How to cite: Capobianco, V., Palau Berastegui, R. M., Gisnås, K., Gilbert, G., and Solheim, A.: Enhancing Nordic infrastructure resilience via Nature-based Solutions: a review , EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-18813, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-18813, 2025.

Optical fiber technology has emerged as a remarkable tool for groundwater monitoring. It provides high-resolution spatial and temporal data alongside exceptional sensitivity. Increasingly applied to monitor groundwater parameters such as pressure, temperature, flow, and contamination levels, this technology provides a comprehensive framework for real-time hazard assessment and risk management by integrating geotechnical and environmental variables. This study focuses on the San Lorenzo tunnel, a site characterized by significant water inflows that pose substantial hydrogeological challenges. The primary objective is to monitor these inflows closely and develop effective risk mitigation strategies. Preliminary investigations have shown that the rock mass enclosing the tunnel is highly fractured, resulting in substantial water ingress, particularly during heavy rainfall. While water in the tunnel is well-documented, the precise localization and timing of these inflows remain inadequately understood. Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) was employed to address these gaps to monitor water inflows and temperature variations along approximately 700 meters of the tunnel. Temperature data were combined with conductivity measurements to infer the origin of the aquifers. Initial findings suggest the presence of at least two independent aquifers, potentially fed by a common upstream source. Three types of optical fibers were installed along the tunnel. The function of these fibers is to detect both the presence and temperature of inflows of water that are intercepted and channeled into conduits. This study aims to detect and assess the location of inflows along the tunnel, temporal and spatial evolution of the water accumulation and discharge associated with external meteorological events. By correlating these observations with environmental variables such as rainfall, snowmelt, groundwater levels, and the discharge of nearby springs, we seek to refine the hydrogeological conceptual model and evaluate the feasibility of extending the draining tunnel as a mitigation measure. This research demonstrates an innovative application of fiber optic technology to monitor subsurface water flow. It contributes to hydrogeological risk mitigation in the San Lorenzo tunnel and advances our understanding of groundwater dynamics in complex fractured rock environments.

How to cite: Ballaera, A., Fullin, N., Marcato, G., Schenato, L., Vorlicek, L., and Borgatti, L.: Distributed Temperature Sensing for hydrogeological risk mitigation in the San Lorenzo tunnel, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-5973, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-5973, 2025.

Nature-based slope stabilization offers a sustainable solution to enhance the climate resilience of long linear infrastructures in Thailand's changing climate. This approach integrates local species such as vetiver grass with biochar-amended soil, erosion control blankets, capillary barrier systems, and flexible bioengineering structures—including vegetated flapped soil bags and micro screw piles. This combination effectively improves erosion control, slope stability, and movement tolerance while fostering vegetation growth and promoting biodiversity.

However, the adaptive and continuously growing nature of these living systems necessitates in-depth investigation of their mechanical and hydraulic behaviours. This study emphasizes the critical role of IoT-based monitoring systems in delivering early landslide warnings and assessing the performance of nature-based slope stabilization. Key parameters include pore-water pressure, suction, slope deformation which are then used to estimate the performance metrics for geotechnical stability and water demand.

Field data from various bio-stabilized slopes across Thailand—collected through tensiometers, tiltmeters, inclinometers—demonstrate the system's efficacy. The integration of advanced technologies, such as remote sensing and NASA's Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission, is also discussed, highlighting future research directions in enhancing slope stability and resilience. Potential carbon credit gains are also discussed by means of root mass measurement and evapotranspiration flux.

How to cite: Jotisankasa, A., Praphatsorn, W., Tanyacharoen, K., Siriyakorn, V., Nishimura, S., Sanukool, W., Sukjaroen, B., and Thiampak, S.: Smart IoT Monitoring System for Nature-Based Slope Stabilization, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-5326, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-5326, 2025.

