Analysis of a database for anthropogenic sinkhole triggering and zonation in the Naples hinterland (Southern Italy)

Paolo Maria Guarino (), Antonio Santo (), Giovanni Forte (), Melania De Falco () and Daniela Maria Antonia Niceforo ()
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Paolo Maria Guarino: ISPRA - Institute for Environmental Protection and Research
Antonio Santo: Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II
Giovanni Forte: Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II
Melania De Falco: Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II
Daniela Maria Antonia Niceforo: ISPRA - Institute for Environmental Protection and Research

Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, 2018, vol. 91, issue 1, No 9, 173-192

Abstract: Abstract Anthropogenic sinkholes are generally due to the collapse of man-made underground caves and represent a major threat, especially in urban contexts, where they could cause damage to people, buildings and lifelines. The hinterland of Naples (Campania, Southern Italy) is one of the most urbanized areas of Italy and is historically affected by frequent sinkhole phenomena. This study analyzes a database of both man-made caves and sinkholes collected by the authors over several years. The aim is to comprehend the predisposing and triggering factors of sinkholes in order to attempt a zonation of occurrence. The predisposing factor resulted to be the presence of a preexisting network of caves within the Campanian Ignimbrite tuff and their geometric features. Generally, the shallower the depth of the chamber roof and the lower the thickness of the vault, the higher is the frequency of sinkholes. Furthermore, an intrinsic fragility is represented by the access shafts of vertical wells, usually filled in and abandoned. Meanwhile, the main triggering mechanism identified consists in saturation of the subsoil, due to water leaks coming from buried sewage and water pipelines. The macrozonation of sinkhole occurrence shows that the highest class is achieved where the tuff is shallow and both man-made caves and historical sinkholes are present.

Keywords: Anthropogenic sinkhole; Man-made cave; Hazard; Naples; Southern Italy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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DOI: 10.1007/s11069-017-3054-5

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