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Investigations on the structural setting of a landslide-prone slope by means of three-dimensional electrical resistivity tomography

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Abstract

Over the last decades, many investigation methods have been applied on deep-seated gravitational slope deformations (DSGSDs) to achieve a better understanding of the geometrical patterns of phenomena that often are related to fast and hazardous surface slope movements. An integrated analysis based on geological field observations and geophysical measurements was developed and tested in the Cinque Torri DSGSD area (Eastern Dolomites, Italy) to investigate the influence of the slope setting onto the dynamics of the rocky pinnacles group. These pinnacles, which lie at the top of a Mesozoic sedimentary sequence, have volumes ranging between 25,000 and 100,000 m3. This contribution presents the results of the electrical resistivity tomography along with detailed topographic surveys carried out in order to define the slope setting down to a depth of about 50–60 m below the surface. The geophysical investigations particularly address the location of the major faults and the lithological contact geometries. By inspecting the structural patterns of the slope which control the DSGSD, and thus the lateral spreading of rocky pinnacles at the top, the interaction between slope setting and instabilities can be inferred. Geophysical data clearly outline some tectonic-driven displacements along with the major contacts between the different lithological units. Based on these results, the structural model of the site is better defined leading to a new insight into the local stratigraphy for modeling purposes. This method can be exported to other landslide areas where the logistic difficulties and local complexities make borehole drillings ineffective at capturing the 3D slope structure and deformation features.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by a Grant offered by Alta Cultura e Università della Provincia di Belluno and was partly funded by the THARMIT European project (Torrent Hazard Controls in the European Alps. Practical tools and methodologies for hazard assessment and risk mitigation) and by “Istituzione Centro Previsioni e Segnalazioni Maree” (ICPSM) of the city of Venice. Appreciation is extended to Rinaldo Genevois, Nereo Preto and Matteo Massironi from the Department of Geosciences, University of Padua, who commented on the manuscript. The authors wish to thank Giordano Teza (Department of Geosciences, University of Padua) for the aid during TLS acquisitions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Geoscienze, Università degli studi di Padova, Via Gradenigo 6, 35131, Padua, Italy

    A. Viero, A. Galgaro & A. Breda

  2. Istituto di Ricerca per la Protezione Idrogeologica, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Corso Stati Uniti, 4, Padua, Italy

    A. Viero

  3. Geostudi Astier S.r.l., Via della Padula 165, 57124, Livorno, Italy

    G. Morelli

  4. Department of Physics and Earth Sciences, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze, 7/A, 43124, Parma, Italy

    R. G. Francese

  5. National Institute of Oceonography and Experimental Geophysics–OGS, Borgo Grotta Gigante 42/C, 34010, Sgonico (TS), Italy

    R. G. Francese

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  1. A. Viero
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Correspondence to A. Viero.

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Viero, A., Galgaro, A., Morelli, G. et al. Investigations on the structural setting of a landslide-prone slope by means of three-dimensional electrical resistivity tomography. Nat Hazards 78, 1369–1385 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-015-1777-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-015-1777-8

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