This master’s thesis focuses on the analysis of an active rock landslide in the Santa Maria Valley, located in northern Ticino. The main objective is to estimate the total volume of the unstable mass, assess its activity level, and understand the mechanisms responsible for its evolution. The study is based on geomorphological analysis, laboratory geotechnical tests, field observations, as well as remote sensing techniques and cartographic models.
The project is divided into four research axes: the analysis of debris flows associated with the rock landslide, the study of rock mechanical properties, the identification of rupture mechanisms, and the evaluation of the total volume of the landslide. The exceptional hydrological conditions of July 2021 provided a better understanding of their influence on the landslide dynamics. Results show that the rock instability actively contributes to debris flows by supplying water and material, thus increasing the risks for the infrastructure located downstream.
The conclusions of this study provide valuable information on the behavior of rock landslides in medium-grade metamorphic environments, potentially contributing to the improvement of risk management related to ground instabilities in such contexts.
Disaster Risk Reduction, Hazard Assesment, and Risk Analysis
