This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Morphodynamics of glacier lakes in the Western Italian Alps resutling form continued glacier shri... more Morphodynamics of glacier lakes in the Western Italian Alps resutling form continued glacier shrinkage: past evidences and future scenarios / Viani, Cristina; Giardino, Marco; Christian, Huggel; Perotti, Luigi; Mortara, Giovanni. (2017), pp. 73-75. ((Intervento presentato al convegno VII Young Geomorphologists' Day tenutosi a Napoli nel 15-16/06/2017. Original Citation: Morphodynamics of glacier lakes in the Western Italian Alps resutling form continued glacier shrinkage: past evidences and future scenarios
Geomorphological analysis is an essential element of many landslide monitoring and hazards assess... more Geomorphological analysis is an essential element of many landslide monitoring and hazards assessment studies. Remote sensing techniques have long been an effective tool for such analysis. Here we present results from an investigation using high resolution hyperspectral airborne sensor MIVIS ( Multispectral Infrared and Visible Imaging Spectrometer ) images in the Aosta Valley (Italian Western-Alps)
In the framework of geosite management, specific targeted symbols for geomorphological legends ar... more In the framework of geosite management, specific targeted symbols for geomorphological legends are still lacking. Concerning geosites of geomorphological interest, geomorphological mapping requires targeted symbols in relation to goals and applications, either concerning geomorphic hazards and risk detection or the enhancement of resources, in particular those related to cultural heritage and, hence, geoheritage. A new methodology for mapping geo(morpho)heritage on geomorphological maps is presented in this paper. Nine iconic examples from the Italian landscape, selected in different morphogenetic and morphoclimatic contexts, are proposed to test the methodology in relation to point, polyline and polygon features. Moreover, guidelines for mapping are suggested according to the importance of the site and to the complexity of processes characterizing each case study.
New strategies for preservation of geodiversity and geosystem services need to be developed for m... more New strategies for preservation of geodiversity and geosystem services need to be developed for mountain areas that are vulnerable to climate change and human activities. Detailed geomorphological surveys and geosystem services analyses have been carried out in the Indren-Cimalegna area, southern slope of Monte Rosa (Western Italian Alps). From remote sensing analysis and field inventories, a geomorphological map (1:5000) was created, with a new GIS-compliant legend, targeted to the studies of glacial and periglacial environments. A geosystem services map (1:15,000) was also produced, presenting a twofold analysis of interactions between geomorphology and human activity, showing (1) the role of distinct landforms as specific services offered to society and (2) the threats posed by morphodynamic processes to human activities. These maps are presented as tools for enhancing proper planning and management of high mountains modified by climate change and human activities within a sustainable development perspective.
In the 20th anniversary year of the European Geopark Network, and 5 years on from the receipt of ... more In the 20th anniversary year of the European Geopark Network, and 5 years on from the receipt of the UNESCO label for the geoparks, this research focuses on geotourism contents and solutions within one of the most recently designated geoparks, admitted for membership in 2013: the Sesia Val Grande UNESCO Global Geopark (Western Italian Alps). The main aim of this paper is to corroborate the use of fieldtrips and virtual tours as resources for geotourism. The analysis is developed according to: i) geodiversity and geoheritage of the geopark territory; ii) different approaches for planning fieldtrip and virtual tours. The lists of 18 geotrails, 68 geosites and 13 off-site geoheritage elements (e.g., museums, geolabs) are provided. Then, seven trails were selected as a mirror of the geodiversity and as container of on-site and off-site geoheritage within the geopark. They were described to highlight the different approaches that were implemented for their valorization. Most of the geotr...
Field survey and geomorphological mapping in urban areas are difficult tasks, particularly those ... more Field survey and geomorphological mapping in urban areas are difficult tasks, particularly those related to the recognition of natural landforms within cities. In this case, it is necessary to apply an integrated scientific approach by combining geomorphology with historical-geography. This paper presents the result of a multi-year survey carried out in the natural morphological amphitheatre where the historic centre of Genoa developed. Our research methods included field surveys in urban areas, interpretation of natural and anthropic landforms from maps and photographs, and analyses of the available borehole logs. As a result, we updated knowledge on urban geomorphology of Genoa old city. An original geomorphological legend has been adopted, including new entries for anthropogenic landforms, targeted at a better visual representation on the changes in the geomorphological landscape during more than one thousand years of urban development of the city. The geomorphological map of Genoa old city is presented as a useful tool for urban planning, as well as for an integrated cultural and landscape enhancement of the territory.
Aosta Valley (Western Alps, Italy) is the region with the largest glacierized area of Italy. Like... more Aosta Valley (Western Alps, Italy) is the region with the largest glacierized area of Italy. Like other high mountain regions, it has shown a significant glacier retreat starting from the end of the 'Little Ice Age' that is expected to continue in the future. As a direct consequence of glacier shrinkage, glacier-bed overdeepenings become exposed, offering suitable geomorphological conditions for glacier lakes formation. In such a densely populated and developed region, opportunities and risks connected to lakes may arise: 1) economic exploitation for hydropower production, tourism and water supply; 2) environmental relevance for high mountain biodiversity and geodiversity; 3) potential risks due to outbursts and consequent floods. In this study, the locations of potential future glacier lakes over large glacierized areas (183 glaciers covering 163,1 km 2) of Aosta Valley were assessed by using the GlabTop2 model. 46 overdeepenings larger than 10,800 m 2 were identified, covering an area of 3.1 ± 0.9 km 2 and having a volume of 0.06 ± 0.02 km 3. The majority of the overdeepenings are located in the Monte Rosa-Cervino massif and a mean depth b10 m characterizes them. Moreover, an estimation of the most recent total ice volume for the Aosta Valley was provided (5.2 ± 1.6 km 3 referred to 2008). Thanks to the validation by the proposed "backward approach" and GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar) data, we can confirm that the location of the overdeepenings is robust while their actual dimensions are subject to considerable uncertainties. Almost all of large lakes (area N 10,000 m 2), potentially the most dangerous, are modelled. Finally, we suggest choosing medium pixel size (about 60 m) of the DEM in order to obtain, at least, the location of the largest lakes and to avoid overestimations of ice thickness and thus a great number of false positive overdeepenings. The results presented here can be useful for understanding how the alpine environment will look in the future and can help the management of water resources and risks related to glacier lakes.
Piemonte region (Northern Italy) shows an extraordinary richness of ornamental stones, whose expl... more Piemonte region (Northern Italy) shows an extraordinary richness of ornamental stones, whose exploitation strongly influenced the local culture during the centuries. Indeed, more than 100 lithotypes, mainly exploited in valleys and mountain areas, are used in the local, urban and architecture heritage of the region.
This paper aims at systemizing knowledge related to geodiversity assessment for water resources a... more This paper aims at systemizing knowledge related to geodiversity assessment for water resources and its evaluation. The novel aspect connected to geodiversity of this paper is the analysis of the components of hydrological system, both at the superficial and underground level, in the territory of the Sesia Val Grande United Nations educational, scientific, and cultural organization (UNESCO) Global Geopark (Northwest Italy). More specifically, the research establishes a conceptual model and a specific procedure for the evaluation of geodiversity connected to water resources on a regional scale, by means of a qualitative-quantitative geographic information system (GIS) process, renamed here as hydro-geodiversity assessment. For these purposes, a targeted ecosystem approach is applied to consider the assets of the Geopark territory that has been derived from the interaction between water and other components of geodiversity, i.e., the hydro-geosystemic services. The element selection a...
Glaciated and recently (post-Little Ice Age) deglaciated areas are very dynamic environments, und... more Glaciated and recently (post-Little Ice Age) deglaciated areas are very dynamic environments, undergoing continuous changes, in particular as a consequence of climatic fluctuations and cryosphere changes. The intense geomorphic activity that takes place here conditions natural hazard, sediment transport and tourist fruition. A geo-morphological mapping with applicative purposes has to take into account the peculiarities and the dynamism of these specific areas. We here propose a methodological approach based on the interpretation of a multitemporal set of aerial photos (from 1983 to 2012), in a GIS environment, with application to the sectors modeled by Little Ice Age glaciers in the upper Orco Valley (NW Italy). The result is a geo-morphological map focused on the elements that are most relevant for application purposes, complemented by a map of the spatio-temporal distribution of the natural instability processes identified in the study area for the reference period, aimed to highlight the recent dynamism of the geomorphological elements in the map.
Rendiconti Online della Società Geologica Italiana, 2016
Geoheritage information comes from areas that, for their peculiar features, are of geological int... more Geoheritage information comes from areas that, for their peculiar features, are of geological interest (i.e. geosites). An important activity for geosites management consists of developing and applying useful digital tools for sharing information. The PROGEO-Piemonte (PROactive management of GEOlogical heritage in the PIEMONTE region) is an example of a project wherein different IT applications have been implemented for collecting, storing and spreading geoheritage information. The most important of these applications consists of building 3D visualizations of geological features through the Arpa Piemonte Geoportal, which hosts a GIS-based 3D viewer loading high resolution DTM and aerial images. Lithostratigraphic, structural and geomorphological features occurring in the Monviso Massif in the Western Alps are selected from geological map databases, processed by GIS tools and draped over the terrain model. 3D visualizations give realistic and easy-to-read representations of geology around geosites or along geological trails, and contribute to overcome problems that commonly occur in transferring contents of geological maps to non-expert users.
On trouvera à la fin de cet ouvrage la présentation de l'ensemble des publications du Laboratoire... more On trouvera à la fin de cet ouvrage la présentation de l'ensemble des publications du Laboratoire EDYTEM Photographies de couverture : 1.-Amphitéatre morainique d'Ivrea. A gauche, durant le pré-LGM ; à droite, forme actuelle. Le diamètre de l'amphithéâtre est d'environ 30 km. Dessin de G. SUSELLA [Mercalli 1991]. 1-Anfiteatro morenico di Ivrea. A sinistra, ricostruzione pre-LGM ; a destra, forma attuale. Il diametro dell'anfiteatro è di circa 30 km. Disegno di G. SUSELLA [Mercalli 1991]. 2.-Versant sud du Mont Blanc et glacier du Miage. Prenant naissance sur le versant ouest du Mont Blanc (4808 m), le Miage est l'un des plus grands glaciers noirs des Alpes. Sa couverture détritique, qui mesure en moyenne 20 à 30 cm d'épaisseur, permet au front du glacier d'atteindre une altitude de 1730 m pour le lobe sud. Le lac juxtaglaciaire qui flanque la marge droite du glacier s'est vidangé en septembre 2004, phénomène qui s'est déjà produit une quinzaine de fois depuis un siècle. Barrant le Val Veny, le Miage a engendré le paléolac Combal dont l'étude des sédiments a permis, en la combinant à celle de l'amphitéâtre morainique du lac du Miage, de reconstituer les fluctuations du glacier pendant la seconde moitié de l'Holocène (Néoglaciaire). Photo Fondation Montagne sûre (09/2004). 2.-Versante sud del Monte Bianco e ghiacciaio del Miage Sviluppatosi sul versante ovest del Monte Bianco (4808 m), il Miage è uno dei più grandi ghiacciai di tipo debris covered delle Alpi. La sua copertura detritica, che misura in media da 20 a 30 cm di spessore, permette al fronte del ghiacciaio di raggiungere la quota di 1730 m (lobo sud). Il lago di margine glaciale, che lambisce il fianco destro del ghiacciaio si è svuotato nel settembre 2004, fenomeno che si è già verificato una quindicina di volte in un secolo. Sbarrando la Val Veny, il Miage ha originato un paleolago il cui studio dei sedimenti ha permesso, in associazione a quello dell'anfiteatro morenico del lago del Miage, di ricostruire le fluttuazioni del ghiacciaio durante la seconda metà dell'Olocene (Neoglaciale). Foto Fondazione Montagna sicura (09/2004). 3.-Coupe géologique en travers de la plaine d'Aoste. La coupe, au niveau de la ville d'Aoste, montre un remplissage alluvionaire, fin à la base et de plus en plus grossier vers le haut et, latéralement, au débouché du Buthier. Cela atteste l'existence d'un paléolac, alimenté depuis l'amont par la Doire et latéralement par le Buthier. Une fois ce lac comblé, le Buthier a édifié son cône de déjection sur lequel est bâti Aoste. Dessin G. NICOUD. 3.-Sezione geologica trasversale della Valle d'Aosta. La sezione, in corrispondenza della città di Aosta, mostra un riempimento alluvionale fino alla base, che va gradualmente ingrandendosi verso l'alto e lateralmente, allo sbocco del Buthier. Sulla base di questi dati è i ipotizzata l'esistenza di un paleolago di Aosta, alimentato da monte dalla Dora Baltea e lateralmente dal Buthier. Una volta che il lago è stato colmato, il Buthier ha costruito il cono di deiezione sul quale è fondata Aosta. Disegno G. NICOUD. 4.-Carte de la néotectonique et des principales unités lithostructurale de la feuille Bardonecchia [Polino et al., 2002]. L'orientation et la distribution des déformations observées indiquent en premier lieu, l'existence d'une importante déformation néotectonique «linéaire» représentée par un faisceau de déformations d'ampleur plurikilométrique et de direction N60°, qui couvre les vallées de Suse et Chisone. 4.-Schema neotettonico e principali unità lito-strutturali del Foglio Bardonecchia (Polino et al. , 2002). L'orientazione e la distribuzione delle formazioni rilevate indicano in primo luogo l'esistenza di una importante deformazione neotettonica «lineare» rappresentata da una fascia di deformazione di ampiezza plurichilometrica con direzione N60E che comprende settori delle valli Susa e Chisone e del relativo spartiacque.
This paper presents an attempt at the evaluation of the Alpine geoheritage of the Susa Valley (Pi... more This paper presents an attempt at the evaluation of the Alpine geoheritage of the Susa Valley (Piemonte region, NW Italy). The area is included in the project for the creation of the 'Cottian Alps Geopark', whose application to the European Geoparks Network is in progress. The Susa valley is a unique and great geological section showing all the structures and rocks involved in Alpine orogenesis. Moreover, it shows outstanding examples of interactions between human activities and processes of the physical environment. We considered these cultural landscapes as a heritage worthy to be known by people and to be exploited by geotourism activities. Therefore, we investigated the local geodiversity, assessed the geoheritage and identified the geosites characterised by a high potential for the enhancement of public understanding of geoscience and for recreational activities. In this paper, we describe the actions and methodologies carried on for creating geo-itineraries and for improving tourism activities and scientific knowledge. In particular, we focus attention on the Franks trail, a 60-km-long route crossing the Geopark territory, which follows the path blazed by Charlemagne in 773 AD as he attempted to avoid the Longobard army. The trail runs through many sites which tell about natural and cultural heritage. Our evaluation project makes the trail suitable as a 'cultural extension' of the 'Via GeoAlpina', an international project that aims to show the wonders of alpine geology and geomorphology.
test of a mobile GIS application to support eld data collection and mapping activities on geomorp... more test of a mobile GIS application to support eld data collection and mapping activities on geomorphosites. Dans G. Regolini-Bissig & E. Reynard (Éds), Mapping Geoheritage (pp. 115–127). Lausanne: Université, Institut de géographie.
A research on the use of field trips and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) is being... more A research on the use of field trips and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) is being carried out for spreading the value of Geodiversity in Secondary Schools. As a starting point, a multimedia product on 20 Italian geological tours, designed for analyzing Geodiversity at a regional scale, has been tested with teachers and students, in order to understand its effectiveness by using it solely indoor. In a second phase, teachers and students have been proposed to compare and integrate indoor and outdoor activities to approach Geodiversity directly at a local scale, by means of targeted field trips. For achieving this goal, during the field trips, students used their mobile devices (smartphone and tablet) equipped with free and/or open source applications (Epicollect, Trimble Outdoor Navigator). These tools allow to track field trips, to gather data (geomorphological observations and related photographs), and to elaborate them in the laboratory; a process useful for reasoning ...
The Piemonte region (NW-Italy) contains a remarkable diversity of landscapes, some of them includ... more The Piemonte region (NW-Italy) contains a remarkable diversity of landscapes, some of them included in and protected by the World Heritage list, as well as some recently proposed geosites which testify the dramatic pale-oevironmental, paleobiological and paleoclimatic event that occurred in the Mediterranean area around 6 Ma ago during the so-called Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC). However the link between landform, geodiversity, geoher-itage, and cultural landscape has not yet fully explored. The aims of this study, promoted by the multidisciplinary research project 'PROGEO-Piemonte' (PROactive management of GEOlogical heritage in the Piemonte region), are: 1) to analyse the link between geosites and recent landscape modification, 2) to reconstruct the landscape evolution and, through geotourism, 3) to promote geological knowledge in an area with great potential for tourism. The study area is located in the SE part of the Cuneo plain, at the foot of the Langhe hills, where ...
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Morphodynamics of glacier lakes in the Western Italian Alps resutling form continued glacier shri... more Morphodynamics of glacier lakes in the Western Italian Alps resutling form continued glacier shrinkage: past evidences and future scenarios / Viani, Cristina; Giardino, Marco; Christian, Huggel; Perotti, Luigi; Mortara, Giovanni. (2017), pp. 73-75. ((Intervento presentato al convegno VII Young Geomorphologists' Day tenutosi a Napoli nel 15-16/06/2017. Original Citation: Morphodynamics of glacier lakes in the Western Italian Alps resutling form continued glacier shrinkage: past evidences and future scenarios
Geomorphological analysis is an essential element of many landslide monitoring and hazards assess... more Geomorphological analysis is an essential element of many landslide monitoring and hazards assessment studies. Remote sensing techniques have long been an effective tool for such analysis. Here we present results from an investigation using high resolution hyperspectral airborne sensor MIVIS ( Multispectral Infrared and Visible Imaging Spectrometer ) images in the Aosta Valley (Italian Western-Alps)
In the framework of geosite management, specific targeted symbols for geomorphological legends ar... more In the framework of geosite management, specific targeted symbols for geomorphological legends are still lacking. Concerning geosites of geomorphological interest, geomorphological mapping requires targeted symbols in relation to goals and applications, either concerning geomorphic hazards and risk detection or the enhancement of resources, in particular those related to cultural heritage and, hence, geoheritage. A new methodology for mapping geo(morpho)heritage on geomorphological maps is presented in this paper. Nine iconic examples from the Italian landscape, selected in different morphogenetic and morphoclimatic contexts, are proposed to test the methodology in relation to point, polyline and polygon features. Moreover, guidelines for mapping are suggested according to the importance of the site and to the complexity of processes characterizing each case study.
New strategies for preservation of geodiversity and geosystem services need to be developed for m... more New strategies for preservation of geodiversity and geosystem services need to be developed for mountain areas that are vulnerable to climate change and human activities. Detailed geomorphological surveys and geosystem services analyses have been carried out in the Indren-Cimalegna area, southern slope of Monte Rosa (Western Italian Alps). From remote sensing analysis and field inventories, a geomorphological map (1:5000) was created, with a new GIS-compliant legend, targeted to the studies of glacial and periglacial environments. A geosystem services map (1:15,000) was also produced, presenting a twofold analysis of interactions between geomorphology and human activity, showing (1) the role of distinct landforms as specific services offered to society and (2) the threats posed by morphodynamic processes to human activities. These maps are presented as tools for enhancing proper planning and management of high mountains modified by climate change and human activities within a sustainable development perspective.
In the 20th anniversary year of the European Geopark Network, and 5 years on from the receipt of ... more In the 20th anniversary year of the European Geopark Network, and 5 years on from the receipt of the UNESCO label for the geoparks, this research focuses on geotourism contents and solutions within one of the most recently designated geoparks, admitted for membership in 2013: the Sesia Val Grande UNESCO Global Geopark (Western Italian Alps). The main aim of this paper is to corroborate the use of fieldtrips and virtual tours as resources for geotourism. The analysis is developed according to: i) geodiversity and geoheritage of the geopark territory; ii) different approaches for planning fieldtrip and virtual tours. The lists of 18 geotrails, 68 geosites and 13 off-site geoheritage elements (e.g., museums, geolabs) are provided. Then, seven trails were selected as a mirror of the geodiversity and as container of on-site and off-site geoheritage within the geopark. They were described to highlight the different approaches that were implemented for their valorization. Most of the geotr...
Field survey and geomorphological mapping in urban areas are difficult tasks, particularly those ... more Field survey and geomorphological mapping in urban areas are difficult tasks, particularly those related to the recognition of natural landforms within cities. In this case, it is necessary to apply an integrated scientific approach by combining geomorphology with historical-geography. This paper presents the result of a multi-year survey carried out in the natural morphological amphitheatre where the historic centre of Genoa developed. Our research methods included field surveys in urban areas, interpretation of natural and anthropic landforms from maps and photographs, and analyses of the available borehole logs. As a result, we updated knowledge on urban geomorphology of Genoa old city. An original geomorphological legend has been adopted, including new entries for anthropogenic landforms, targeted at a better visual representation on the changes in the geomorphological landscape during more than one thousand years of urban development of the city. The geomorphological map of Genoa old city is presented as a useful tool for urban planning, as well as for an integrated cultural and landscape enhancement of the territory.
Aosta Valley (Western Alps, Italy) is the region with the largest glacierized area of Italy. Like... more Aosta Valley (Western Alps, Italy) is the region with the largest glacierized area of Italy. Like other high mountain regions, it has shown a significant glacier retreat starting from the end of the 'Little Ice Age' that is expected to continue in the future. As a direct consequence of glacier shrinkage, glacier-bed overdeepenings become exposed, offering suitable geomorphological conditions for glacier lakes formation. In such a densely populated and developed region, opportunities and risks connected to lakes may arise: 1) economic exploitation for hydropower production, tourism and water supply; 2) environmental relevance for high mountain biodiversity and geodiversity; 3) potential risks due to outbursts and consequent floods. In this study, the locations of potential future glacier lakes over large glacierized areas (183 glaciers covering 163,1 km 2) of Aosta Valley were assessed by using the GlabTop2 model. 46 overdeepenings larger than 10,800 m 2 were identified, covering an area of 3.1 ± 0.9 km 2 and having a volume of 0.06 ± 0.02 km 3. The majority of the overdeepenings are located in the Monte Rosa-Cervino massif and a mean depth b10 m characterizes them. Moreover, an estimation of the most recent total ice volume for the Aosta Valley was provided (5.2 ± 1.6 km 3 referred to 2008). Thanks to the validation by the proposed "backward approach" and GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar) data, we can confirm that the location of the overdeepenings is robust while their actual dimensions are subject to considerable uncertainties. Almost all of large lakes (area N 10,000 m 2), potentially the most dangerous, are modelled. Finally, we suggest choosing medium pixel size (about 60 m) of the DEM in order to obtain, at least, the location of the largest lakes and to avoid overestimations of ice thickness and thus a great number of false positive overdeepenings. The results presented here can be useful for understanding how the alpine environment will look in the future and can help the management of water resources and risks related to glacier lakes.
Piemonte region (Northern Italy) shows an extraordinary richness of ornamental stones, whose expl... more Piemonte region (Northern Italy) shows an extraordinary richness of ornamental stones, whose exploitation strongly influenced the local culture during the centuries. Indeed, more than 100 lithotypes, mainly exploited in valleys and mountain areas, are used in the local, urban and architecture heritage of the region.
This paper aims at systemizing knowledge related to geodiversity assessment for water resources a... more This paper aims at systemizing knowledge related to geodiversity assessment for water resources and its evaluation. The novel aspect connected to geodiversity of this paper is the analysis of the components of hydrological system, both at the superficial and underground level, in the territory of the Sesia Val Grande United Nations educational, scientific, and cultural organization (UNESCO) Global Geopark (Northwest Italy). More specifically, the research establishes a conceptual model and a specific procedure for the evaluation of geodiversity connected to water resources on a regional scale, by means of a qualitative-quantitative geographic information system (GIS) process, renamed here as hydro-geodiversity assessment. For these purposes, a targeted ecosystem approach is applied to consider the assets of the Geopark territory that has been derived from the interaction between water and other components of geodiversity, i.e., the hydro-geosystemic services. The element selection a...
Glaciated and recently (post-Little Ice Age) deglaciated areas are very dynamic environments, und... more Glaciated and recently (post-Little Ice Age) deglaciated areas are very dynamic environments, undergoing continuous changes, in particular as a consequence of climatic fluctuations and cryosphere changes. The intense geomorphic activity that takes place here conditions natural hazard, sediment transport and tourist fruition. A geo-morphological mapping with applicative purposes has to take into account the peculiarities and the dynamism of these specific areas. We here propose a methodological approach based on the interpretation of a multitemporal set of aerial photos (from 1983 to 2012), in a GIS environment, with application to the sectors modeled by Little Ice Age glaciers in the upper Orco Valley (NW Italy). The result is a geo-morphological map focused on the elements that are most relevant for application purposes, complemented by a map of the spatio-temporal distribution of the natural instability processes identified in the study area for the reference period, aimed to highlight the recent dynamism of the geomorphological elements in the map.
Rendiconti Online della Società Geologica Italiana, 2016
Geoheritage information comes from areas that, for their peculiar features, are of geological int... more Geoheritage information comes from areas that, for their peculiar features, are of geological interest (i.e. geosites). An important activity for geosites management consists of developing and applying useful digital tools for sharing information. The PROGEO-Piemonte (PROactive management of GEOlogical heritage in the PIEMONTE region) is an example of a project wherein different IT applications have been implemented for collecting, storing and spreading geoheritage information. The most important of these applications consists of building 3D visualizations of geological features through the Arpa Piemonte Geoportal, which hosts a GIS-based 3D viewer loading high resolution DTM and aerial images. Lithostratigraphic, structural and geomorphological features occurring in the Monviso Massif in the Western Alps are selected from geological map databases, processed by GIS tools and draped over the terrain model. 3D visualizations give realistic and easy-to-read representations of geology around geosites or along geological trails, and contribute to overcome problems that commonly occur in transferring contents of geological maps to non-expert users.
On trouvera à la fin de cet ouvrage la présentation de l'ensemble des publications du Laboratoire... more On trouvera à la fin de cet ouvrage la présentation de l'ensemble des publications du Laboratoire EDYTEM Photographies de couverture : 1.-Amphitéatre morainique d'Ivrea. A gauche, durant le pré-LGM ; à droite, forme actuelle. Le diamètre de l'amphithéâtre est d'environ 30 km. Dessin de G. SUSELLA [Mercalli 1991]. 1-Anfiteatro morenico di Ivrea. A sinistra, ricostruzione pre-LGM ; a destra, forma attuale. Il diametro dell'anfiteatro è di circa 30 km. Disegno di G. SUSELLA [Mercalli 1991]. 2.-Versant sud du Mont Blanc et glacier du Miage. Prenant naissance sur le versant ouest du Mont Blanc (4808 m), le Miage est l'un des plus grands glaciers noirs des Alpes. Sa couverture détritique, qui mesure en moyenne 20 à 30 cm d'épaisseur, permet au front du glacier d'atteindre une altitude de 1730 m pour le lobe sud. Le lac juxtaglaciaire qui flanque la marge droite du glacier s'est vidangé en septembre 2004, phénomène qui s'est déjà produit une quinzaine de fois depuis un siècle. Barrant le Val Veny, le Miage a engendré le paléolac Combal dont l'étude des sédiments a permis, en la combinant à celle de l'amphitéâtre morainique du lac du Miage, de reconstituer les fluctuations du glacier pendant la seconde moitié de l'Holocène (Néoglaciaire). Photo Fondation Montagne sûre (09/2004). 2.-Versante sud del Monte Bianco e ghiacciaio del Miage Sviluppatosi sul versante ovest del Monte Bianco (4808 m), il Miage è uno dei più grandi ghiacciai di tipo debris covered delle Alpi. La sua copertura detritica, che misura in media da 20 a 30 cm di spessore, permette al fronte del ghiacciaio di raggiungere la quota di 1730 m (lobo sud). Il lago di margine glaciale, che lambisce il fianco destro del ghiacciaio si è svuotato nel settembre 2004, fenomeno che si è già verificato una quindicina di volte in un secolo. Sbarrando la Val Veny, il Miage ha originato un paleolago il cui studio dei sedimenti ha permesso, in associazione a quello dell'anfiteatro morenico del lago del Miage, di ricostruire le fluttuazioni del ghiacciaio durante la seconda metà dell'Olocene (Neoglaciale). Foto Fondazione Montagna sicura (09/2004). 3.-Coupe géologique en travers de la plaine d'Aoste. La coupe, au niveau de la ville d'Aoste, montre un remplissage alluvionaire, fin à la base et de plus en plus grossier vers le haut et, latéralement, au débouché du Buthier. Cela atteste l'existence d'un paléolac, alimenté depuis l'amont par la Doire et latéralement par le Buthier. Une fois ce lac comblé, le Buthier a édifié son cône de déjection sur lequel est bâti Aoste. Dessin G. NICOUD. 3.-Sezione geologica trasversale della Valle d'Aosta. La sezione, in corrispondenza della città di Aosta, mostra un riempimento alluvionale fino alla base, che va gradualmente ingrandendosi verso l'alto e lateralmente, allo sbocco del Buthier. Sulla base di questi dati è i ipotizzata l'esistenza di un paleolago di Aosta, alimentato da monte dalla Dora Baltea e lateralmente dal Buthier. Una volta che il lago è stato colmato, il Buthier ha costruito il cono di deiezione sul quale è fondata Aosta. Disegno G. NICOUD. 4.-Carte de la néotectonique et des principales unités lithostructurale de la feuille Bardonecchia [Polino et al., 2002]. L'orientation et la distribution des déformations observées indiquent en premier lieu, l'existence d'une importante déformation néotectonique «linéaire» représentée par un faisceau de déformations d'ampleur plurikilométrique et de direction N60°, qui couvre les vallées de Suse et Chisone. 4.-Schema neotettonico e principali unità lito-strutturali del Foglio Bardonecchia (Polino et al. , 2002). L'orientazione e la distribuzione delle formazioni rilevate indicano in primo luogo l'esistenza di una importante deformazione neotettonica «lineare» rappresentata da una fascia di deformazione di ampiezza plurichilometrica con direzione N60E che comprende settori delle valli Susa e Chisone e del relativo spartiacque.
This paper presents an attempt at the evaluation of the Alpine geoheritage of the Susa Valley (Pi... more This paper presents an attempt at the evaluation of the Alpine geoheritage of the Susa Valley (Piemonte region, NW Italy). The area is included in the project for the creation of the 'Cottian Alps Geopark', whose application to the European Geoparks Network is in progress. The Susa valley is a unique and great geological section showing all the structures and rocks involved in Alpine orogenesis. Moreover, it shows outstanding examples of interactions between human activities and processes of the physical environment. We considered these cultural landscapes as a heritage worthy to be known by people and to be exploited by geotourism activities. Therefore, we investigated the local geodiversity, assessed the geoheritage and identified the geosites characterised by a high potential for the enhancement of public understanding of geoscience and for recreational activities. In this paper, we describe the actions and methodologies carried on for creating geo-itineraries and for improving tourism activities and scientific knowledge. In particular, we focus attention on the Franks trail, a 60-km-long route crossing the Geopark territory, which follows the path blazed by Charlemagne in 773 AD as he attempted to avoid the Longobard army. The trail runs through many sites which tell about natural and cultural heritage. Our evaluation project makes the trail suitable as a 'cultural extension' of the 'Via GeoAlpina', an international project that aims to show the wonders of alpine geology and geomorphology.
test of a mobile GIS application to support eld data collection and mapping activities on geomorp... more test of a mobile GIS application to support eld data collection and mapping activities on geomorphosites. Dans G. Regolini-Bissig & E. Reynard (Éds), Mapping Geoheritage (pp. 115–127). Lausanne: Université, Institut de géographie.
A research on the use of field trips and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) is being... more A research on the use of field trips and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) is being carried out for spreading the value of Geodiversity in Secondary Schools. As a starting point, a multimedia product on 20 Italian geological tours, designed for analyzing Geodiversity at a regional scale, has been tested with teachers and students, in order to understand its effectiveness by using it solely indoor. In a second phase, teachers and students have been proposed to compare and integrate indoor and outdoor activities to approach Geodiversity directly at a local scale, by means of targeted field trips. For achieving this goal, during the field trips, students used their mobile devices (smartphone and tablet) equipped with free and/or open source applications (Epicollect, Trimble Outdoor Navigator). These tools allow to track field trips, to gather data (geomorphological observations and related photographs), and to elaborate them in the laboratory; a process useful for reasoning ...
The Piemonte region (NW-Italy) contains a remarkable diversity of landscapes, some of them includ... more The Piemonte region (NW-Italy) contains a remarkable diversity of landscapes, some of them included in and protected by the World Heritage list, as well as some recently proposed geosites which testify the dramatic pale-oevironmental, paleobiological and paleoclimatic event that occurred in the Mediterranean area around 6 Ma ago during the so-called Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC). However the link between landform, geodiversity, geoher-itage, and cultural landscape has not yet fully explored. The aims of this study, promoted by the multidisciplinary research project 'PROGEO-Piemonte' (PROactive management of GEOlogical heritage in the Piemonte region), are: 1) to analyse the link between geosites and recent landscape modification, 2) to reconstruct the landscape evolution and, through geotourism, 3) to promote geological knowledge in an area with great potential for tourism. The study area is located in the SE part of the Cuneo plain, at the foot of the Langhe hills, where ...
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