Marina De Maio

Politecnico di Torino | polito · DIATI - Department of Environment, Land and Infrastructure Engineering

Water is essential for the survival of all living beings and plays a significant role in the growth of any country′s economy. At present, water depletion and pollution are a serious challenge due to anthropogenic, geogenic and climate change activities worldwide, including in Chile. The Antofagasta region is located in northern Chile and is the hea...

This book includes a careful selection of significant contributions from international experts that were presented at the 6th AIGA Conference “Applied Geology: Approaches to Future Resource Management” that was held in the Courmayeur, Aosta Valley, Italy, from 27 - 29 June 2018. The following 7 areas are the main themes covered in this volume: · Ap...

The aims of the present investigation are to evaluate the chemical controlling factors of the water resources and identify the source, as well as assess its quality with respect to domestic and irrigation criteria, to establish long-term environmental measures and a sustainable water resources management plan in the mountain regions. For these purp...

Groundwater contamination by hexavalent chromium (Cr (VI)) is currently a very serious and challenging issue. Therefore, in the present study, 108 shallow groundwater samples were collected during the years 2012 to 2015 (n = 27 samples each year) from an industrial town (Aosta) to assess the contamination status of the area. To evaluate the Cr (VI)...

In Italy, landslide phenomena and mass movements are very common, particularly along the Alps, the principal mountainous chains in the northern part of the country. In this study, we used a terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) to collect a multi-temporal dataset during 3 years (2012–2014) of observation, with the aim of accurately evaluating these pheno...

The aim of the present study was to assess the sulphate \(({\text{SO}}_{4}^{{2 - }})\) and iron (Fe) contamination and seasonal variations in the water resources (groundwater, surface water, and mine water) of the West Bokaro coalfield region, India. One hundred and twenty-four water resources samples were collected from the coalfield during the po...

New maps of the summit of Mount Etna volcano (1:5000–1:4000), derived from helicopter photogrammetry, thermal images and terrestrial laser scanner survey, are here presented. These maps indicate the main morpho-structural changes occurring during the powerful explosive and effusive eruptions involving the summit craters of Etna over the first two w...

The West Bokaro coalfield is a richest coal-mining belt in the Damodar Valley, India. The extensive mining of the area has resulted in disruption of the groundwater availability in terms of both quantity and quality. This has led to a drinking water crisis, especially during the pre-monsoon period in the West Bokaro coalfield area. The characteriza...

In the present study, groundwater-level monitoring has been carried out on 26 observation dug wells in the Aosta Valley region, Italy, during the dry season (June 2013) and wet season (November 2013) in order to assess the water-level fluctuation (WLF). The depth to water level varied from 3.04 to 28.70 metres below ground level (mbgl) in the dry s...

One hundred and sixty-two groundwater samples were collected from eighteen locations of the Aosta Valley region during the years 2007–2015 to determine the concentrations of Al, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, and Zn. A heavy pollution index (HPI) model was used to evaluate the metal contamination status in the groundwater of the study area...

The present study aims to discuss the hydrogeochemical processes in the Aosta Valley region and assess the quality of its groundwater for suitability of drinking and irrigation purposes. One hundred twenty-two samples were collected from the Aosta Valley region in the years 2007 and 2008 (61 per year), and analysed for pH, electrical conductivity,...

The aim of this study is to assess the risk to human health presented by total chromium (CrT) and hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) due to the intake of the groundwater (shallow aquifer) in the Aosta Valley region. One hundred and fifty-three groundwater samples were collected from seventeen locations in the Aosta Valley region during the years 2007-201...

Rock fall, Structural analysis, Terrestrial laser scanning, Rock mass discontinuity, Risk analysis

The hydrogeological instability phenomena are crucial events that periodically affect the Alpine territory. This is not without several damages to infrastructures and dangers affecting people who lives in there. For these reasons, is important to make proper analysis to evaluate and understand the evolution of these phenomena in order to take the n...

The objective of this study is to estimate the aquifer vulnerability in the West Bokaro coalfield, Jharkhand, India, by using a geographic information system (GIS)-based DRASTIC model. The DRASTIC model incorporates seven hydrogeological data, i.e. depth of water table, net recharge, aquifer media, soil media, topography, impact of vadose zone and...

