Automatic identification of sites prone to topographic seismic amplification effects by the current seismic codes

Abstract

Current seismic codes provide proxies to estimate seismic amplification effects expected in correspondence of some morphological features. To make possible any empirical validation of these proxies, these features must be univocally identified on the basis of an automatic procedure. To this purpose, based on geomorphological considerations, a GIS-based numerical approach has been developed. The results of a morphometric analysis allowed the correct identification and mapping of the landforms of concern, at a detail corresponding to the resolution of the available digital elevation model (DEM). Some case-studies are provided to show the feasibility of the proposed approach.