The Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) and City of Siena They have signed a scientific collaboration agreement aimed at deepening their knowledge of the geological and seismic characteristics of the municipal territory.
The collaboration will focus on seismic-tectonic study of the Siena area, through the integration of surface geological surveys, urban subsurface investigations, and analysis of geological, seismological, and historical data. The activities will aim to reconstruct the area's geological-structural structure, identify and characterize the faults potentially responsible for the major earthquakes that have struck Siena, and identify any seismic-induced phenomena.
A significant role will be played by exploration of loot - the ancient network of underground tunnels that collects and conveys water to Siena's public fountains - and other cavities in the city. In addition to their historical and cultural value, these spaces offer a direct opportunity to observe the geological characteristics of the urban subsoil.
The collected data will contribute to the definition of the geometric-kinematic parameters of the faults responsible for the historical earthquakes in the Siena area. The related seismogenic sources can then be proposed for inclusion in the Database of Individual Seismogenic Sources (DISS), created and managed by INGV.
The research program is particularly relevant for Siena, whose territory is characterized by documented historical seismicity and is classified in seismic zone 3The acquisition of new scientific knowledge could contribute to the assessment of local seismic hazard, to the updating of municipal civil protection planning and to urban planning choices, while at the same time promoting the conservation of the historic center, recognized UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The agreement also provides training activities for municipal personnel involved in civil protection and scientific communication and dissemination initiatives aimed at citizens.
The agreement governs the collaboration and data exchange procedures between the two institutions, integrating the INGV's scientific expertise with the technical and documentary expertise of the Municipality of Siena. Access to the vaults and other underground spaces will be in compliance with occupational health and safety regulations, with particular attention to the risks associated with confined spaces.
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Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV)
Photo 1 - Panoramic view of Siena, with the Torre del Mangia towering on the left and the Duomo on the right.
Photo 2 - Acquisition of geological data inside the underground galleries of the bottini.
Photo 3 - Geologists at work inside a loot box.