The PROMISE Project: An integrated approach for mitigation of flowslide risk – Preliminary results from the Salerno Test Site

¹ University of Naples ‘Federico II’, Department of Civil, Building and Environmental Engineering, Via Claudio 21, Naples, Italy
² University of Trento, Civil Environmental and Mechanical Engineering Department, Via Mesiano 77, Trento, Italy
³ University of Rome Tor Vergata, Department of Civil Engineering and Computer Engineering, Via del Politecnico 1, Rome, Italy

^* Corresponding author: marianna.pirone@unina.it

Abstract

Flow-like landslides are a significant global hazard, threatening human life and causing extensive damage to structures and infrastructure. These events often occur on slopes composed of partially saturated soils and are typically triggered by intense rainfall, which reduces matric suction and, consequently, soil shear strength. Despite advancements in identifying key predisposing factors and preparatory factors, interpreting the mechanisms that trigger flow-like landslides remains challenging. The PROMISE project, ‘Integrated appPROach for MItigation of flowSlidE risk: full-scale test and advanced numerical modelling’ aims to address this gap. Its objective is to design and implement a full-scale test involving the application of an artificially induced critical rainfall event on an instrumented soil slope, with the aim of analyzing the hydro-mechanical response under failure conditions and validate a numerical predictive model. The study focuses on an area within the Lattari Mountains (Campania Region, Italy), historically affected by high-risk flow-like landslides. Specifically, the investigation area is located in a limestone quarry owned by ITALSUD Srl, situated in the municipality of Salerno, to the east of the Lattari Mountains. This paper presents preliminary results from the geological and geotechnical investigation of the area, along with the initial field monitoring data collected under natural weather conditions.