A Field Data Acquisition Method and Tools for Hazard Evaluation of Earthquake-Induced Landslides with Open Source Mobile GIS

Abstract

The PARSIFAL (Probabilistic Approach to pRovide Scenarios of earthquake Induced slope FAiLures) method was applied to the survey of post-earthquake landslides in central Italy for seismic microzonation purposes. In order to optimize time and resources, while also reducing errors, the paper-based method of survey data sheets was translated into digital formats using such instruments as Tablet PCs, GPS and open source software (QGIS). To the base mapping consisting of Technical Regional Map (Carta Tecnica Regionale—CTRs) at the scale of 1:10,000, layers were added with such sensitive information as the Inventory of Landslide Phenomena in Italy (Inventario dei Fenomeni Franosi in Italia—IFFI), for example. A database was designed and implemented in the SQLite/SpatiaLite Relational DataBase Management System (RDBMS) to store data related to such elements as landslides, rock masses, discontinuities and covers (as provided by PARSIFAL). To facilitate capture of the datum on the ground, data entry forms were created with Qt Designer. In addition to this, the employment of some QGIS plug-ins, developed for digital surveying and enabling of quick annotations on the map and the import of images from external cameras, was found to be of considerable use.

GIS-Based Mapping of Seismic Parameters for the Pyrenees

“…Thus, a Geographic Information System (GIS) can provide the rigor, flexibility, and the power to calculate, show, and analyze the parameters. This fact has been demonstrated previously for natural hazards works [7,[16][17][18][19].…”

Landslide Field Mapping: IFFI-Restart Forms for Data Acquisition and Management for the Classification of Landslides in the Municipalities Affected by the 2016 Central Italy Earthquake

“…The surveys were carried out through conventional geological and geomorphological methods with the aid of digital tools supporting a GIS field project [9]. Therefore, while compass, hammer, binoculars and all the classic analogue instruments allowed the observation and measurement of geological data, the digital survey method developed during this project enabled acquiring and digitally storing the data directly in the field with the instruments that are described in Section 3.…”

“…The main GIS software used was QGIS (version 3.16) [14], which has been employed for years in field research. This GIS software was chosen for its ease and widespread use, as well as for the open-source approach that allows the customisation and creation of new tools suited for field work [15,9]. Some plug-ins such as BeePen [16] were used to write notes and draw with the stylus directly on the map, similar to the pen-on-paper system [15].…”

Workflow of Digital Field Mapping and Drone-Aided Survey for the Identification and Characterization of Capable Faults: The Case of a Normal Fault System in the Monte Nerone Area (Northern Apennines, Italy)

“…To this end, a lot of work has been carried out in various regions around the world, such as in Italy after the occurrence of the latest earthquakes (i.e., in L'Aquila in 2009, in central Italy in 2016, and in Ischia in 2017). Geologists and geophysicists use digital devices and tools to minimize time and errors, thus increasing the accuracy of data and observations [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. Indeed, these methods have been applied to active fault characterization of recent seismic events, that is, events that occurred a few years prior to the characterization (i.e., in L'Aquila in 2009 and in central Italy in 2016), where traces of the co-seismic effects are still evident and well preserved.…”