A Multidisciplinary, Innovative, and Traditional Investigation Approach to Preserve a Historic Center Affected by Complex Landslides

This study focuses on evaluating slope stability in the historical center of Caulonia, located in the Calabria Region of Southern Italy. Caulonia is positioned in a geologically intricate area characterized by a Miocene succession of “varicoloured clays” at the base, overlain by conglomerates, sandstones, and pelites. Landslide events have been triggered by several factors, including seismic activity (such as the 1783 earthquake), heavy rainfall, and anthropogenic factors. To identify the most effective risk mitigation strategies for protecting key historical structures, a multidisciplinary approach was employed. Innovative techniques, including using UAVs, were utilized to reconstruct the area’s current topography, while ground deformation analysis using Differential Interferometry SAR (DInSAR) was performed by processing COSMO-SkyMed satellite images acquired between 2015 and 2021. This analysis helped identify the historical movement patterns of landslides. Additionally, geological, geomorphological, geotechnical, and geophysical surveys contributed to defining a geotechnical failure model. Combining these traditional and innovative methods has proven effective in understanding the complex landslide dynamics and developing interventions to preserve the village’s historical landmarks.