Previously undocumented sinkholes were identified during geological field mapping for Sheet 313 “Camerino” (1:50,000 scale, CARG) within Messinian gypsarenite layers embedded in a dominantly siliciclastic succession at Belforte del Chienti (MC, central Italy). In the study area, where arenaceous and clayey lithotypes of the Laga Basin prevail, sinkholes are extremely rare, as also reflected by their scarce representation in national databases and the scientific literature. Geological field data, integrated with geognostic boreholes stratigraphies, allowed the construction of a preliminary geological model of the area, which was further refined using InSAR data from the surrounding areas. The latter revealed localized ground deformations over the satellite observation period that may be associated with, or influenced by, the presence of the study sinkholes. These subsidence structures have significantly altered the surface and subsurface hydrological flow, perturbing the pre-existing equilibrium of slopes already affected by landsliding. In addition, the high susceptibility to erosion of the investigated gypsarenite horizons may be enhanced by water losses from pressurized distribution networks and by irrigation practices. Satellite data analysis highlights ground movements potentially linked to the presence or activity of sinkholes. This case study is scientifically relevant due to its uniqueness within this lithostratigraphic and structural context and its implications for hazard assessment. The risk of further collapses or the evolution of existing cavities is particularly critical given the proximity of infrastructures, including roads and buildings, which increases exposure of human and material assets. Targeted geophysical and hydrogeological investigations could help identify collapse-prone cavities in areas with similar lithostratigraphic and structural characteristics, which may extend over several square kilometers. The aim of this study is to analyze and classify these sinkholes and to evaluate the potential hazards affecting the nearby residential area.
This work focuses on the multi method characterization of an anthropogenic cavity system located in the historic center of Naples (Italy), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The main objective of the study is to establish a multidisciplinary procedure for investigating cave systems in densely urbanized and archaeologically constrained sites, providing a methodological framework to support future risk mitigation and urban planning strategies. The study site is the Complex of Saints Marcellino and Festo, an ancient architectural structure belonging to the University of Naples Federico II, where a multidisciplinary investigation was conducted. Historical stratigraphic information, geophysical surveys, new boreholes, and hydrogeological data were integrated to define the hydrostratigraphic model, the position and geometry of newly identified anthropogenic cavity systems and underground environments beneath the building and its internal cloister. The combined interpretation of the different datasets, integrated by satellite interferometric observations, provided new insights that supported a preliminary ground deformation susceptibility assessment of the site. The multimethod approach developed for the cloister of the Saints Marcellino, and Festo Monumental Complex provides a structured and transferable methodological framework for other cultural sites of the city and high-density Italian urban settings similar to Naples.
The CARG project (Geological Cartography) represents a key tool for acquiring baseline geological knowledge of the territory and enables the systematic collection of data essential for understanding geologically relevant processes with direct implications for hazard assessment. In particular, CARG can play an important role in supporting the ITHACA project (ITaly HAzard from CApable faults), which compiles and organizes information on capable faults across Italy, thereby informing fault hazard analyses and supporting the development of effective risk mitigation strategies.The initial application of capable fault studies during a CARG survey is exemplified by Sheet 348 - Antrodoco. Increased attention to the coseismic faulting hazard following the 2009 L’Aquila earthquake fostered a greater awareness of active tectonics, highlighting the need to study Quaternary-active tectonic structures during CARG mapping. Consequently, the 2022 update of the Italian Geological Survey’s Notebook No. 15, regarding “previous data on active and capable faults and suggestions for their detection and survey”, explicitly refers to the ITHACA catalogue and its Guide to Consultation and Use (https://portalesgi.isprambiente.it/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Linee_Guida_ITHACA.pdf).
Natural sinkholes are among the most critical geological hazards in karst terrains, where surface collapses can occur suddenly and affect infrastructure, cultural heritage, and human safety. Coastal environments are particularly vulnerable due to the combined effect of karst dissolution, structural discontinuities, and wave-induced erosion. This study focuses on the coastal sector of Maratea (Basilicata, Southern Italy), the only Tyrrhenian outlet of the region, which extends over ~32 km and hosts several sinkholes and marine caves at different evolutionary stages. A multidisciplinary methodology was applied, combining hydrogeological, geological and geomechanical measurements with field surveys, and drone-based photogrammetry. Sinkhole sites were documented through high-resolution orthophotos and 3D models, while kinematic analysis supported the identification of instability mechanisms (planar sliding, wedge sliding, direct toppling). The integration of speleological and GIS data confirmed the strong relationship between marine caves and sinkhole collapse. Results highlight the role of tectonic discontinuities, karst processes, and marine erosion in triggering cliff failures, proposing a methodological framework useful for hazard assessment and coastal risk mitigation.