Since the early 2000s, advancements in remote sensing technologies have enabled the acquisition of increasingly extensive and sophisticated datasets. These technological advances emphasize the critical need for effective and efficient methods of data communication and visualization. This study examines the uncertainties inherent in model’s reconstruction and demonstrates how mixed reality (MR) systems can be an important tool in address complex geological challenges by enabling the visualization of intricate datasets with important detail and user engagement.

This research focuses on the challenges associated with creating true digital twins and the application of MR in visualizing multi-sensor remote sensing and monitoring data. The study uses the CNR ID 3 landslide in the Friuli Region (UD) as a test site, using decades of investigation and monitoring data. A conceptual workflow is presented, detailing the processes of data retrieval, interpretation, and landslide morphology reconstruction, culminating in final visualization through MR headsets.

These innovative tools have the potential to significantly improve the capacity of local authorities and stakeholders to comprehend complex spatial interactions. By fostering collaboration with scientists, they facilitate more informed and effective decision-making processes, considering the unknowns properly. 

*financed by the European Union, Next Generation EU, Mission 4 Component 1 CUP B53D23006960006

How to cite: Fullin, N., Ballaera, A., Donati, D., Lambertini, A., Festi, P., Marcato, G., and Francioni, M.: Can we still talk about digital twins in engineering geology? An overview to the Passo della Morte (UD) landslide and mixed reality application. , EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-6332, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-6332, 2025.

Abstract
Current research interest in geotechnical design for climate change adaptation focuses on
utilizing waste materials for slope stability against rainfall-induced failures. Therefore, steel
slag and recycled concrete were integrated into the retaining wall, known as the GeoBarrier
system (GBS), to prevent such failures. The present study investigated the feasibility of steel
slag as a coarse-grained material and recycled concrete as a fine-grained material within
GBS. Index properties, soil-water characteristic curves, permeability functions, and
unsaturated shear strength parameters of steel slag and recycled concrete were determined via
comprehensive experimental works. Numerical assessments of the rainfall infiltration into the
slope and the stability of the slope under rainfall conditions were accomplished using the
SEEP/W and SLOPE/W analysis tools, respectively. According to the findings, no
breakthrough into the steel slag was observed inside the GBS. Based upon the changes in the
pore-water pressure and the factor of safety (FOS) versus time graphs, steel slag and recycled
concrete were found to be suitable for use as coarse- and fine-grained layers of the GBS to
minimize slope rainwater infiltration and improve the FOS of a slope with a height of 10 m
and an inclination of 70°, respectively.

Keywords: GeoBarrier system (GBS); rainfall; slope stability; unsaturated soil; waste
materials

How to cite: Abishev, R., Satyanaga, A., Moon, S.-W., and Kim, J.: GeoBarrier System incorporating Recycled Concrete and Steel Slag for Slope Protection, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-616, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-616, 2025.

Earthen levees are one of the main structural measures against flooding in floodplain areas; however, these structures can fail due to different mechanisms. From the risk point of view, the construction of embarkments might paradoxically increase the overall risk because of a general decrease in flood hazard perception by the exposed population and urban planner (Castellarin et al., 2011). For this reason, ample research has been focused on studying the physical process affecting the levees during a flood event, such as overtopping and seepage/piping (Deverel et al., 2016; Palladino et al., 2019). Specifically, the piping process is very hazardous because it is not openly visible and, therefore, is hard to identify before the failure. Nevertheless, evaluating the vulnerability to seepage for different flood events affecting the earthen levee is fundamental to support territorial planning and risk management in quasi-real-time. In this context, the present work proposes a procedure to calculate the correlation between the probability of levee failure due to seepage process and the probability of occurrence of the flood event affecting the embankment. The vulnerability to seepage is quantified by identifying the saturation line location in the levee through the a two-dimensional numerical model SEEP/W. The analysis is carried out for flood events characterized by a different probability of occurrence estimated by applying a procedure based on stochastic generation of precipitation and temperature time series and continuous hydrological modelling. The proposed procedure is applied to an experimental levee located along the Tatarena stream, in central Italy. The results show that, as expected, the vulnerability increases while the magnitude of the flood increases, i.e. the probability of occurrence decreases, with increments in the range 5-10% for flood duration between 12-24 hours. In particular, 48 hours lasting flood waves are identified as the ones producing a huge increase of the levee vulnerability that is found to rise from 35% to 75%.

