Turbulent behaviour within a coastal boundary layer,observations and modelling at the Isola del Giglio

The hydrodynamics of coastal areas is characterized by the interaction among phenomena occurring at different spatial and temporal scales, such as the interaction of a large-scale ocean current with the local bathymetry and coastline, and local forcing conditions. In order to take into account all relevant phenomena, the study of the hydrodynamics of coastal zones requires a high-spatial and temporal resolution for both observations and simulation of local currents. This resolution can be obtained by using X-band radar, which allows simultaneous measurement of waves and currents in a range of 1–3 miles from the coastline, as well as high-resolution numerical models implemented in the area and configured through multiple nesting techniques in order to reach resolutions comparable to such coastal observations. Such an integrated monitoring system was implemented at the Isola del Giglio in 2012, after the accident of the Costa Concordia ship. Results can be used as a cross-validation of data produced independently by radar observations and numerical models. In addition, results give some important insights on the dynamics of the coastal boundary layer, both for what concerns the attenuation in the profile of the depth-averaged velocities which typically occur in turbulent boundary layers, as well as for the production, detachment and evolution of vorticity produced by the interaction of large-scale ocean currents with the coastline and the subsequent time evolution of such boundary layer. This transition between large-scale regional currents and the coastal boundary layer is often neglected in regional forecasting systems, but it has an important role in the ocean turbulence processes.     

Numerical modelling of centrifuge dynamic tests of circular tunnels in dry sand

This paper describes the numerical simulation of two dynamic centrifuge tests on reduced scale models of shallow tunnels in dry sand, carried out using both an advanced bounding surface plasticity constitutive soil model and a simple Mohr–Coulomb elastic-perfectly plastic model with embedded nonlinear and hysteretic behaviour. The predictive capabilities of the two constitutive models are assessed by comparing numerical predictions and experimental data in terms of accelerations at several positions in the model, and bending moment and hoop forces in the lining. Computed and recorded accelerations match well, and a quite good agreement is achieved also in terms of dynamic bending moments in the lining, while numerical and experimental values of the hoop force differ significantly with one another. The influence of the contact assumption between the tunnel and the soil is investigated by comparing the experimental data and the numerical results obtained with different interface conditions with the analytical solutions. The overall performance of the two models is very similar indicating that at least for dry sand, where shear-volumetric coupling is less relevant, even a simple model can provide an adequate representation of soil behaviour under dynamic conditions.     

Fault-generated mountain fronts in the central apennines (Central Italy): Geomorphological features and seismotectonic implications

The morphotectonic framework of the Central Apennines is given by faulted blocks bounded by normal faults, mostly trending NW–SE, NNW–SSE and NE–SW, which cut previous compressive structures. Such a structural setting is consistent with the focal mechanisms of the earthquakes which often occur in this area. In this paper, three lithologically different normal fault-generated mountain fronts are analysed in order to assess the relations between their geomorphic features and active tectonics. They border the Norcia depression (Sibillini Mts, Umbria), the Amatrice–Campotosto plateau (Laga Mts, Lazio) and the Fucino basin (Marsica Mts, Abruzzi). The Norcia depression is bounded by a N20°W trending normal fault to the east and by a parallel antithetic fault to the west. The main fault has a 1000 m throw and gives rise to a wide fault escarpment, characterized by: (1) sharp slope breaks due to low angle gravity faults; (2) important paleolandslides; and (3) several fault scarplets on the piedmont belt affecting Quaternary deposits. The Amatrice–Campotosto plateau is delimited by the western slope of Mt Gorzano which runs along a N20°W trending normal fault having a 1500m throw. Minor parallel faults dislocate Quaternary landforms. Large-scale massmovements also occur here. The Fucino basin was struck by the 1915 Avezzano earthquake (I=XI MCS) which produced extensive surface faulting along two parallel NW trending normal fault escarpments on the eastern border of the basin. There is paleoseismic evidence including buried gravity graben in Late Glacial gravels and tectonic dip-slip striations on Holocene calcitic crusts covering bedrock normal fault planes. These data suggest that active extensional tectonics plays a major role in the slope morphogenesis of the Central Apennines and they indicate the importance of geomorphic analysis in seismic zonation of this area.     