The rapid expansion of industrial photovoltaic (PV) systems raises questions about their actual environmental sustainability, especially in regions with high agricultural and ecological value like Sicily. This research provides a new customized, scalable, GIS-based approach for evaluating environmental impact of ground-mounted PV installations using geomatics techniques. The developed framework integrates solar radiation analysis with assessment of territorial constraints derived from legal and environmental regulations in force in the studied area. The integrated tools, available in ArcGIS Pro, useful for generating radiation maps, include: a) the Raster Solar Radiation tool and b) spatial interpolations of daily solar radiation data, opportunely adjusted by aspect correction. Finally, a WebGIS was developed to share the results and provide an assessment of areas suitable for installation.
Coastal areas can be considered dynamic environments, where the interaction between natural processes and human presence can lead to significant geomorphological hazards. In urbanized volcanic settings, the rock cliff evolution represents a serious threat to the safety of infrastructures and settlements located along the coast. This study provides a preliminary geomorphological and geostructural characterization of the rock masses along the Catania city seafront using satellite imagery and airborne photogrammetry. This approach allowed characterizing the cliff morphology, surveying the main rock mass discontinuities, as well as recognizing the features associated with the coastal evolution. The results highlight that the coastal morphology is particularly controlled by structural and erosional mechanisms, providing useful insights for future risk assessment studies and the definition of territorial management plans.
Soil erosion is a major driver of land degradation, threatening environmental and socioeconomic sustainability. The present study aimed to evaluate the average annual soil loss in the Mesima River basin located in the central-southern sector of the Calabria region (southern Italy). In addition, the study computed the average sediment yield and identified the average sources of sediment within the basin. A spatially distributed approach was applied, integrating the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and Sediment Delivery Ratio (SDR) models with GIS and remote sensing techniques. The results showed that annual soil loss within the basin varied from 0 to 258.35 t/ha/yr with a mean of 3.37 t/ha/yr. The computed yearly soil loss was about 271760 tons. Moreover, the estimated sediment yield within the basin ranged from 0 to 95.75 t/ha/yr with a mean of 1.07 t/ha/yr; consequently, the annual sediment yield is anticipated to be 86.637 tons. These results indicate that approximately 32% of eroded soil is transported to streams, whereas 68% is retained and deposited without reaching streams. Our results show that the Mesima basin is highly diverse in erosion and sediment yield owing to variable topographic, geomorphic, and land-use/cover characteristics across sub-basins. Topographic steepness (LS factor) makes the most significant contribution to soil erosion, followed by the crop and management (CP) factors, in most sub-basins. The current investigation effectively identified erosion-prone areas and critical sediment sources, offering valuable support for sustainable land management and soil conservation planning.
The integrated study of sinkholes in Italy highlights the foundational role of historical cartography, archaeological data, and archival sources in identifying areas of potential hazard. Historical maps, prints, and aerial photographs, when analysed through diachronic comparison, enable the detection of sudden morphological changes (e.g., sub-circular topographic depressions, ponds, and hydrographic modifications) that may signal the formation of sinkholes. This approach is particularly effective in contexts where modern topography no longer preserves clear evidence of subsidence due to urbanisation or land reclamation. Historical cartography, aerial imagery, and cartographic inventories thus provide critical constraints on the spatial and temporal evolution of sinkholes, including their size, frequency, and development through time. Over the last few decades, the Italian Geological Survey (ISPRA), the official body of the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, has systematically investigated collapse phenomena (sinkholes). These sources have been collected, georeferenced, and integrated into GIS platforms to support spatial analyses. Within this framework, historical and archaeological evidence has proven essential not only for identifying potential underground cavities but also for reconstructing palaeohydrographic systems that may still influence present-day subsurface water dynamics and sinkhole susceptibility. Furthermore, the analysis of historical cartography reveals that numerous small, sub-circular lakes were present across the territory in the past, many of which have since disappeared. Notably, several of these features were located within areas currently classified as sinkhole-prone, where recent events have been documented. This correspondence suggests that a significant proportion of these former lakes may be attributable to past sinkhole activity. In particular, within alluvial environments characterized by cohesive sedimentary cover, such features are plausibly associated with piping sinkholes.
