Towards a National-Scale Dataset of Geotechnical and Hydrological Soil Parameters for Shallow Landslide Modeling

Abstract

One of the main constraints in assessing shallow landslide hazards through physically based models is the need to characterize the geotechnical parameters of the involved materials. Indeed, the quantity and quality of input data are closely related to the reliability of the results of every model used, therefore data acquisition is a critical and time-consuming step in every research activity. In this perspective, we reviewed all official certificates of tests performed through 30 years at the Geotechnics Laboratory of the Earth Science Department (University of Firenze, Firenze, Italy), compiling a dataset in which 380 points are accurately geolocated and provide information about one or more geotechnical parameters used in slope stability modeling. All tests performed in the past (in the framework of previous research programs, agreements of cooperation, or to support didactic activities) were gathered, homogenized, digitalized, and geotagged. The dataset is based on both on-site tests and laboratory tests, it accounts for 40 attributes, among which 13 are descriptive (e.g., lithology or location) and 27 may be of direct interest in slope stability modeling as input parameters. The dataset is made openly available and can be useful for scientists or practitioners committed to landslide modeling.

Geophysical Surveys for Geotechnical Model Reconstruction and Slope Stability Modelling

“…Shear stages on the investigated samples were carried out using normal load values (σ N ) of 73 kPa, 128 kPa and 177 kPa. The results are compatible with the data set of data present in [94] and relating to similar terrains.…”

Geotechnical Characterisation of Flysch-Derived Colluvial Soils from a Pre-Alpine Slope Affected by Recurrent Landslides

“…In the literature, it has been largely demonstrated that the infiltration process through the soil and the related slope stability are strongly influenced by the rainfall characteristics (in particular, the duration and intensity), as well as by the geotechnical and hydrogeological properties of the soil [39][40][41]. Nevertheless, it is widely acknowledged that the values of the geotechnical and hydrological parameters of soils have a marked spatial variability, and appropriate tests for the determination of these parameters are fundamental to correctly assess the landslide hazard [42].…”

Optimization of rainfall thresholds for landslide early warning through false alarm reduction and a multi-source validation

“…Physically based models use complex mathematical relationships with the aim of faithfully reproducing the physical processes that triggers the slope instability (Montgomery and Dietrich 1994;Baum et al 2008;Rossi et al 2013;Medina et al 2021;Reid et al 2015;Bout et al 2018). They are generally applied at the slope or catchment scale, because they require several hydrological and geotechnical input parameters that are difficult to spatialize over large areas due to their extreme heterogeneity (Tofani et al 2017;Vannocci et al 2022), thereby making such models mainly limited to prototypal applications (Alvioli and Baum 2018;Tofani et al 2017;Canli et al 2018;Salvatici et al 2018;Schmaltz et al 2019;Schilirò et al 2021). Therefore, regional landslides early warning systems (LEWS) are typically based on rainfall thresholds (Piciullo et al 2018;Gariano et al 2020), defined as a rainfall condition beyond which slope instability occurs (Caine 1980;Guzzetti et al 2008;Segoni et al 2018a, b;Piciullo et al 2018).…”