Discovering the seismic properties of Rome's subsoil - TGweb GEOSCIENCES News (April 14, 2021)"
"Discovering the seismic properties of the subsoil of Rome - TGweb GEOSCIENZE News (April 14, 2021) "
link to the background document:
Members of the ESITO Laboratory during an organizational meeting (Avezzano, 21/02/2018)Personnel of the ESITO Laboratory during an internal meeting (Avezzano, 21/02/2018)
Linear array of vertical geophones for Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW; Atina 24/10/2019)Linear Array of vertical geophones for Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW; Atina 24/10/2019)
Linear array of vertical geophones for Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (L'Aquila 05/12/2012 )Linear Array of vertical geophones for Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (L'Aquila 05/12/2012)
Seismic stations (velocimeters and MarsLite and Reftek130 data loggers) during a huddle testSeismic stations (velocimeters, accelerometers and MarsLite and Reftek130 digitizers) during an huddle test of the equipment of the laboratory
Installation of seismic stations in Amatrice, after the Mw 6.0 earthquake of 24/08/2016 (September 2016)Installation of seismic stations at Amatrice (network 3A), after the Mw 6.0 earthquake of Central Italy of 24/08/2016 (September 2016)
Seismic campaign active in the "Passage of Commodus", Colosseum, Rome, 24/06/2014 Active seismic survey in the “Passage of Commodus”, Colosseum, Rome, 24/06/2014
Dissemination activities (visit by the President of the Republic, 24/01/2018)Open day at INGV. Showing the activity of the team to the President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella, 24/01/2018.
The ESITO laboratory for the study of site effects is part of the infrastructure of the Rome 1 section of the INGV and is equipped with instruments that can be used in the context of research projects and proposals, degree and doctoral theses, service activities concerning the following fields of activity:
● specific local seismic response and site seismic characterization experiments, including sites susceptible to liquefaction phenomena and landslides
● Seismic Microzonation studies (preparatory and training activities)
● seismic emergencies within the emergency groups
● participation in specific experiments for national and international projects or for service activities
● dissemination activities (third mission)
The ESITO Laboratory is divided into three units located in the offices of Rome, Grottaminarda and L'Aquila. The Laboratory ensures the maintenance and correct functioning of the seismic instrumentation located in the three units, and also tests new instrumentation and analysis packages, experimenting with advanced data acquisition systems in the field. Access to and use of the equipment is governed by the following regulation
("SITO Effects Laboratory Regulations Loan request form")
OUTCOME is a laboratory devoted to the study of site effects, and it is one of the infrastructures of the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV, ROMA1 Section). The laboratory employs seismic instruments that are used in national and international projects and research studies, thesis and emergency activities. In the following the main areas of investigation supported by the ESITO laboratory:
● Specific experiments for the study of local seismic response or seismic site characterization, including sites prone to liquefaction or instability phenomena
● Studies related to Seismic Microzonation
● Seismic emergency (in cooperation with the EMERSITO INGV-emergency group)
● Field experiments within national and international projects
● Participation in workshops and meetings dedicated to public and schools (third mission)
The ESITO laboratory is organized in three units based in the INGV offices of Rome, Grottaminarda and L'Aquila. The laboratory ensures the maintenance and the proper operation of the seismic instruments, and also the testing of new instruments and softwares, including advanced data analysis and acquisition systems in the field surveys. The access and the use of the laboratory equipment is regulated by means of a registered document
(Regulation of ESITO, in Italian , Loan Form).
Site effects
Site Effects
Image taken from the "Guide for animators" of the exhibition "Beware of the Elements. Details that save lives”
Picture redrawn from “Guide for animators” of the event “Beware of the Elements. Details that save lives”
The shaking of the ground is strongly influenced not only by the source of the earthquake and by the propagation path, but also by the geological, geomorphological and geotechnical conditions that the seismic waves encounter as they cross the last layers of soil before reaching the surface. The seismic motion can undergo considerable modifications in terms of amplitude, frequency content and duration of the shaking. All of these variations are referred to as site effects.
For example, the site effects caused by the presence of loosely compact geological formations (alluvials, sedimentary deposits, etc.) on more rigid formations, translate into an amplification of the seismic waves in some frequency ranges, which is as great as the greater the contrast of mechanical properties between the different layers. This type of phenomenon is also known as stratigraphic amplification. Phenomena of aggravation of the seismic motion can also be produced by surface waves that propagate within basins or by the presence of topographic irregularities.
