Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Database of geo-hydrological disasters for civil protection purposes

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Natural Hazards Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a research concerning available historical information about natural hazards (landslides and floods) and consequent disasters in the Consortium of Mountain Municipalities of Valtellina di Tirano, in Northern Italy. A geo-referenced database, collecting information till 2008, was designed with the aim of using available data of historical events for hazard estimation and the definition of risk scenarios as a basis for Civil Protection planning and emergency management purposes. This database and related statistics about landslides and floods are shown, and a brief overview of historical disasters caused by natural hazards in the study area is presented. A case study showing how useful the database can be to define a simple but realistic scenario is described. Information availability and reliability is discussed and possible uncertainties are underlined. The study shows that collecting and making use of historical information for the definition of hypothetical scenarios and the evaluation of territorial threats is a fundamental source of knowledge to deal with future emergencies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Agostoni S, Laffi R, Sciesa E (1997) Centri abitati instabili della provincia di Sondrio. CNR-GNDCI, Milano 59 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Aleotti P, Ceriani M, Fossati D, Polloni G, Pozza F (2004) I fenomeni franosi connesi alle precipitazioni del Novembre 2002 in Valtellina. International Symposium Interpraevent 2004, Riva/Trient, Italy, pp 11–20

  • Alexander D (1988) Valtellina landslide and flood emergency, Northern Italy, 1987. Disasters 12:212–222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alexander D (2000) Confronting catastrophe: new perspectives on natural disasters. Terra Publishing, Harpenden

    Google Scholar 

  • Alexander D (2002) Principles of emergency planning and management. Terra Publishing, Harpenden

    Google Scholar 

  • Australian Geomechanics Society (2000) Landslide risk management concepts and guidelines. Aust Geomech 35(1):49–92

    Google Scholar 

  • Blahut J, Horton P, Sterlacchini S, Jaboyedoff M (2010) Debris flow hazard modelling on medium scale: Valtellina di Tirano, Italy. Nat Hazards Earth Syst Sci 10:2379–2390

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cancelli A, Nova R (1985) Landslides in soil debris cover triggered by rainstorms in Valtellina (Central Alps—Italy). In: Proceedings of 4th international conference and field workshop on landslides. The Japan Geological Society, Tokyo, pp 267–272

  • Cardinali M, Cipolla F, Guzzetti F, Lolli O, Pagliacci S, Reichenbach P, Sebastiani C, Tonelli G (1998) Catalogo delle informazioni sulle località italiane colpite da frane e da inondazioni, vol 1—frane. CNR-GNDCI, Pubblicazione n. 1799, Perugia

  • Carrara A, Cardinali M, Guzzetti F, Reichenbach P (1995) GIS technology in mapping landside hazard. In: Carrara A, Guzzetti F (eds) Geographical information systems in assessing natural hazards. Kluwer, Dordrecht, pp 135–176

    Google Scholar 

  • Ceriani M, Lauzi S, Padovan N (1992) Rainfall and landslides in the Alpine area of Lombardia Region, Central Alps, Italy. In: Proceedings of the international symposium interpraevent 1992, Bern, Switzerland, pp 9–20

  • CNR-GNDCI (1983) Eventi alluvionali e frane nell′Italia Settentrionale: Periodo 1972–1974. CNR-GNDCI, Pubblicazione n. 1897, Torino

  • Costa JE (1991) Nature, mechanics, and mitigation of tha Val Pola Landslide, Italy, 1987–1988. Z Geomorphol 35:15–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Couture R, Guzzetti F (2004) Preface “geo-databases for natural hazards and risk assessment”. Nat Hazards Earth Syst Sci 4:183–185

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crosta GB, Dal Negro P, Frattini P (2003) Soil slips and debris flows on terraced slopes. Nat Hazards Earth Syst Sci 3:31–42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crosta GB, Chen H, Lee CF (2004) Replay of the 1987 Val Pola Landslide, Italian Alps. Geomorphology 60:127–146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Bernardi L (1987) Un male antico. In: Giacomelli L (ed) Speciale Valtellina 1987: cronaca, storia, commenti. Notiziario della Banca Popolare di Sondrio, No. 45, Bergamo, pp 92–119

