied by the recent Montaguto earthflow. The combined analysis of the six DEMs allowed measuring the material eroded from the landslide crown area (V ~1.4×106 m3) and deposited in the landslide toe area (V ~1.2×106 m3) in the period from 2005 to June 2011. The analysis of a large set of high-accuracy topographic measurements revealed the kinematical characteristics of different sectors of the active earthflow, and allowed the reconstruction of the temporal and spatial evolution of the moving failure. The insights obtained are significant for the geo-mechanical modelling of similar earthflows, regional landslide mapping, and the evaluation of hazard and risk posed by large earthflows in southern Italy or similar physiographic regions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The Radicofani Basin, stretching about 30 km NW–SE, is an intra-Central Apennine basin connected to Pliocene–Pleistocene extensional tectonics. It consists of an Early to Middle Pliocene succession including essentially shelf pelites. In the Radicofani area, province of Siena (Tuscany region), morphodynamic processes are very frequent with widespread badlands and rapidly evolving mudflows. In order to evaluate the general instability of the Radicofani area, geological and geomorphological surveys were carried out. The 1954, 1990 and 2003 aerial surveys allowed a comparison of the changes in the various morphological aspects of the study area, which suggested an increase in slope instability with time. A new complex translational landslide evolving into mudflows, activated during the winter of 2003, was monitored using an experimental system based on terrestrial LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and GPS (Global Positioning System) technologies. This system allowed the monitoring of the morphologic and volumetric evolution of the landslide. A comparison of the monitoring data of October 2004, June 2005, May 2006 and May 2007 points out that the evolution is characterised by the sliding of displaced materials. A volume of about 1300 m3 of materials was removed during the period 2004–2005, 300 m3 for 2005–2006, and 400 m3 for 2006–2007. The greater initial mass movement probably reflects a greater static imbalance during the early period of landslide movement and increased rainfall. Therefore, the proposed monitoring system methodology allows the numerical evaluation of the landslide morphological evolution and to validate the landslide evolution model based on geological and geomorphological field surveys. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In the field of geo-hazards and geo-engineering, monitoring networks represent a key element for the geological risk assessment and the design and management of large infrastructures construction. In the last decade, we have observed a strong development on remote sensing techniques but just small changes in the subsoil observations. However, this type of measurement is very important to have a three-dimensional representation of the studied area, since the surface measurements often represent a sum of deformations that develop in a complex way in the subsoil. In this paper, we present a robotic inclinometer system developed to acquire deep-seated ground deformations in boreholes. This instrumentation combines advantages offered by manual inclinometer measurements with a robotized approach that improves the results in term of accuracy, revisiting time, and site accessibility. The Automated Inclinometer System (AIS) allows one to explore automatically all the length of the monitored borehole using just one inclinometer probe with a semi-wireless system. The paper presents the system and a detailed dataset of measurements acquired on three inclinometer tubes installed for the monitoring of the construction phase of the new Line C Metro of Rome. The dataset was acquired in real monitored site and undisturbed conditions and can represent a benchmark for modern inclinometer measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of geohazards, early warning systems represent a key element to coexist with thegeological risks and to manage ordinary or emergency scenarios. Modern monitoringsystems allow to follow up the evolution of the phenomena in near real time and tosupport decision-maker in a trustworthy and reliable way. These systems must benecessarily coupled with a robust interpretative model that must be periodically updatedalso using the acquired monitoring data. Particular attention must be given to themulti-instrumental analysis to the validation of each instrument dataset and to assure a globalperspective of the observed phenomena. In recent years, we have observed a strongdevelopment of technologies to measure dynamics of the surface topography andthe related structures/infrastructures with large scale (remote sensing) or a localscale (single landslide) approach. Many of these technologies are used to measuredisplacements and/or deformations. However, the measurement of these parametersdoes not always allow a fully description of the kinematic of the phenomena, sinceoften the surface measurements represent a sum of deformations that develop in acomplex way in the subsoil. The kinematic of the landslide, the involved volumes andtherefore the interaction with the elements at risk can be heavily influenced bydeep-seated ground deformations. In this context, Geohazard Monitoring Group(GMG) of IRPI-CNR has developed a robotic measuring system for the acquisition ofdeep-seated ground deformations and in particular the deep horizontal displacements. Thisinstrumentation combines the advantages of the traditional measurements (manual doublereadings 0/180˚) with a robotized approach that improves the results in term of revisittime, repeatability and accuracy. The robotized device also called as AutomatedInclinometer System (AIS), allows exploring automatically all the length of theborehole (up to 120m tube length) with just one inclinometer probe. All the cables(probe signal and power supply) are replaced with a thin polyethylene cable (φ2mm) only to sustain and move the probe up/down into a standard inclinometerborehole. The AIS was extensively used in landslide monitoring networks in theAlps areas obtaining interesting results in terms of: i) definition of the deep andsurface kinematics of the observed phenomena ii) evaluation of the displacementsaccelerations iii) relationship with rainfalls/snow melting and piezometric water levels.AIS represent a reliable possibility to realize a more complete integrated networkfor the landslide interpretation and to realize a more efficient and complete EWS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]