The Upper Pliocene–Lower Pleistocene Scandale Sandstones in the Rocca di Neto area, within the Crotone basin fill, is here discussed based on sedimentological, petrographic, and petrophysical analyses. Three stratigraphic sections were reconstructed, documenting that eolian dune, backshore, beachface-shoreface are the dominant sedimentary facies, recording a wave-dominated coastal system across the Piacenzian–Gelasian transition. Petrographic analysis reveals a quartzofeldspathic composition, mainly derived from the plutonic and metamorphic rocks of the Sila Massif, with additional sedimentary contributions from the underlying Crotone Basin and Mesozoic Longobucco/Caloveto groups. Mercury intrusion porosimetry indicates a pore system dominated by micro- to mesopores. Integrated data support a paleogeographic reconstruction involving renewed subsidence and marine transgression after middle Pliocene tectonic uplift, highlighting the Scandale Sandstones as a key archive of the Crotone basin fill at the Neogene–Quaternary boundary.
With the aim of verifying the validity and accuracy of the updated dataset of the Italian Landslide Inventory (IFFI) for the Campania Region, we conducted field and morphological analyses at the Roccadaspide and Corleto Monforte sites, where several discrepancies between the preexisting and revised records were found. The approach adopted for this purpose involves the interpretation of satellite images, the analysis of ground-motion data, and geomorphological fieldwork at the analysed sites. Results indicate that for the Roccadaspide site the revised dataset provides an improved understanding in terms of number of landslides and kinematics. Whereas, for the Corleto Monforte site, ancient landslide bodies, superficial instabilities, and damaged roads were identified; in this case, the revised dataset failed to offer an enhanced overview as it did not report landslides for this area. These outcomes strengthen the notion that multidisciplinary quality control procedures are highly recommended to maintain elevated benchmarks for landslide inventories, particularly when adding or updating data.
A multidisciplinary analysis was conducted of numerous surface depressions termed Piscine, exhibiting subcircular morphology. These landforms, which characterized the southern sector of the Pontine Plain (Central Italy), have been documented in historical maps since the eighteenth century, and remain of uncertain origin. To investigate their genesis, bibliographic sources, historical cartography, and geognostic data were integrated to reconstruct the geological and stratigraphic settings in which these depressions developed. These landforms were digitized from pre-reclamation maps and analyzed to explore their distribution patterns and relationships with selected subsurface variables. The results indicate that the depressions are primarily located in areas characterized by outcropping ancient coastal dune sands and display distinct spatial patterns. A consistent spatial correlation was identified between depression density and peat deposit thickness, whereas no clear relationship was observed with fault density. These findings suggest that compaction processes affecting peat-rich sediments, which lead to differential subsidence of overlying deposits, may be a mechanism for depression formation. However, owing to data limitations, alternative processes (piping-related sinkhole activity or dissolution of continental carbonate rocks), cannot be entirely excluded. Further detailed geognostic investigations are required to refine the interpretation and improve the understanding of the subsurface controls governing the development of these landforms.
This study presents the first regional-scale assessment of natural sinkholes in the Umbria region (central Italy), aimed at improving the understanding of their distribution, genesis, and susceptibility. Starting from the ISPRA sinkhole database, the existing inventory was updated and significantly expanded through the integration of geological, hydrogeological, and geomorphological data, which also supported a genetic classification of the identified sinkholes. A comprehensive set of geothematic layers representing potential predisposing factors was compiled and analysed within a GIS framework. These datasets were used to perform geostatistical analyses and to develop susceptibility models for natural sinkholes. The resulting susceptibility maps, differentiated according to sinkhole typology, provide a spatially explicit representation of areas potentially prone to sinkhole occurrence. The outcomes contribute to improving the regional knowledge of sinkhole processes and offer a methodological framework to support hazard assessment, land-use planning, and risk mitigation strategies.
