Tdr Procedures for Slope Stability and Hydraulic Regime Condition Monitoring

The geomorphological hazard assessment of areas heavily exposed to hydrogeological instability is dealt with the implementation of low-cost and not invasive procedures based on specific applications of TDR (Time Domain Reflectometry), which allow data on slope stability and level of soil moisture to be acquired. The proposed procedure is depicted on the implementation of an expert system for real-time monitoring of slope stability, with early warning thresholds, based on suitable geophysical surveys carried out in the study area and data acquired by a TDR network of stations appropriately placed in the territory, provided with deformation and soil moisture sensors. The acquired data and surveys will allow, however, different types of instability and main geometric and kinematic characteristics, necessary for assessing the potential damage and arranging specific risk mitigation tools to be identified. It has been provided a significant application in the city of Francavilla di Sicilia, in the province of Messina (Italy), the city with the highest level of hydrogeological vulnerability in Sicily.