Another relevant phenomenon among the site effects is that caused by the non-linear behavior of the soils, up to liquefaction, which can occur when the seismic wave passes through the soils where there is a sandy level saturated with water and at small depths. .
The ESITO laboratory is an INGV infrastructure with instrumentation and personnel engaged in the study of site effects; their evaluation and knowledge is fundamental for the mitigation of the effects of the seismic action on the building and on the environment.
The ground motion during earthquakes is strongly dependent on the seismic source and travel path of the seismic waves. The geological, geomorphological and geotechnical properties related to the uppermost near-surface layers are also important in modifying the seismograms recorded by seismic stations. The ground shaking in the presence of site effects can be largely amplified with respect to a reference site, in terms of spectral contents, amplitude levels and motion duration. Such magnification phenomena are generally known as site effects.
For example, site effects are mostly observed in the presence of soft deposits characterized by low velocities (alluvial, sedimentary deposits, soft clay, etc..) overlaying stiffer layers: the magnification effect is generally larger when the impedance contrast increases between soft and stiff layers (stratigraphic amplification). Site effects can also be related to multiple reflections and surface waves traveling within the basins, or waves scattered from irregular topographies. A further significant typology of site effects during an earthquake is related to the subsoil non-linearity that can provide liquefaction, with water-saturated unconsolidated sediments that reach a soil rigidity nearly to zero.
The ESITO laboratory groups mostly personnel and seismic instrumentation of INGV-ROMA1 that is focused mainly on study on site effects: research activities and case studies are important to a better knowledge of these phenomena, and to mitigate their effects on the environment, cities and infrastructures .
TEAM
Paola Bordoni, Technologist
Fabrizio Cara, Researcher
Rocco Cogliano, Technical Assistant
Giovanna Cultrera, Senior Researcher
Giuseppe Di Giulio, Researcher (Head of the laboratory)
Daniela Famiani, Technologist
Antonio Fodarella, Technical Assistant
Alessia Mercuri, Researcher (Responsible of the unit in Rome)
Giuliano Milana, Senior Technologist
Stefania Pucillo, Technical Assistant
Gaetano Riccio, Technical Assistant (Responsible for the unit in Grottaminarda)
Maurizio Vassallo, Researcher
Marta Pischiutta, Researcher (Roma2 section)
Luca Minarelli, Researcher
Sara Amoroso (Researcher from University of Chieti-Pescara associated with INGV)
Salomon Hailemikael (Researcher)
Lab Unit Milan Section (from June 2025)
Sara Lovati, Senior Technologist (Head of the Milan Unit)
Francesca Pacor, Senior Researcher
Marco Massa, Senior Researcher
Pellegrino Moretti, Technical Collaborator
Nicolò Carra, Technical Collaborator
Anna Figlioli, Technical Collaborator
Rodolfo Puglia, Senior Technologist
Lucia Luzi, Senior Researcher
Vera Pessina, Senior Researcher
Giovanni Lanzano, Senior Researcher
Giulio Brunelli, Researcher
RESEARCH PROJECTS
Contributing projects to the laboratory or supported by the ESITO laboratory.
304 Conv. INGV-DPC (Annex A Emergencies WP 9.2);
520 Conv. Molise region "Seismic microzonation of inhabited areas in the province of Isernia - Research collaboration - scientific support";
542 FIRB-Abruzzo "High resolution surveys for the estimation of seismic hazard and risk in the areas affected by the earthquake of 6 April 2009";
865 FISR-2016 "Center for the study and monitoring of natural risks in central Italy";
972 Conv. INGV-DPC B2 2019-21, WP1 Task 2 "Characterization of accelerometric sites";
905 MZS Amatrice "Propaedeutic activities for seismic microzonation of the Municipality of Amatrice";
906 MZS Casamicciola “Propaedeutic activities for seismic microzonation of the Municipality of Casamicciola Terme (NA);
911 MZS UMBRIA-MARCHE-LAZIO-ABRUZZO "Third level seismic microzonation of the municipalities affected by the earthquakes of 24 August 2016 and 26 and 30 October 2016".;
929 EDI-SECUR “Development of an innovative optical sensor for monitoring the dynamic behavior of buildings in seismic areas”;
947 MISE-DGSAIE “Operational agreement between MISE DGSAIE and INGV for studies on the seismic response of the Sulmona booster plant area”;
963 Avezzano Level 3 Microzonation “Agreement for the realization of geophysical surveys to support Level 3 Seismic Microzonation in the Municipality of Avezzano (Aq)”;
979 PON-GRINT “European plate observing system GRINT”;
1011 MZS-III ISCHIA “Level-III seismic microzonation Municipalities of Casamicciola Terme, Lacco Ameno and Forio”;
FACILITIES
The instrumentation is organized and managed in three units of INGV (Roma, L'Aquila and Grottaminarda) and is actually composed of :
- seismic digitizers (Reftek 130, Lennartz Marslite, Quanterra Q330 and Kinemetrics Etna)
- accelerometers and velocimeters (Kinemetrics Episensor, Lennartz 5s)
- multi-channel system (three Geodes by Geometrics) with vertical and horizontal geophones; set of cables with different spacings, tools (sledge hammer and plates) for active shots to generate P and S waves, minigun source etc.