The study analyses the sand composition and grain-size distribution of the backshore beach sediments forming a barrier spit between Capo Suvero promontory and Gizzeria village on the Calabria Tyrrhenian coast (South Italy). The present study extends previous works by providing a detailed composition and granulometric analysis of the beach sediments that formed a spit in 2005, which was dismantled a few years later. Twenty-seven beach samples were collected in 2005 within the backshore zone along three transects and analysed in this work. The achieved goals indicate that the sediment mineralogy consists of an assemblage dominated by Schist+Phyllite+Serpentinite lithic fragments. Therefore, metamorphic rock fragments are the dominant grain type in the backshore environment. Serpentinite lithic fragments testify their provenance from a small high-pressure and low-temperature complex of blueschists outcropping in the Calabria Coastal Range. The detrital modes reveal a provenance from the intermediate-lower crustal rocks forming the Coastal Range. It is crossed by the Savuto River, which represents the principal input to the studied sands. Moreover, the collected data indicate that the Capo Suvero promontory does not obstruct longshore sand transport, which bypasses the rocky headland and influences the sand composition in its southern part.
This work presents the methodological framework developed within the BERMS project, designed to integrate sedimentological, geomorphological, geophysical, compositional, and ecological approaches for assessing beach dynamics and erosion susceptibility. The primary aim is to establish a standardized, transferable protocol for monitoring wave-dominated sandy beaches in Mediterranean settings affected by increasing anthropogenic pressures and climate-driven changes. Field activities focus on three sites in Southern Italy-Torre Guaceto (Adriatic Sea) and Porto Cesareo (Ionian sea) located in Apulia, and Sibari by the Ionian sea in Calabria-each characterized by distinct sediment dynamics, geomorphological features, and ecological sensitivities. The study combines high-resolution topographic surveys with subsurface imaging techniques (Sub Bottom Profilers, Ground Penetrating Radar, resistivity models), supported by numerical simulations using Delft3D. The key innovation of the project is the methodological framework based upon monitoring techniques. By combining traditional field-based approaches with advanced modelling and ecological indicators, BERMS aims to balance environmental conservation with socio-economic development needs. Special attention is also given to identifying primary sediment sources and understanding sediment-ecosystem interactions, which are essential for sustainable coastal management. The resulting methodology provides scalable tools and protocols for long-term beach monitoring across the Mediterranean, contributing to more informed decision-making processes in coastal planning and climate resilience strategies.
The Cervialto massif hosts one of the main karst aquifers of the southern Apennine (Italy). It feeds the Caposele spring, supplying drinking water to Apulia region. This basal spring is characterised by a dumped response to rainfall and snowmelt. Specifically, no discharge peaks following rainfall (or snowmelt events) are observable in the daily hydrograph, which exhibits smooth seasonal fluctuations during normal/wet years and remains almost flat during droughts. Such a response to meteorological forcings is uncommon for a karst hydro system and has been poorly discussed in the literature. This study focuses on the modeling of the recharge-discharge process of the Cervialto aquifer using a lumped model. The KarstMod modeling platform was employed to predict the spring response to precipitation and temperature. Meteorological data were pre-processed using a dedicated snow routine. The study shows a simple approach for calibrating snow routine parameters based on the analysis of multi-temporal satellite images. The hydrological model accurately replicates the main hydrological features of the Caposele spring, providing a valuable tool for evaluating the impacts of climate change on spring discharge.
This study attempts to gain an areal understanding of potential soil loss due to water erosion in the lower Calore River valley (Southern Italy). To this end, the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) was applied to data obtained from the processing of multitemporal satellite images acquired by the Sentinel 2A system, the elaboration of a digital terrain model and that of weather station records, and the re-elaboration of pre-existing information regarding soil characteristics. The information acquired regarding each USLE factor (i.e., rain erosivity, R; soil erodibility, K; slope and length steepness, LS; and cover management, C), was combined in a GIS environment to obtain a Map of the potential risk of soil erosion. The results showed that the potential soil losses due to water erosion are quite worrying, particularly in hilly and foothill agricultural areas, dominated by valuable crops such as vines and olives.