Castellarin, A., Di Baldassare, G., Brath. (2011). A floodplain management strategy for flood attenuation in the River Po. River Res. Appl. 27 (8), 1037–1047.

Deverel, S. J, Bachand, S., Brandenberg, S. J, Jones, C. E, Stewart, J. P, & Zimmaro, P. (2016). Factors and Processes Affecting Delta Levee System Vulnerability. San Francisco Estuary and Watershed Science, 14(4). doi: https://doi.org/10.15447/sfews.2016v14iss4art3.

Palladino M.R., Barbetta S., Camici S., Claps P., Moramarco T. (2020). ‘Impact of animal burrows on earthen levee body vulnerability to seepage’, J Flood Risk Management.2020;13 (Suppl. 1): e12559, https://doi.org/10.1111/jfr3.12559.

How to cite: Barbetta, S., Bonaccorsi, B., Ciabatta, L., Dionigi, M., and Aronica, G. T.: On the correlation between earthen levees' vulnerability to seepage and flood events probability of occurrence, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-8173, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-8173, 2025.

In a climate-changing world, flood events represent one of the most impactful natural hazards, causing severe damage to people and infrastructures. Railway systems are critical infrastructures, susceptible to both structural damage and service disruptions. This study leverages a methodology capable of identifying and classifying paths along the railway system that are vulnerable to fluvial flood hazard and debris-flows. The methodology adopted is DEM-based and suitable for large-scale applications. We hereby focus on Italian Railway Network (IRN) and we consider three flood hazard scenarios, H1 (return period, Tr, up to 500 years), H2 (Tr = 100-200 years) and H3 (Tr = 20-50 years), as defined by the EU Flood Directive and the National Flood Risk Management Plans (FRMP). More specifically, the official FRMP data with national coverage and updated to 2020 are here employed. Across Italy, 26%, 19% and 10% of the IRN is exposed to low, medium and high hazard scenarios (H1, H2 and H3, respectively). To analyze this exposure, we discretize the railway system into sections (average length of 2.53 km) and assess their interaction with flood hazard maps. For each flooded stretch, we characterize the upstream basin using key hydrological parameters, including time of concentration, sub-basin area, river slope, and the presence of debris-flows, as influenced by topography-related triggering thresholds. Based on these parameters, we identified three distinct flood types affecting railroad segments: Very Steep River (VSR) portions characterized by steep slopes and fast hydrological response, Rapid River (RR) stretches with fast-responding watercourses, and Slow River (SR) sections. Each type includes a debris-flow classification determined by the contributing basin's morphological characteristics. The analysis of these flood types reveals that RR floods are predominant, representing 67% of the analyzed flood-prone sections, while SR and VSR floods account for 20% and 13%, respectively. A nationwide dataset is compiled, processed and analyzed in order to provide a comprehensive overview of the IRN affected by floods. This analysis represents a significant step forward in enhancing our understanding of flood dynamics and exposure analysis of railway infrastructure, thereby contributing to more informed decision-making processes in flood risk management and disaster mitigation efforts.

How to cite: Lelli, G., Ceola, S., Domeneghetti, A., and Brath, A.: Rail2Flood: A nationwide classification of floodhazard exposure along the Italian Railway Network, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-874, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-874, 2025.

River crossings are vulnerable to extreme flood events, which pose significant risks to both linear infrastructure functioning and surrounding communities. The proper functioning of bridges is crucial for preventing cascading effects on populations, ensuring the mobility of emergency response teams, and facilitating the evacuation of residents during critical events. As vital links between communities on opposite banks of the river, bridge safety has significant implications for social and economic stability.

