Geomorphology of the upper sector of the Roncovetro active landslide (Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy)

Abstract

We present the geomorphological map of the upper sector of the Roncovetro active landslide (Enza Valley, Emilia-Romagna, Italy). The 1:1500 scale map provides an accurate picture of the landslide in October 2014. The map is mainly based on the data collected during an airborne LiDAR survey. The capability of LiDAR to ‘penetrate’ the vegetation cover makes these data the most complete and accurate topographic dataset of this landslide. The map shows that the upper sector of the Roncovetro landslide consists of gravity- and water runoff-related forms. Gravitational features are linked to sliding and flowing movements that characterize the short- and long-term behaviour of the landslide. By comparing the 2014 LiDAR-Digital Elevation Model (DEM) with the 1973 DEM provided by the Emilia-Romagna Region, we calculated that 6.2 ± 0.8 × 105 m3 of material has moved from the top of the Roncovetro landslide in about 40 years.