Integrating geophysical methods, InSAR, and field observations to address geological hazards and buried archaeological features in urban landscapes

Abstract

This study addresses the limited application of integrated geophysical and remote sensing methods in detecting and characterizing underground voids in volcanic settings, while literature primarily focused on karst sinkholes. It investigates a collapse-affected area near the historical center of Civita Castellana (Viterbo, Italy), where volcanic deposits and subsurface cavities were identified through boreholes and field surveys. The study aims to estimate the spatial configuration of hypogeal environments using non-invasive surface and near-surface geophysical techniques. A multi-scale and multi-source approach was employed, integrating electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), ground penetrating radar (GPR), and (interferometric synthetic aperture radar) InSAR. ERT, using a dipole-dipole configuration across four profiles with 1 m inter-electrode spacing, revealed high-resistivity anomalies (>400 Ohm·m) linked to buried cavities at depths of 2–6 m. The largest void spans approximately 4 m² with resistivity values exceeding 900 Ohm·m. GPR surveys, performed with a 100 MHz antenna along 10 transects, corroborated ERT results by delineating subsurface discontinuities and void geometries down to 10 m depth. InSAR provided large-scale subsidence patterns, highlighting localized zones with downward displacement rates up to −10.0 mm/year, aligning with geophysical findings and suggesting a continuous cave network contributing to surface instability. The results underscore the effectiveness of combining ERT, GPR, and InSAR for detecting underground voids in urbanized volcanic settings. This integration enables precise delineation of subsurface geometries and enhances risk assessment. The findings have considerable implications for urban planning, hazard mitigation, and cultural heritage preservation, offering critical insights into hypogeal environments in archaeologically and historically significant areas.