  • Drabek TE, Hoetmer GJ (1991) Emergency management: principles and practice for local government. Int City Manag As, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferranti F (1814) Su la frana di Sernio che generò nel 1807 un nuovo lago e sui mezzi praticati per scemare le dannose conseguenze, Como

  • Fioraso G (2000) Indagini geologico-morfologiche su aste torrentizie della Valtellina e della Valle di Susa ricorrentemente soggette a colate detritiche torrentizie (debris flow). Quaderni di Studi e di Documentazione, Supplemento a GEAM, Anno XXXVII, n 1, pp 1–59

  • Franceschi O (1912) Intemperie, frane ed alluvioni in Valtellina. Pro Valtellina 7(19–24): 2

    Google Scholar 

  • GeoIFFI (2006) The regional inventory (1:10 000) of landslides and hydrogeological events, Lombardy Region, Italy. http://www.cartografia.regione.lombardia.it/GeoIFFI. Accessed 10 May 2009

  • Giacomelli L (1987) Speciale Valtellina 1987: Cronaca, storia, commenti. Notiziario della Banca Popolare di Sondrio, No. 45, Bergamo

  • Govi M, Turitto O (1994) Ricerche bibliografiche per un catalogo sulle inondazioni, piene torrentizie e frane in Valtellina e Valchiavenna. Associazione Mineraria Subalpina, Quaderni di Studi e di Documentazione n. 16

  • Govi M, Luino F, Turitto O (1996) Tipologie dei processi e sequenze di sviluppo: due esempi recenti. In: Luino F (ed) La prevenzione delle catastrofi idrogeologiche: il contributo della ricerca scientifica, Convegno internazionale, Atti vol 2, CNR-GNDCI, Alba, Pubblicazione n. 1600, pp 261–278

  • Guida M, Iaccarino G, Metcalf G, Vallario A (1979) Bibliografia delle frane dal 1900 al 1978, vol 40. CNR, Roma

    Google Scholar 

  • Guzzetti F, Crosta G, Marchetti M, Reichenbach P (1992) Debris flows triggered by the July, 17–19, 1987 storm in the Valtellina area (Northern Italy). International symposium interpraevent 1992, Bern, pp 193–203

    Google Scholar 

  • Guzzetti F, Cardinali M, Reichenbach P (1994) The AVI project: a bibliographical and archive inventory of landslides and floods in Italy. Environ Manag 18:623–633

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guzzetti F, Stark CP, Salvati P (2005) Evaluation of flood and landslide risk to the population in Italy. Environ Manag 36(1):15–36

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IFFI (1997) IFFI project—Italian landslides inventory database. National Geological Survey, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Luino F (2005) Sequence of instability processes triggered by heavy rainfall in the northern Italy. Geomorphology 66:13–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luino F, Chiarle M, Nigrelli G, Agangi A, Biddoccu M, Cirio CG, Giulietto W (2006) A model for estimating flood damage in Italy: preliminary results. In: Aravossis K, Brebbia CA, Kakaras E, Kungolos A (eds) Environmental economics and investment assessment, vol 98, pp 65–74

  • Luino F, Nigrelli G, Biddoccu M, Cirio CG, Di Palma M, Missaglia M, Fassi P (2008) Definizione delle soglie pluviometriche d′innesco di frane superficiali e colate torrentizie: accorpamento per aree omogenee. IRER, Milano 125 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Luino F, Cirio CG, Biddoccu M, Agangi A, Giulietto W, Godone F, Nigrelli G (2009) Application of a model to the evaluation of flood damage. Geoinformatica 13(3):339–353

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Magistretti S (2002) Rituals and rhetorics of disaster: patterns of catastrophe in the Italian Media: Sarno, 1998. In: Dickie F, Foot J, Snowden FM (eds) Disastro!: disasters in Italy since 1860: culture, politics, society. Palgrave, New York, pp 301–322

