Integration of geotechnical modeling and remote sensing data to analyze the evolution of an active volcanic area: The case of the New South East Crater (Mount Etna)

摘要

A combined approach based on remote sensing techniques and geotechnical modeling has beenrnadopted to assess the hazard linked the instability a cinder cone recently formed on the summit area of thernMount Etna as a consequence of a very active volcanic phase started in January 2011 from the New South EastrnCrater (NSEC). A multisensor and multitemporal approach was adopted to update the topographical surface atrnthe top of the volcano: Digital Elevation Models (DEM) and maps from interferometric SAR data and highresolutionrnphotogrammetric images processing were integrated. A probabilistic analysis has been conducted torndetermine the stability of the NSEC, quantify the possible unstable volumes and define the covered area from thernfeasible collapse. The modeling has been implemented by introducing strength parameters from volcanoclasticlikernmaterials. The work is aimed at assessing a consistent procedure that, starting from the capability of rapidlyrnmapping the new volcanic structure and from a preliminary knowledge of the geotechnical characteristics of thernmaterial forming its slopes, may be adopted for a first evaluation of the occurrence and the effects of potentialrninstabilities.