A field data acquisition method and tools for hazard evaluation of earthquake-induced landslides with open source mobile GIS

Abstract

The PARSIFAL (Probabilistic Approach to pRovide Scenarios of earthquake Induced slope FAiLures) method was applied to the survey of post-earthquake landslides in central Italy for seismic microzonation purposes. In order to optimize time and resources, while also reducing errors, the paper-based method of survey data sheets was translated into digital formats using such instruments as Tablet PCs, GPS and open source software (QGIS). To the base mapping consisting of Technical Regional Map (Carta Tecnica Regionale—CTRs) at the scale of 1:10,000, layers were added with such sensitive information as the Inventory of Landslide Phenomena in Italy (Inventario dei Fenomeni Franosi in Italia—IFFI), for example. A database was designed and implemented in the SQLite/SpatiaLite Relational DataBase Management System (RDBMS) to store data related to such elements as landslides, rock masses, discontinuities and covers (as provided by PARSIFAL). To facilitate capture of the datum on the ground, data entry forms were created with Qt Designer. In addition to this, the employment of some QGIS plug-ins, developed for digital surveying and enabling of quick annotations on the map and the import of images from external cameras, was found to be of considerable use.