- system for electric tomography (Syscal R2 equipment managed in cooperation with Roma2 Section)
- other devices and dedicated tools such as batteries, solar panels, gps, tablets, mass storages, etc..
.
ACTIVITIES (since 2016)
List of experiments
- Seismic characterization of stations (within activity of DPC_INGV All B2): Campotto Po CMPO-IV, Città di Castello CDCA-IV, Castelnuovo Assisi CSA-IT, Norcia NRCA-IV, Arquata RQT-IT, Montereale MTR-IT, Mascioni MSC- IT, Antrodoco ANT-IT, Rome headquarters ROM9-IV, Lanuvio LAV9-IV, Ortucchio ORC-IT , Ischia IOCA-IV and CML-IT, TERO-IV, TER-IT, , BIOG-IV, SULP-IT , ATI -IT, SORA-IT, RMMR-IT
- Topographic effects: Amandola, Civitella del Tronto and Montereale (EMERGED)
- Sites prone to liquefaction: Bondeno (FE) and Mirabello (FE) with blast tests, Avezzano, Bordano (Udine)
- Seismic local response: Bondeno (FE) and Mirabello (FE) for blast test, L'Aquila, Chieti, Sulmona and Arpino
- Temporary network installed during seismic emergency (cooperation with EMERSITO): Network XO of Amandola, Civitella del Tronto and Montereale, Network 3A with 31 stations installed for microzonation activity (EMERSITO)
- Building analysis: Rieti with EdiSECUR Project
- “Complex” site effects: Amatrice
- Reconstruction of buried geological geometry: Castelluccio di Norcia, Norcia, Castelnuovo Assisi, Avezzano , Rome
List of peer-reviewed papers (with the support of the laboratory)
2020
- Di Giulio, G., Ercoli, M., Vassallo, M. and Porreca, M., 2020. Investigation of the Norcia basin (Central Italy) through ambient vibration measurements and geological surveys. Engineering Geology, 267, p.105501.
- Famiani, D., Brunori CA, Pizzimenti L., Cara F., Caciagli M., Melelli L., Mirabella F., Barchi MR 2020, Geophysical reconstruction of buried geological features and site effects estimation of the Middle Valle Umbra basin ( central Italy) Engineering Geology, 269,, p. 105543
- Di Naccio, D., Famiani, D., Liberi, F., Boncio, P., Cara, F., De Santis, A., Di Giulio, G., Galadini, F., Milana, G., Rosatelli , G., Vassallo M. 2020, Site effects and widespread susceptibility to permanent coseismic deformation in the Avezzano town (Fucino basin, Central Italy): Constraints from detailed geological study, Engineering Geology, 270,, p. 105583
- Rollins, KM, Amoroso S., Milana, G., Minarelli, L., Vassallo, M., and Di Giulio G. 2020. Gravel Liquefaction Assessment Using the Dynamic Cone Penetration Test Based on Field Performance from the 1976 Friuli Earthquake, Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering 146(6),
2019
- Cara, F., Cultrera, G., Riccio, G., Amoroso, S., Bordoni, P., Bucci, A., D'Alema, E., D'Amico, M., Cantore, L., Carannante, S. and Cogliano, R., 2019. Temporary dense seismic network during the 2016 Central Italy seismic emergency for microzonation studies. Scientific data, 6(1), pp.1-15.
- Milana, G., Cultrera, G., Bordoni, P., Bucci, A., Cara, F., Cogliano, R., Di Giulio, G., Di Naccio, D., Famiani, D., Fodarella, A. and Mercuri, A., 2019. Local site effects estimation at Amatrice (Central Italy) through seismological methods. Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering, pp.1-27.