Aquifers in mountain areas are a strategic resource for people who live there. In fact, their proper management is strongly influenced by periods of high water stress, linked to tourism activity. In order to optimize future water management, it is fundamental to understand hydrogeological characteristics of these systems. Due to the lack of economi...

Wastes of potash industry stored at the Earth’s surface in salt tailing piles and sludge storages are a source of salinization of groundwater and surface water. The groundwater vulnerability assessment estimated on the basis of calculation of chloride travel time through the unsaturated zone can be taken into account in the development of design so...

Heavy metal (Al, As, Ba, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Se and Zn) concentration in sixty-six groundwater samples of the West Bokaro coalfield were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy for determination of seasonal fluctuation, source apportionment and heavy metal pollution index (HPI). Metal concentrations were found higher in the pre-...

Aquifers in mountain areas are a strategic resource for people who live there. In fact, their proper management is strongly influenced by periods of high water stress, linked to tourism activity. In order to optimize future water management, it is fundamental to understand hydrogeological characteristics of these systems. Due to the lack of economi...

The present study determines major and trace element chemistry of groundwater in the West Bokaro coalfield to assess the hydrogeochemical processes and groundwater quality for drinking and irrigation uses. For this purpose, 33 groundwater samples from different mining areas of the West Bokaro coalfield were collected and analysed for pH, electrical...

Aquifers in mountain areas are a strategic resource for the people who live there. To optimize future management, it is vital to understand hydrogeological systems from both geological and hydrogeological perspectives. In these aquifers there are often very few wells which permit hydrogeological observation. In great part, therefore, studies on the...

Rice paddy water infiltration is key for evaluating agrochemical groundwater migration. To this end, we designed and conducted an experiment with two aims: (1) to describe the water infiltration dynamic that occurs throughout the growing season and wet-dry cycling in rice paddies, and (2) to quantify the infiltration that takes place under two diff...

Twenty eight surface water samples were collected from fourteen sites of the West Bokaro coalfield, India. The concentration of Mn, Cu, Zn, Ni, As, Se, Al, Cr, Ba, and Fe were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for determination of seasonal fluctuations and a heavy metal pollution index (HPI). The HPI values were b...

The present study combine Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) techniques with Terrestrial Laser Scanner (TLS) data to obtain highly automated and accurate DTM datasets of the Mont de la Saxe landslide. The datasets obtained were used to evaluate the mass movement in different periods during the year, indicating the possible trigger of the lan...

Climate change is the main factor that induces alterations in the hydrological cycle. In this context, mountains represent the first indicators of climate change, because they respond rapidly and intensely to climatic and environmental modifications. Obtaining reliable scenarios on water resources availability is a prerequisite to planning manageme...

The surface water quality of West Bokaro coalfield area was investigated for its suitability for drinking and domestic uses. For this purpose, 28 surface water samples were collected from rivers and ponds and analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), hardness, major cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+) and major anions (...

Aquifers in mountain areas are a strategic resource for the people who live there. To optimise future management, it is vital to understand hydrogeological systems from both geological and hydrogeological perspectives. Historically, methods such as hydrograph and time series analyses have been applied to characterise large karst systems. The aim of...

This research originates from a wider three-year hydrogeological study about Aosta Plain (Italy), from Villeneuve to Pontey municipalities (12 ground and surface waters sample surveys leading to the chemical analysis of more than 800 samples). The hydrogeochemical characterization of the unconfined aquifer shows that 80 % of the groundwater sampled...

Mountain springs at mid to high altitudes are particularly sensitive to climatic variations, as documented by spatio-temporal discharge measurements. Recent models predict significant modifications of the hydrological system in the Alps within the next 100 years. In order to better understanding short- and long-term mountain spring behavior related...

This study aims to analyze data acquired by an experimental meteorological station in conjunction with data continuously measured in springs in order to evaluate the groundwater recharge deriving from snow melt process in a mountain basin. An experimental meteorological station was installed by DIATI of Politecnico di Torino in Mascognaz (Ayas) in...

In this study a preliminary procedure was analyzed in order to evaluate the Snow Water Equivalent through data derived from the sensors installed in the metereological station located upstream of the locality of Mascognaz—Ayas—Valle d’Aosta. The meteorological station has been developed within a research project covering various fields concerning c...

The area under consideration in our research is the Vercelli plain, an important zone for the cultivation of rice and maize. In addition, the groundwater has been seriously contaminated by agro-activities. The goal of this study was to use GIS technology to develop maps of potential groundwater risk from agricultural activity of the Vercelli plain....