A storm event watershed model for surface runoff based on 2D fully dynamic wave equations

The main purpose of this work concerns the development and testing of an overland flow model based on the two‐dimensional fully dynamic shallow water equations. Three key aspects, fundamental to get accurate, efficient and robust computation of surface runoff at basin scale, are discussed by transferring the main findings obtained by the recent research on the topic of dam‐break wave and flood propagation in the context of rainfall–runoff modelling. In particular, attention is focused on the numerical flux and bottom slope source terms computation, on a numerical treatment of friction slope terms and on an algorithm for dealing with wetting/drying fronts. The performances of the numerical model have been preliminarily evaluated using experimental or ideal tests characterized by very critical conditions for the stability of a numerical model. Then, attention was focused on a real event occurred in a sub‐basin of Reno river in Italy to analyse the suitability of the model in simulating real flood situations. The numerical results highlight the good performances of the model in all the simulations discussed in the paper. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Detection of seismic façade damages with multi-temporal oblique aerial imagery

ABSTRACT

Remote sensing images have long been recognized as useful for the detection of building damages, mainly due to their wide coverage, revisit capabilities and high spatial resolution. The majority of contributions aimed at identifying debris and rubble piles, as the main focus is to assess collapsed and partially collapsed structures. However, these approaches might not be optimal for the image classification of façade damages, where damages might appear in the form of spalling, cracks and collapse of small segments of the façade. A few studies focused their damage detection on the façades using only post-event images. Nonetheless, several studies achieved better performances in damage detection approaches when considering multi-temporal image data. Hence, in this work a multi-temporal façade damage detection is tested. The first objective is to optimally merge pre- and post-event aerial oblique imagery within a supervised classification approach using convolutional neural networks to detect façade damages. The second objective is related to the fact that façades are normally depicted in several views in aerial manned photogrammetric surveys; hence, different procedures combining these multi-view image data are also proposed and embedded in the image classification approach. Six multi-temporal approaches are compared against 3 mono-temporal ones. The results indicate the superiority of multi-temporal approaches (up to ~25% in f1-score) when compared to the mono-temporal ones. The best performing multi-temporal approach takes as input sextuples (3 views per epoch, per façade) within a late fusion approach to perform the image classification of façade damages. However, the detection of small damages, such as smaller cracks or smaller areas of spalling, remains challenging in this approach, mainly due to the low resolution (~0.14 m ground sampling distance) of the dataset used.     

Additive effects of climate change and human hunting explain population decline and extinction in cave bears

Cave bears (Ursus spelaeus) are an iconic component of the European late Quaternary Ice Age megafauna. Recent demographic analyses based on cave bear mtDNA sequences and refined radiocarbon dating indicate that cave bear population size and genetic diversity started to decline some 50 kilo years ago (kya). Hence, neither the coldest phase of the last glaciation (started some 24 kya), nor the colonization of Europe by Palaeolithic hunters (started some 45 kya) coincides with the beginning of population decline. Here, we reconstructed cave bear climatic niche evolution through time. Then, we performed spatially explicit population viability analyses to assess cave bear demographics through time in response to climatic changes, human effects on bear survival and their combination. We found that climate change was responsible for a 10‐fold decrease in cave bear population size after 40 kya. However, climate change on its own could not explain U. spelaeus extinction at 24 kya. Additional negative effects consistent with human population expansion are required to explain both U. spelaeus' retreat from eastern Europe since 40 kya and its final extinction.     