- Priolo, E., Pacor, F., Spallarossa, D., Milana, G., Laurenzano, G., Romano, MA, Felicetta, C., Hailemikael, S., Cara, F., Di Giulio, G. and Ferretti, G., 2019. Seismological analyzes of the seismic microzonation of 138 municipalities damaged by the 2016–2017 seismic sequence in Central Italy. Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering, pp.1-41.
- Marcucci, S., Milana, G., Hailemikael, S., Carlucci, G., Cara, F., Di Giulio, G. and Vassallo, M., 2019. The deep bedrock in Rome, Italy: a new constraint based on passive seismic data analysis. Pure and Applied Geophysics, 176(6), pp.2395-2410.
- Vassallo, M., De Matteis, R., Bobbio, A., Di Giulio, G., Adinolfi, GM, Cantore, L., Cogliano, R., Fodarella, A., Maresca, R., Pucillo, S and Riccio, G., 2019. Seismic noise cross-correlation in the urban area of Benevento city (Southern Italy). Geophysical Journal International, 217(3), pp.1524-1542.
2018
- Amoroso, S., Gaudiosi, I., Tallini, M., Di Giulio, G. and Milana, G., 2018. 2D site response analysis of a cultural heritage: the case study of the site of Santa Maria di Collemaggio Basilica (L'Aquila, Italy). Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering, 16(10), pp.4443-4466.
- Boncio, P., Amoroso, S., Vessia, G., Francescone, M., Nardone, M., Monaco, P., Famiani, D., Di Naccio, D., Mercuri, A., Manuel, MR and Galadini, F., 2018. Evaluation of liquefaction potential in an intermountain Quaternary lacustrine basin (Fucino basin, central Italy). Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering, 16(1), pp.91-111.
- Theodoulidis, N., Cultrera, G., Cornou, C., Bard, PY, Boxberger, T., Di Giulio, G., Imtiaz, A., Kementzetzidou, D., Makra, K. and Argostoli NERA Team, 2018. Basin effects on ground motion: the case of a high-resolution experiment in Cephalonia (Greece). Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering, 16(2), pp.529-560.
2017
- Durante, F., Di Giulio, G., Tallini, M., Milana, G. and Macerola, L., 2017. A multidisciplinary approach to the seismic characterization of a mountain top (Monteluco, central Italy). Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C, 98, pp.119-135.
- Riccio, G., Cogliano, R., Di Giulio, G., Fodarella, A., Pucillo, S. and Rovelli, A., 2017. A study of building vibrations induced by weak motions: effects of earthquake excitation, ambient noise and wind speed. Annals of Geophysics, 10.4401/ag-7149
- Di Naccio, D., Vassallo, M., Di Giulio, G., Amoroso, S., Cantore, L., Hailemikael, S., Falcucci, E., Gori, S. and Milana, G., 2017. Seismic amplification in a fractured rock site. The case study of San Gregorio (L'Aquila, Italy). Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C, 98, pp.90-106.
- Pischiutta, M., Villani, F., D'Amico, S., Vassallo, M., Cara, F., Di Naccio, D., Farrugia, D., Di Giulio, G., Amoroso, S., Cantore, L. and Mercuri, A., 2017. Results from shallow geophysical investigations in the northwestern sector of the island of Malta. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C, 98, pp.41-48.
- Hailemikael, S., Milana, G., Cara, F., Vassallo, M., Pischiutta, M., Amoroso, S., Bordoni, P., Cantore, L., Di Giulio, G., Di Naccio, D. and Famiani, D., 2017. Sub-surface characterization of the Amphiteatrum Flavium Area (Rome, Italy) through single-station ambient vibration measurements. Annals of Geophysics, 60(4), p.0438.
- Amoroso S., Milana G., Rollins, KM, Comina, C., Minarelli L. et al., 2017. The first Italian blast‐induced liquefaction test (Mirabello, Emilia‐Romagna, Italy): Description of the experiment and preliminary results. Annals of Geophysics, 60(5):S0556, https://doi.org/10.4401/ag-7415
2016
- Cultrera, G., D'Alema, E., Amoroso, S., Angioni, B., Bordoni, P., Cantore, L., Cara, F., Caserta, A., Cogliano, R., D' Amico, M. and Di Giulio, G., 2016. Site effect studies following the 2016 Mw 6.0 Amatrice earthquake (Italy): the Emersito Task Force activities. Annals of Geophysics, 59.
