(a) Dating and
physical correlation of marker horizons in the palaeo-autochthonous
successions of Mugello and Alta Romagna, with location of
equivalent time-surfaces in the semi-allochthonous successions. (b)
Structural and physiographic reconstruction of the Miocene Apennine
front, from the study of olistostromes and their peculiar
sedimentary drapes. (c) Chronological reconstruction of the
Apennine deformation, based on: reactivations and offsets involving
the Liguria nappe overthrust surface; intersection relationships
between compressive structures and extensional structures;
relationships between recent uplift and extensional structures. (d)
Analysis of movement type, evolution and causes of some large
dormant landslides in the Northern
Apennines and the Southern Alps, with special
emphasis on their historical and/or present-day reactivations. (e) Elaboration of geological data for the geomechanical modeling of large rock falls. (f)
Geological and geotechnical hypotheses on the development of ground
collapse structures (pseudo-sinkholes) in the fluvial ridges of the
Po Plain. (g) Participation to a LIFE project about the mitigation of the sandboil risk of fluvial levees. (h) Collaboration with the FABRE inter-university consortium on possible interactions between landslides and road viaducts.
The previously
described research subjects encompass geologic and geomorphologic
surveys in the Apennine chain of Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany and Marche. Field work and
air-photo interpretation are carried out according to current
methodologies of geologic mapping and elaboration. If possible,
seismic profiles and borehole logs are used to calibrate
cross-sections. The subsurface data about landslides come from
informal participation to drilling and monitoring works,
commissioned by public agencies to professionals. The subsurface data used
for the study of ground surface collapses mainly come from
penetration tests, in part published by the Regione Emilia-Romagna,
in part commissioned by private persons to professionals.
All research subjects
require deep integration between field data and literature data. In
the analysis of large dormant landslides, special attention is paid
to interpretation of historical
documents.