The springs in the mountains region are a strategic resource for the local inhabitants. Moreover these resources are particularly sensitive to climatic changes (CC), as documented by spatial-temporal discharge measurements. In order to assess their vulnerability in relation to climate changes and test different methods usually applied in karst envi...

The goal of this study was to use GIS technology to develop maps of relative groundwater risk from agriculture activity in Vercelli plain. SINTACS will be connected with a IPA Meanwhile, agricultural chemical compounds concentration, compiled from domestic wells throughout the study area will be use to calibration the index model. SINTACS model was...

Problem statement: The protection and enhancing of Groundwater Resources (GWR) at an international level have been studied extensively, but they have very rarely been considered in Territorial Planning and Urban Planning. Now more than in the past, thanks to the technologies and know-how acquired over the years, ignoring responsibilities with regar...

The purpose of this study is to show the results of the Italian research project of national interest (PRIN) launched in 2006 and finished in 2008, concerning the “assessment of groundwater contamination risk by nitrates assessment”. The project verified the IPNOA method for nitrate groundwater contamination risk assessment in four test-sites of It...

Problem statement: The aim of this study is to make an attempt to asse ss, through the application of the Holman Method, the effects that a careless management of human induced activities could have on aquifers and in particular on tapping wells used for human supply. Approach: The study had been applied to two different territories , as far as bot...

Problem statement: The risk of groundwater pollution and preservation of groundwater quality of these resources are extremely important topics, particularly at the present time in which w ater is becoming a limitative factor for land developmen t. In this context the main objective of this study was the evaluation of the pollution vulnerability of...

Problem statement: The aim of this study is to make an attempt to assess, through the application of the Holman Method, the effects that a careless management of human induced activities could have on aquifers and in particular on tapping wells used for human supply. Approach: The study had been applied to two different territories, as far as both...

This study, carried out in collaboration with SOGIN (Società Gestione Impianti Nucleari - Nuclear Treatment Plant Management Company), is an integral part of environmental characterisation activity in the area where the EUREX treatment plant is situated, near Saluggia (North West Italy). With the aim of depicting the base conditions for the environ...

En la década de los ochentas Ia comunidad científica italiana, junto con tomadores de decisiones institucionales, se dieron cuenta de la urgencia de proteger los recursos ambientales. El Proyecto VAZAR fue iniciado en 1984, como parte del contexto científico de la GNDCl CNR, línea de investigación 4, "Evaluación de Vulnerabilidad Acuífera". La cont...

In 1991, the EU promulgated the Nitrates Directive 91/676/EEC, with which it obliged member states to set up monitoring systems, to designate areas vulnerable to nitrate pollution, especially that of agricultural origin, and to activate protection plans, setting the initial target as 1993. After a long delay, Italy assimilated the directive in 1999...

In the early 1980's the Italian scientific community, together with a number of institutional decision-makers, realized how urgent it was to protect natural and environmental resources. They agreed that an adequate level of scientifically organized knowledge allows the accurate planning and development of environmental systems through management an...

In the frame of protection and management of the ground water resources, according to the DLgs. 152/99 and National Guide-Lines (ANPA, 2001), an application of the SINTACS method was performed to realize the Vulnerability map of the aquifers present in the "Piana di Palermo". All the CSC and FDP, reducers, pollution preventors and risk subjects hav...

Groundwater nitrate contamination is a source of rising concern that has been faced through the introduction of several regulations in different countries. However the methodologies used in the definition of Nitrate Vulnerable Zones are not included in the regulations. The aim of this work was to compare different methodologies, used to asses groun...

Early in the eighties the Italian scientific community, together with institutional decision-makers, realized the urgency of protecting environmental resources. The VAZAR1 project was set up in 1984, as part of the GNDCI-CNR2 scientific context, Research Line, 4 “Aquifer Vulnerability Assessment”. Groundwater contamination was examined in this proj...

Piana di Palermo es caracterizada por la presencia de dos acuíferos diferentes: uno somero constituido por calcarenitas y otro profundo en rocas carbonatadas fracturadas. El acuífero calcarenítico presenta un bajo potencial hídrico comparado con el acuífero carbonatico. El comportamiento químico del agua en ambos acuíferos refleja severos procesos...