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Laboratory Details

Ventotene Field Laboratory

The Ventotene Field Laboratory is located on Ventotene Island, at the Punta Eolo promontory, near the Imperial Roman archaeological site of Villa di Giulia (1st century BC). This unique setting, where remains of significant archaeological interest coexist with a dynamic marine environment, makes the laboratory an international reference point for the study of evolutionary processes in rocky coastal areas. The primary objective of the Ventotene Field Laboratory is to investigate the preparatory and triggering factors leading to landslide phenomena—such as rock falls and rocktopples—along rocky coastlines. In these settings, the continuous action of atmospheric and marine factors promotes rapid evolutionary dynamics, frequently occurring through successive episodes of instability in natural systems. This research’s core is represented by the multiparametric and multisensor monitoring of atmospheric conditions, marine factors, and deformation of the outcropping rock mass. This approach aims to understand how factors such as air and rock temperature, rainfalls, and, in particular, sea waves can influence the long-term evolution of unstable cliff sectors. The monitoring system is focused on a rock block predisposed to toppling due to the presence of three subvertical discontinuities. The combined analysis of the role played by preparatory and triggering factors is crucial for understanding the driving mechanisms of rock instabilities. One of the key innovative aspects of the Ventotene Field Laboratory is the continuous monitoring of sea waves, which includes measuring parameters such as wave height, period, velocity, as well as the pressure exerted by waves against the coastal cliff at each impact. These observations will allow for a detailed characterization of nearshore wave dynamics and enhance our understanding of their impact on coastal cliff stability. The monitoring infrastructure consists of a network of multisensor and multiparametric instruments powered by solar panels, ensuring the system’s energy self-sufficiency. The data collected are transmitted in real time to a proprietary Cloud IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) platform managed by the Department of Earth Sciences at Sapienza University of Rome. Through this approach, researchers can remotely access data for analysis, processing, instrument calibration, as well as evaluate the monitored block’s conditions in near-real-time.



Domain

Geo-energy test beds


Organization name

Sapienza University of Rome


Address

4031
Ventotene (LT)
Italy


Location