Testing Geographical Methodology and Tools for the Study of Territories Damaged by Earthquakes. The Case of L’Aquila and Other Localities Three Years after the April 6th 2009 Event

Cristiano Pesaresi, Gianluca Casagrande, Riccardo Morri

Dipartimento di Scienze Documentarie, Linguistico-Filologiche e Geografiche, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Geographic Research and Application Laboratory, European University of Rome, Rome, Italy.

DOI: 10.4236/ijg.2013.41001                

Abstract

In this paper, we discuss a geographical methodology supported by specific geo-technologies which we are testing for the study of territories damaged by the L’Aquila earthquake of 6 April 2009 and which can be used in similar situations. Subsequently, we provide an overview of the current situation and make a comparison between some aerial photographs obtained from an overflight in March 2012 and some photos made during our first field study in February 2010, in order to show the work undertaken or not during this period and to substantiate any considerations regarding the choices adopted and the necessary future planning. Moreover, we provide an example of the added value provided by the analysis of aerial photographs in both visible and thermal light for recognizing the provisional non-painted metal roofing of buildings in a post-earthquake urban area. In fact this technique can be useful for the rapid identification of damaged buildings and zones with provisional covering. In the present paper, we focus attention on L’Aquila town centre which provides a significant example of a “City of Stone” almost “minus” the presence of people.

Keywords

L’Aquila Earthquake; Aerial Photographs; City of Men; City of Stone; Community; Damages; Geographical Methodology; Geo-Technologies

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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