Hydraulic phenomena account for over 50% of bridge failures (e.g. Xiong et al., 2023), and scouring around piers and abutments always causes serious damages if adequate foundation depth is not provided in the design. Lacks in scientific and technical knowledges have led in the past to inadequate piers and foundations, and this issue, combined with the increased frequency of hazardous events due to the climate change, amplifies the risk of failure.

A robust prediction of scour evolution up to its maximum depth is fundamental for understanding and forecasting bridge failures, as well as for properly managing infrastructure in the context of climate change. Here, the physical processes governing scour evolution, specifically the temporal behavior of flow field and shear stress, have been thoroughly analyzed by combining physical modeling of sediment-flow-structures interaction with numerical simulations.

The experiments have been developed in a rectangular flume 1 m wide and 15 m long, using quite uniform sands (median grain size d₅₀=0.4 mm) to simulate the riverbed. Experiments of different duration were developed under steady state clear water conditions and adhering to Shields similitude to obtain the scour evolution over time around circular piers. Numerical simulations were developed using 3D CFD software to accurately reproduce the coherent turbulent structures around the pier at scour depths obtained from physical experiments.

This approach, combining and interconnecting physical and numerical experiments, enhances our understanding of how climate change and the consequent increase in flood event frequency impact on the temporal evolution of flow field and shear stresses as the scour progresses. This improved comprehension of the phenomena is crucial for the management of existing bridges that may have been inadequately designed in the past, as well as for the design of new structures.

How to cite: Giaretta, P. and Salandin, P.: Modeling Local Scour Dynamics to Assess Existing Bridge Resilience in the Context of Climate Change, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-10530, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-10530, 2025.

Mountainous regions, due to their topographical characteristics, require a high density of bridges to connect road and railway infrastructures that support human activities. Climate change exacerbates the intensity and frequency of extreme events, seriously threatening bridge safety and infrastructure availability.

Among various hazards, debris flows are one of the most destructive phenomena in Alpine regions. Their destructive nature is due to the high velocities they achieve, the large volumes of sediment they mobilize, and the significant impact forces they exert on any obstacles in their path. When debris flows impact bridges, they often result in destruction. The unpredictability of these events, coupled with inadequate early warning systems and the huge amount of materials involved, frequently leads to loss of human life and significant economic damage.

Bridge piers, due to their location in stream beds, are extremely vulnerable to the impulsive nature of sediment flows and are subjected to the most severe impact forces. Understanding the thrust generated by debris flows on bridge structures is essential for designing works capable of withstanding their impact. This knowledge is crucial for defining appropriate design methodologies for bridges, accurately accounting for the dynamic forces exerted on piers.

This study presents a new experimental apparatus designed to provide accurate information on the dynamic thrust of stony debris flows on bridge piers. The debris flow is simulated in a tilted canal measuring 3 m in length and 0.3 m in width. A model bridge pier and associated impulsive force measuring equipment are installed at the channel's end section. Strategically placed sonar sensors along the canal, combined with pressure sensors and load cells, enable a comprehensive characterization of the debris flows that is triggered by suddenly releasing a pre-set water discharge onto a layer of previously saturated erodible material.

The results from the physical model experiments enabled a systematic study of the magnitude of dynamic forces acting on piers of various shapes and how these forces are influenced by the different physical parameters characteristic of debris flows. Analysis of the collected data provided insights that allow for an assessment of the predictive formulas proposed in the literature. This leads to a deeper understanding of the risk of mountain bridge damage, which is increasingly affected by debris flows in the present context of climate change.

How to cite: Cao, A., Giaretta, P., and Salandin, P.: Predicting Mountain Bridge Damage from Increasing Frequency of Debris Flow Dynamic Impacts, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-12594, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-12594, 2025.