A sinkhole is a naturally formed depression typical of the karst landscapes. Our research focuses on the North-Western mountainous sector of Friuli Venezia Giulia (FVG) region in the NE of Italy, specifically in the Tagliamento Valley within the Enemonzo municipality, in the hamlet of Quinis. The study site, known since the sixties for the presence of geohazards linked to the occurrence of huge collapses, is placed upon loose deposits interdigitated with the fluvial terraces of the Tagliamento River, mantling an evaporitic Upper Triassic (Carnian) bedrock. Over time, this type of bedrock has favoured the development of subsidence features such as cover collapse and suffosion sinkholes. In this framework, the researchers of Trieste University jointly with the functionaries of the Geological survey of the FVG Region, have tried to focus on better understanding this type of geohazard in order to make possible the coexistence among inhabitants, man-made structures and the natural evolution of the area. Since 2009 different type of investigations including geological and geomorphological surveys, trenches and drilling, as well as indirect surveys using PS-InSAR technology and geophysical methods such as Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT), Reflection (REFL) and Refraction (REFR) seismics, 2D and 3D Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), and in some specific contexts frequency domain Electro-magnetometry (FDEM) have been used. The integrated approach has enhanced the understanding of the area; however, no practical solutions are currently available to significantly mitigate the geohazard. In this paper, we focus on satellite interferometry and 3D GPR investigations, to outline and define the state of activity of the sinkhole phenomena in the Quinis area.
Milan city faces challenges in urban water management due to fluctuating groundwater levels. To better characterize the groundwater system, this study aimed at identifying spatiotemporal patterns in piezometric data and exploring their relationship with different factors through statistical techniques. Groundwater level data were divided into historical and recent periods and analysed for autocorrelation and correlation with gridded precipitation data, pumped volumes, and imperviousness data at different temporal scales. Results revealed an overall rising trend of Milan's water table with groundwater levels clustering in six groups at different areas from north to south of Milan, suggesting the influence of site-specific characteristics. Insights into the interplay of drivers influencing Milan's groundwater system reveal a weak correlation with precipitation, alongside an inverse correlation with groundwater withdrawals and land use change. This study evidences the complexity of this system, offering a basis for future research to support sustainable urban water management.
The Neogene-Quaternary Crotone Basin on the Ionian side of the Calabrian Arc, represents one of the most tectonically complex and resource-rich forearc basins in the Central Mediterranean governed by contractional and strike-slip tectonics. Integration of seismic interpretation, well-log correlation, and burial and thermal modeling provides new insights into the interplay between tectonic deformation, gravitational processes, and petroleum system development. Results demonstrate that the Rossano-San Nicola Fault Zone (RSFZ) has exerted since the Late Tortonian, dextral transpressional and transtensional activity along this shear zone and governed the emplacement of the Cariati Nappe, the differentiation between the Cir & ograve; and Crotone areas, the formation of a NW-oriented positive flower structure and structural highs both onshore and offshore. The RSFZ also influenced the onset of large-scale gravitational instability, providing the tectonic framework for the subsequent development of the Crotone Megalandslide. The c. 1500 km2 extended Crotone Megalandslide is interpreted as a long-lived, gravity-driven collapse translating above a Messinian evaporitic detachment. Its paroxysmal phase during the Late Zanclean-Piacenzian was triggered by renewed transpressional uplift along the RSFZ, whereas subsequent quiescence and reactivation phases correspond to major geodynamic reorganisations of the Central Mediterranean-Gelasian subsidence linked to the opening of the Marsili back-arc basin and Middle Pleistocene uplift of the Calabrian Arc. These transpressional tectonics-driven gravitational processes strongly modulated the petroleum system of the Crotone Basin. Burial and thermal modeling indicate that Triassic-Lower Jurassic and Aptian-Cenomanian source rocks entered the gas window during Miocene-Pliocene subsidence, while the emplacement of mass-transport deposits enhanced heat flow and overburden. Proven Serravallian and Tortonian reservoirs were incorporated within compressional domains of the megalandslide, where structural folding and Messinian evaporitic seals created effective traps.
Anthropogenic sinkholes are a widespread phenomenon in Italy, and Palermo, the capital city of the Sicilian Region in South Italy, is one of the urban areas most affected. Anthropogenic sinkholes refer to vertical depressions, usually circular or sub-circular in plan. They can vary from localised subsidence to actual collapses, often caused by either the presence of unstable underground man-made cavities or by voids related to aqueduct or sewer leakages. The machine learning algorithm Maximum Entropy was employed to evaluate the anthropogenic sinkhole susceptibility in the Palermo urban area. Given the outstanding results provided by this machine learning algorithm (ROC/AUC score = 0.926), it can be considered a valuable tool in urban planning and cultural heritage protection.