- Di Giulio, G., de Nardis, R., Boncio, P., Milana, G., Rosatelli, G., Stoppa, F. and Lavecchia, G., 2016. Seismic response of a deep continental basin including velocity inversion : the Sulmona intramontane basin (Central Apennines, Italy). Geophysical Journal International, 204(1), pp.418-439.
Miscellaneous (International Meeting and Report)
- Milana, G., Cultrera G., Cogliano R., Pucillo S., Riccio G., 2019. Velocity profile report at the seismic stations IT.ATI – Atina (FR), http://hdl.handle.net/2122/12970
- Famiani, D., Cultrera, G., Cara, F., Di Giulio, G., Milana, G., Todrani, A., Vassallo, M., Amoroso, S., Bordoni, P., Cogliano, R and Di Naccio, D., 2019. Site effects estimation and their effects on strong ground motion at Amatrice village (Central Italy). In AGU Fall Meeting 2019.
- Cultrera G., Bordoni P., Casale P., Cara F., Di Giulio G., Famiani D., Ladina C., Pischiutta M., Quintiliani M., Pacor F. and Site Characterization Team (2018). Site characterization database of INGV Italian seismic network. S34 - Developments in Strong Motion Seismology, at COSMOS Session. ESC-S34-872. The European Seismological Commission ESC2018 36th General Assembly, 2-7 Sept. 2018, Valletta, Malta.
- Vassallo, M., Milana G., Di Giulio G., Bordoni P., Cogliano R., Fodarella A., Pucillo S., Riccio G., 2018, Velocity profile report at the seismic stations IV.IOCA and IT. CML - Casamicciola Terme, Ischia, doi: 10.5281/zenodo.2281844, doi: 10.5281/zenodo.2281845
- P. Bordoni, F. Pacor, P. Casale, G. Cultrera, F. Cara, G. Di Giulio, D. Famiani, C. Ladina, M. Pischiutta, M. Quintiliani, and the Site Character Team (2017) . Site characterization of the national seismic network of Italy. European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly, Vienna, Austria, April 2017. In EGU 2017 General Assembly Abstracts (Vol. 19, p. 18604).
- Cultrera, G., Famiani, D., Milana, G., Amoroso, S., Angioni, B., Bordoni, P., Cara, F., Cogliano, R., D'Amico, M., Di Giulio , G. and Di Naccio, D., 2017. EMERSITO operational group - seismic event ISCHIA 2017: Report n. 1 23/08/2017.
dissemination
- Participation to the exhibition “Beware of the elements! Details that save lives”, Grottaminarda (AV), 22 November 2019 - 31 January 2020,
- Scientific partner in the framework of the Ruritage project (Heritage for Rural Regeneration https://www.ruritage.eu/project/, Horizon 2020). A pair of seismic stations (in borehole and at surface) was installed in the municipality hub of Appignano del Tronto, (AP, Italy), 13-14 November 2019, http://www.adriaticonews.it/2019/11/15/appignano-del-tronto-citta-resiliente-si-lavora-allaction-plan/
- Training Course Order of Geologists of Lazio, "Non-invasive techniques to support local seismic response studies", Rome, Sala INGV, 16-5-2019
- Meeting with the school " Colecchi-Da Vinci L'Aquila Surveyors Institute", Seismic Microzonation Seminar, 22 February 2019, http://www.ilcapoluogo.it/2019/03/07/microzonazione-sismica-ricostruzione-e-pianificazione-territoriale-allistituto-per-i-geometri/
- INGV Open Day - "Earthquakes between memory and prevention", INGV, 20 January 2019
- Pint of Science L'Aquila 2018, Cafè Garibaldi "The seismology of bins: from a small-scale experiment to seismic microzonation", 14 May 2018 https://pintofscience.it/event/la-sismologia-dei-bidoni-da-un-esperimento-a-piccola-scala-alla-microzonazione-sismica
- INGV initiative "Together to live with earthquakes" in Amatrice (29/10/2017)
- "Open doors to INGV: one year after the Amatrice-Visso-Norcia seismic sequence", INGV of Rome (24/08/2017)
- Participation to “European Researchers' Night ” in L'Aquila within SHARPER project (EU Project within Marie Skłodowska-Curie Horizon 2020 - GA 722981): 25/09/2015, 30/09/2016, 29/09/2017, 28 /9/2018, 27/9/2019