The CFTIlandslides, Italian database of historical earthquake-induced landslides

The study of the occurrence and incidence of environmental coseismic phenomena is becoming an increasingly demanding and fundamental need for the seismic hazard evaluation and risk reduction. Landslides triggered by earthquakes are the most diffuse environmental phenomena and can cause significant long-lasting impacts and losses across the area affected by the earthquake shaking. The combination of the relatively frequent seismic release with a very high landslide susceptibility, makes the Italian territory especially prone to the occurrence of earthquake-induced landslides.

The CFTIlandslides (https://cfti.ingv.it/landslides/) is a recently released database of historical earthquake-induced landslides (HEILs) in Italy that includes over 1,000 landslides associated with 140 seismic events. The data are collected from the review of historical sources and the analysis of scientific articles and technical reports and are geographically localized in a GIS environment comparing the historical information with modern topographic datasets and the Italian national inventory of landslides (IFFI database: https://www.progettoiffi.isprambiente.it). Based on these criteria CFTIlandslides is currently the only historical dataset available at a global, regional, and national scale.

The CFTIlandslides was designed as continuously updated repository, and as such it is open to later additions and improvements in future releases. The first version of the database features historical earthquake-induced landslides  subdivided into classes based on location accuracy and type of movement. 

The CFTIlandslides is conceived as a publicly accessible online WebGIS, it has interactive access to external data via web-services. This allows to visualize and compare HEILs localization with other geophysical and geological information. Data can be analyzed using a 3D terrain map. Moreover, the CFTIlandslides data are distributed through OGC web services, and can be downloaded in different file formats.

The HEILs collected in the CFTIlandslides can be used to:

- to develop empirical relationships between landslide density and seismological parameters of the triggering earthquakes at national and regional scales;

- make comparison between earthquake-induced landslides distribution of past and recent earthquakes; 

- perform detailed historical studies of a single landslide or a specific area. 

Therefore, this new dataset is the starting point for new elaborations about the study of earthquake-induced landslides. These results can subsequently be applied to mitigate seismic hazards and reduce risks and build effective strategies for urban planning and emergency management.

The database is addressed to a large audience of potential users and stakeholders, including researchers and scholars, administrators and technicians of local institutions, and civil protection authorities.