A Model for Managing Geological and Geophysical Data in Eastern Sicily (Italy) and Possible Applications

Abstract

The main aim of this work is to describe in detail how to develop an instrument, with the goal of collecting and managing a great deal of both geological and geophysical data acquired using different survey typologies in Eastern Sicily (Italy). The opportunity to manage different categories of data, at the same time, allows us to have a complete view of the complex area studied. This paper discusses a software package that has been designed to enhance the efficiency of applying a range of geological and geophysical data. More than 12000 records are archived: boreholes represent 81% of the data and 19% is geophysical data. In this paper it is illustrated how both kinds of data, thanks to the functionalities of the database and the possibility of connecting to a Geographical Information System (GIS), can be used in a variety of different geological studies. We present four studies where is relevant the use of the database, in detail, we show a morpho-structural study, an examination of the spectral analysis of the noise data, an update of the geological and geotechnical maps, and a classification of the areas on the basis of the distribution of the shear wave velocity in the firsts 30 meters (Vs30). They are just some examples of the potentialities of a relational database.

Share and Cite:

Partescano, E. (2014) A Model for Managing Geological and Geophysical Data in Eastern Sicily (Italy) and Possible Applications. Journal of Computer and Communications, 2, 67-77. doi: 10.4236/jcc.2014.214007.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1] Chang, Y. and Park, H.D. (2004) Development of a Web-Based Geographic Information System for the Management of Borehole and Geological Data. Computers & Geosciences, 30, 887-897.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cageo.2004.07.006
[2] Marsh, R. (2003) A Database of Archived Drilling Records of the Drill Cuttings Piles at the North West Hutton Oil Platform. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 46, 587-593.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0025-326X(03)00041-9
[3] Alberico, I., Petrosino, P., Zeni, G., D’Andrea, F. and Lirer, L. (2005) GEOCITY: A Drill-Hole Database as a Tool to Assess Geological Hazard in Napoli Urban Area. Environmental Geology, 47, 751-762. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00254-004-1199-5
[4] Laxton, J.L. and Becken, K. (1996) The Design and Implementation of a Spatial Database for the Production of Geological Maps. Computers & Geosciences, 22, 723-733.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0098-3004(95)00128-X
[5] Hughes, D.A. and Forsyth, D.A. (2006) A Generic Database and Spatial Interface for the Application of Hydrological and Water Resource Models. Computers & Geosciences, 32, 1389-1402.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cageo.2005.12.013
[6] Partescano, E. (2012) Geodatabase: A Tool for Managing Geological and Geophysical Data. Rend. Online Soc. Geol. It., 21, 729-730
[7] Catalano, S., Romagnoli, G. and Tortorici, G. (2010) Kinematics and Dynamics of the Late Quaternary Rift-Flank Deformation in the Hyblean Plateau (SE Sicily). Tectonophysics, 486, 1-14.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2010.01.013
[8] Dewey, J.F., Helman, M.L., Turco, E., Hutton, D.H.W. and Knott, S.D. (1989) Kinematics of the Western Mediterranean. Alpine Tectonics, Geological Society Special Publications, 45, 265-283.
[9] Serpelloni, E., Vannucci, G., Pondrelli, S., Argnani, A., Casula, G., Anzidei, M., Baldi, P. and Gasperini, P. (2007) Kinematics of the Western Africa-Eurasia Plates Boundary from Focal Mechanisms and GPS Data. Geophysical Journal International, 169, 1180-1200.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-246X.2007.03367.x
[10] Monaco, C. and Tortorici, L. (2000) Active Faulting in the Calabrian Arc and Eastern Sicily. Journal of Geodynamics, 29, 407-424. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0264-3707(99)00052-6
[11] Monaco, C., Catalano, S., De Guidi, G., Gresta, S., Langer, H. and Tortorici, L. (2000) The Geological Map of the Urban Area of Catania (Eastern Sicily): Morphotectonic and Seismotectonic Implications. Memorie Società Geologica Italiana, 55, 425-438.
[12] Catalano, S. and De Guidi, G. (2003) Late Quaternary Uplift of Northeastern Sicily: Relation with the Active Normal Faulting Deformation. Journal of Geodynamics, 36, 445-467.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0264-3707(02)00035-2
[13] Catalano, S., De Guidi, G., Romagnoli, G., Torrisi, S., Tortorici, G. and Tortorici, L. (2008) The Migration of Plate Boundaries in SE Sicily: Influence on the Large Scale Kinematic Model of the African Promontory in Southern Italy. Tectonophysics, 449, 41-62.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2007.12.003
[14] Di Stefano, A. and Branca, S. (2002) Long-Term Uplift Rate of the Etna Volcano Basement (Southern Italy) Based on Biochronological Data from Pleistocene Sediments. Terra Nova, 14, 61-68.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-3121.2002.00389.x
[15] Monaco, C., Bianca, M., Catalano, S., De Guidi, G. and Tortorici, L. (2002) Sudden Change in the Late Quaternary Tectonic Regime in Eastern Sicily: Evidences from Geological and Geomorphological Features. Bollettino Società Geologica Italiana, 1, 901-913.
[16] Catalano, S., De Guidi, G., Tortorici, G. and Tortorici, L. (2003) Long-Term Behaviour of the Late Quaternary Normal Faults in the Straits of Messina Area (Calabrian Arc): Structural and Morphological Constraints. Quaternary International, 102, 81-91.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1040-6182(02)00091-5
[17] Monaco, C., Antonioli, F., De Guidi, G., Lambeck, K., Tortorici, L. and Verrubbi, V. (2004) Holocene Tectonic Uplift of the Catania Plain (Eastern Sicily). Quaternaria Nova, 8, 171-185.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2006.05.003
[18] Antonioli, F., Ferranti, L., Lambeck, K., Kershaw, S., Verrubbi, V. and Dai Pra, G. (2006) Late Pleistocene to Holocene Record of Changing Uplift Rates in Southern Calabria and Northeastern Sicily (Southern Italy, Central Mediterranean Sea). Tectonophysics, 422, 23-40.
[19] Castellaro, S., Mulargia, F. and Bianconi, L. (2005) Passive Seismic Stratigraphy: A New Efficient, Fast and Economic Technique. Geologia Tecnica e Ambiente, 3, 76-102.
[20] Castellaro, S. and Mulargia, F. (2009) VS30 Estimates Using Constrained H/V Measurements. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 99, 761-773. http://dx.doi.org/10.1785/0120080179
[21] Neteler, M. and Mitasova, H. (2004) Open Source GIS: A Grass Gis Approach. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Boston, 424 p.
[22] Monaco, C., De Guidi, G., Catalano, S., Ferlito, C., Tortorici, G. and Tortorici, L. (2008) The Morphotectonic Map of Mt. Etna. Rendiconti Online Societa Geologica Italiana, 1, 217-218.
[23] Graci, G. and Sedazzari, M. (2008) GIS e Ambiente. Dario Flaccovio Editore, Palermo, 270 p.
[24] Decreto Ministeriale del 14/01/2008. Norme Tecniche per le Costruzioni.

Copyright © 2023 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.

Creative Commons License

This work and the related PDF file are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.