Integration of constrained electrical and seismic tomographies to study the landslide affecting the cathedral of Agrigento

Integrated geophysical techniques reveal the complex subsurface structures underlying landslides at Agrigento's Cathedral of Saint Gerland, providing critical insights for stabilization efforts. The study combined 2D electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), seismic refraction tomography (SRT), microtremor analysis, and surface wave soundings to map lithological layers, fractures, and cavities affecting the hillside. By constraining geophysical data with stratigraphic information from boreholes, researchers constructed robust 3D models of electrical resistivity and P-wave velocity, elucidating the sliding processes that threaten the cathedral and adjacent Archaeological Park. These findings offer a foundation for targeted landslide consolidation works to preserve this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Capizzi, P., & Martorana, R. (2014). Integration of constrained electrical and seismic tomographies to study the landslide affecting the cathedral of Agrigento. Journal of Geophysics and Engineering, 11(4). https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-2132/11/4/045009