Accuracy assessment of real-time kinematics (RTK) measurements on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) for direct geo-referencing

ABSTRACT

Geospatial information acquired with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) provides valuable decision-making support in many different domains, and technological advances coincide with a demand for ever more sophisticated data products. One consequence is a research and development focus on more accurately referenced images and derivatives, which has long been a weakness especially of low to medium cost UAV systems equipped with relatively inexpensive inertial measurement unit (IMU) and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers. This research evaluates the positional accuracy of the real-time kinematics (RTK) GNSS on the DJI Matrice 600 Pro, one of the first available and widely used UAVs with potentially surveying-grade performance. Although a very high positional accuracy of the drone itself of 2 to 3 cm is claimed by DJI, the actual accuracy of the drone RTK for positioning the images and for using it for mapping purposes without additional ground control is not known. To begin with, the actual GNSS RTK position of reference center (the physical point on the antenna) on the drone is not indicated, and uncertainty regarding this also exists among the professional user community. In this study the reference center was determined through a set of experiments using the dual frequency static Leica GNSS with RTK capability. The RTK positioning data from the drone were then used for direct georeferencing, and its results were evaluated. Test flights were carried out over a 70 x 70 m area with an altitude of 40 m above the ground, with a ground sampling distance of 1.3 cm. Evaluated against ground control points, the planimetric accuracy of direct georeferencing for the photogrammetric product ranged between 30 and 60 cm. Analysis of direct georeferencing results showed a time delay of up to 0.28 seconds between the drone GNSS RTK and camera image acquisition affecting direct georeferencing results.     

Modelling rocking response via equivalent viscous damping

The assessment of the out-of-plane response of masonry structures has been largely investigated in literature assuming that walls respond as rigid or semi-rigid bodies, and relevant equations of motion of single-degree-of-freedom and multi-degree of freedom systems have been proposed. Therein, energy dissipation has been usually modelled resorting to the classical hypotheses of impulsive dynamics, delivering a velocity-reduction coefficient of restitution applied at impact. In fewer works, a velocity-proportional damping force has been introduced, by means of a viscous coefficient being constant or variable. A review of such models is presented, a criterion for equivalence of dissipated energy is proposed, equations predicting equivalent viscous damping ratios are derived and compared with experimental responses. Finally, predictive equations are examined in terms of incremental dynamic analyses for large sets of natural ground motions.     

Effects of 4-nonylphenol exposure in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) and crabs (Carcinus aestuarii) with particular emphasis on vitellogenin induction

Since it is often difficult to estimate possible adverse effects due to contamination in selected ecosystems, multi-species biomonitoring may provide more information, taking into account different routes of exposure, ecological roles and metabolic capabilities of animals. In this context, we exposed for 7 days the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis and the crab Carcinus aestuarii to 4-nonylphenol (NP), a well-known xenoestrogen. In mussels (0-0.2 mg NP l(-1)), we measured NP bioaccumulation in soft tissues and vitellogenin (Vg)-like protein levels in digestive glands from both males and females by the alkali-labile phosphate assay (ALP). As no reference data were available for crab exposure, the NP 96-h LC(50) value was previously determined. Then, in sublethally exposed (0-1.0 mg NP l(-1)) male crabs, NP bioaccumulation and Vg levels were measured in hemolymph, gonads and digestive gland. Bioaccumulation of NP increased from 43 to 371 microg g(-1) d.w. in mussels, and from 3.6 to 37 microg g(-1) d.w. in crabs, depending on the NP concentration in water. Dose-dependent Vg-like protein induction was observed in both species, appearing to be related to NP bioaccumulation, although a partial decrease was recorded at the highest concentration tested. A similar trend was observed in both digestive gland and gonad of exposed crabs; Vg increased to a lesser extent, although significantly, in hemolymph. Results demonstrated that NP induces Vg synthesis both in male and female mussels, as well as in male crabs. On the basis of the responsiveness of both species investigated, a multi-species approach is indicated in biomonitoring programmes.