Ground based radar interferometry monitoring and modelling of large rock landslides

The aim of the research project is to study the assessment of the critical level associated with large rock landslides. This project is funded by MIUR and involves three Research Units: RU1 (University of Florence), RU2 (University of Bologna) and RU3 (Politecnico di Torino).

The Politecnico di Torino research unit (RU3) will particularly focus on the GBInSAR data evaluation and interpretation (WP1), recorded at 3 reference sites (Torgiovannetto di Assisi (Pg) - pilot area; Stromboli (Me) and Beauregard (Ao) - experimental sites) and on the development of reasonable scenarios by means of numerical modelling (WP5).

The radar interferometry technique will be validated by comparison with data obtained by traditional monitoring methods at the trial sites. Acquisition and interpretation of interferometric data will allow one to produce a 3D survey of the slope topography to be used as input data for numerical simulations and, most of all, to determine the displacements along the slope to validate the numerical simulations and the back analyses.

The use of the IBIS-L (Image By Interferometric Survey) apparatus, purchased in 2008 by RU3, will be of vital importance. The IBIS-L apparatus takes advantage of the radar interferometry technique to measure the displacements of the area enlightened by the electromagnetic waves which are emitted at regular intervals during the duration of monitoring. Concerning the research project, the apparatus will be used to monitor the three landslides aforementioned (WP1).

Data belonging to the interferometric campaigns will be interpreted using a specific software; in particular, innovative techniques for reducing atmospheric errors in ground-based radar measurements will be identified. Corner reflectors will be positioned on the slopes to help identifying well-known point where atmospheric stations will be installed to record air pressure, humidity and temperature. By matching these parameters with those obtained by radar interferometry and traditional measurements, the evaluation of the atmospheric error will be optimized and effectively removed from the interferometric data.

In-situ measurements will be the essential base for numerical models; the purpose of this part of the research project is the improvement of the modelling techniques which allows one to reproduce likely scenarios for large rock landslides evolution. The activity will be done with reference to the initialization phase of the numerical model (mesh generation and geometry) and with reference to interpretation which leads to build reasonable scenarios. Commercial softwares at RU3 disposal will be used, both with continuum (FEM and FDM) and discontinuum (DEM) models. Attention will be particularly focused on innovative numerical technique such as particle-element model and the so called FEM/DEM (or FDEM, Finite Discrete Element Method) modelling.

As far as the input phase is concerned, the in-situ measurements (interferometric and traditional) will directly support the modelling activity, in particular in setting up the model geometry. Model generation will be aided by introducing automatic tools so that 3D-models will become more competitive. This goal will be pursued by using commercial softwares commonly used in geotechnical engineering, as well as by developing and testing open-source softwares.

As far as the analysis and the build up of scenarios are concerned, data from the monitoring system will allow for comparison with numerical results on a number of significant points on the slopes; an automatic comparing technique will be set for this purpose on a single georeferenced map with GIS applications. Monitoring data will also be essential for back analyses validation. Validated models will be used to produce run out scenarios and to estimate the critical levels (WP5). Numerical modelling will help the development of alerting procedures by defining threshold values for the different scenarios simulated, which will lead, in collaboration with RU1, to define pre-operating alerting procedures, also with reference to national regulations.

People

Publications

2016
  1. Combined Finite–Discrete Numerical Modeling of Runout of the Torgiovannetto di Assisi Rockslide in Central Italy
    Article

    Antolini, Francesco; Barla, Marco; Giovanni, Gigli; Andrea, Giorgetti; Emanuele, Intrieri; Nicola, Casagli
    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GEOMECHANICS
    ASCE
    pp.16 ISSN:1532-3641 DOI:10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000646

2015
  1. Monitoring geotechnical structures by ground based radar interferometry
    Proceeding

    Barla, Marco; Antolini, Francesco
    In: 7th International conference on structural health monitoring of intelligent infrastructures
    DISEG - Politecnico di Torino (ITALIA)
    7th International conference on structural health monitoring of intelligent infrastructures (Torino) 1-3 July 2015
    pp.10

  2. Early warning monitoring of natural and engineered slopes with Ground-Based Synthetic Aperture Radar
    Article

    C., Atzeni; Barla, Marco; M., Pieraccini; Antolini, Francesco
    ROCK MECHANICS AND ROCK ENGINEERING
    Springer
    Vol.48 pp.12 (pp.235-246) ISSN:0723-2632 DOI:10.1007/s00603-014-0554-4