    Google Scholar 

  • PAI (2001) Piano stralcio per l’Assetto Idrogeologico (PAI): Interventi sulla rete idrografica e sui versanti. Linee generali di assetto idraulico e idrogeologico, Adda sopralacuale (Valtellina e Valchiavenna). Autorità di bacino del fiume Po, Parma

    Google Scholar 

  • Quan Luna B, Blahut J, van Westen CJ, Sterlacchini S, van Asch TWJ, Akbas SO (2011) The application of numerical debris flow modelling for the generation of physical vulnerability curves. Nat Hazards Earth Syst Sci (in print)

  • Regione Lombardia (2002) Inventario delle frane e dei dissesti idrogeologici della Regione Lombardia. Direzione generale territorio e urbanistica, Struttura rischi idrogeologici, Milano

    Google Scholar 

  • Regione Lombardia (2007) Direttiva Regionale per la Pianificazione di Emergenza degli Enti Locali (D.G.R.) n. VIII/4732, 2007. Bollettino Ufficiale della Regione Lombardia, Milano

  • Reichenbach P, Guzzetti F, Cardinali M (1998) Carta delle aree colpite da movimenti franosi e da inondazioni–Progetto AVI, 2a edizione. CNR-IRPI, Perugia

    Google Scholar 

  • Salvati P, Balducci V, Bianchi C, Guzzetti F, Tonelli G (2009) A WebGIS for the dissemination of information on historical landslides and floods in Umbria, Italy. Geoinformatica 13:305–322

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tropeano D, Turconi L (2004) Using historical documents for landslide, debris flow and stream flood prevention. Applications in Northern Italy. Nat Hazards 31:663–679

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tropeano D, Govi M, Mortara G, Turitto O, Sorzana P, Negrini G, Arattano M (1999) Eventi alluvionali e frane nell′Italia Settentrionale: Periodo 1975-1981. CNR-GNDCI, Pubblicazione n. 1927, Torino

  • Tropeano D, Luino F, Turconi L (2006) Eventi di piena e frana in Italia settentrionale nel periodo 2002–2004. CNR-IRPI and CNR-GNDCI, Pubblicazione n. 2911, Torino

  • UNU (2006) Landslides. News release, United Nations University, Tokio, Japan. http://www.ehs.unu.edu/file.php?id=81. Accessed 5 Sept 2009

Download references

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Dr. Giovanni di Trapani (Head of the Environmental Management Office of the Consortium of Mountain Municipalities of Valtellina di Tirano) for helping us with data collection and database construction; Corrado Camera (University of Milan) for the support in database compiling and for his useful methodological suggestions; Carolina García (University of Milano-Bicocca) for her comments to the early version of the manuscript. We would like to specially thank to the reviewers, Dr. Fabio Luino (CNR-IRPI of Torino) and other anonymous reviewer for valuable comments and suggestions, which considerably improved the quality of the paper. This research was carried out in the framework of the ‘Mountain Risks: from prediction to management and governance’ project, an EC 6th Framework Project and Marie Curie Research & Training Network (EC Contract No. MRTN-CT-2006-035798) in which the authors were involved.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Engineering Geology, Institute of Rock Structure and Mechanics of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (ASCR-IRSM), V Holešovičkách 41, 18209, Prague, Czechia

    Jan Blahut

  2. Department of Environmental and Territorial Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca (UNIMIB-DISAT), Piazza della Scienza 1, 20126, Milan, Italy

    Ilaria Poretti & Mattia De Amicis

  3. Institute for the Dynamic of Environmental Processes, National Research Council (CNR-IDPA), Piazza della Scienza 1, 20126, Milan, Italy

    Simone Sterlacchini

Authors
  1. Jan Blahut
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ilaria Poretti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mattia De Amicis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Simone Sterlacchini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jan Blahut.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Blahut, J., Poretti, I., De Amicis, M. et al. Database of geo-hydrological disasters for civil protection purposes. Nat Hazards 60, 1065–1083 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-011-9893-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-011-9893-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation