A GIS procedure for the topographic classification of Italy, according to the seismic code provisions

Abstract

In this study we present a procedure for the topographic classification of Italy, taking advantage of existing high resolution digital elevation models (DEM), with the support of routines embedded in Geographic Information Systems. The proposed method is based on morphometric analyses of a DEM, allowing for hilltop ridge detection, slope computation, identification of reliefs with potential topographic site effects, and topographic classification according to the indications of the current European and Italian seismic codes. The developed procedure can be applied worldwide and has a potential engineering interest for a fast and accurate topographic classification of a site, for both scientific and application purposes. The topographic classification of Italy is tested on several well known cases of topographic amplification and it is adopted for the topographic classification of Italian accelerometric stations.