2013
  1. Key aspects in 2D and 3D modeling for stability assessment of a high rock slope
    Proceeding

    Barla, Giovanni Battista; Antolini, Francesco; Barla, Marco; Perino, Andrea
    In: Failure predictions in geotechnics - Extended abstracts
    OEGG (AUSTRIA)
    Workshops 2013 - Failure predictions in geotechnics (Salzburg, Austria) 9/10/2013
    pp.4 (pp.15-18)

  2. INTERFEROMETRIA RADAR E MODELLAZIONE FDEM PER LO STUDIO DI FRANE IN ROCCIA: UN ESEMPIO DI APPLICAZIONE
    Proceeding

    Antolini, Francesco; Barla, Marco
    In: Atti IARG Perugia 2013
    Università degli Studi di Perugia (ITALIA)
    IARG 2013 - Incontro Annuale dei Ricercatori di Geotecnica (Perugia) 16-18 settembre 2013
    pp.6

  3. CONTINUUM-DISCONTINUUM MODELLING OF FAILURE AND EVOLUTION MECHANISMS OF DEEP SEATED LANDSLIDES
    Proceeding

    Piovano, Giovanna; Antolini, Francesco; Barla, Marco; Barla, Giovanni Battista
    In: DEM 6 6th International Conference on Discrete Element Methods and Related Techniques
    Colorado School of Mines (STATI UNITI D'AMERICA)
    6th International Conference on Discrete Element Method (Golden, USA) 5-6 Agosto 2013
    pp.6 (pp.295-300)

  4. Slope stabilization in difficult conditions: the case study of a debris slide in NW Italian Alps
    Article

    Barla, Giovanni Battista; Antolini, Francesco; Barla, Marco
    LANDSLIDES
    Springer Verlag
    Vol.10 pp.13 (pp.343-355) ISSN:1612-510X DOI:10.1007/s10346-013-0396-2

2012
  1. Rock Slide Simulation with the Combined Finite Discrete Element Method
    Article

    Barla, Marco; Piovano, Giovanna; G., Grasselli
    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GEOMECHANICS
    ASCE
    Vol.12 pp.11 (pp.711-721) ISSN:1532-3641 DOI:10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000204

  2. Integrazione tra monitoraggio e modellazione delle grandi frane in roccia nell’ottica dell’allertamento rapido (Cap. 11)
    Book chapter

    Barla, Marco; Antolini, Francesco
    NUOVI METODI DI INDAGINE, MONITORAGGIO E MODELLAZIONE DEGLI AMASSI ROCCIOSI
    CELID (ITALIA)
    pp.20 (pp.211-230) ISBN:9788876619854

  3. INTEGRAZIONE TRA MONITORAGGIO E MODELLAZIONE DELLE GRANDI FRANE IN ROCCIA NELL’OTTICA DELL’ALLERTAMENTO RAPIDO
    Proceeding

    Antolini, Francesco; Barla, Marco
    In: IARG 2012
    Grafiche Turato Edizioni (ITALIA)
    IARG 2012 (Padova) 2-4 Luglio 2012
    pp.6 ISBN:9788889524671

2011
  1. Integration of Ground-Based Radar interferometry and conventional techniques for monitoring the Beauregard deep-seated landslide
    Proceeding

    Barla, Giovanni Battista; Antolini, Francesco; Barla, Marco; Mensi, Elena; Piovano, Giovanna
    In: Titolo volume non avvalorato
    8th International Symposium on Field Measurements in GeoMechanics 2011 (Berlino) 12-16 Settembre 2011
    pp.20

  2. FEM/DEM modeling of a slope instability on a circular sliding surface
    Proceeding

    Piovano, Giovanna; Barla, Marco; Barla, Giovanni Battista
    In: Computer methods for Geomechanics: frontiers and new applications
    Centre for Infrastructure Engineering and Safety (AUSTRALIA)
    13th International conference of Iacmag (Melbourne) 9-11 Maggio 2011
    Vol.2 pp.6 (pp.1135-1140) ISBN:9780980824421

2010
  1. Monitoring of the Beauregard landslide (Aosta Valley, Italy) using advanced and conventional techniques
    Article

    Barla, G; Antolini, Francesco; Barla, Marco; Mensi, E; Piovano, G.
    ENGINEERING GEOLOGY
    Vol.116 pp.18 (pp.218-235) ISSN:0013-7952 DOI:10.1016/j.enggeo.2010.09.004

Total: 13