Towards an integrated field and EO-based approach for monitoring peri-urban slope instability

The problem of peri-urban landslide hazard assessment is discussed considering the case of Caramanico Terme, a holiday resort located in Central Italy in a geomorhologically complex area affected by a relevant seismic activity. The case studied shows that in socio-economically important areas subject to rapid natural and man-made changes, landslide hazards may often need to be assessed on an individual slope scale. This may require not only detailed reviews of historical data and field observations, but also i) detecting and measuring slope movements and ii) monitoring slide causative/triggering factors. This approach offers the potential for a more reliable hazard assessment and for reducing uncertainties that might be unacceptable to property owners and local administrators. It has also the advantage of providing quantitative information for deterministic modelling and for designing preventive or remedial measures.