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Article

UAV-PPK Photogrammetry, GIS, and Soil Analysis to Estimate Long-Term Slip Rates on Active Faults in a Seismic Gap of Northern Calabria (Southern Italy)

by
Daniele Cirillo
1,2,3,†,
Anna Chiara Tangari
2,*,†,
Fabio Scarciglia
4,
Giusy Lavecchia
2,3 and
Francesco Brozzetti
1,2,3
1
Laboratory of Structural Geology, 3D Digital Cartography and Geomatics, University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
2
Science Department, University G. d’Annunzio Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
3
CRUST—Interuniversity Center for 3D Seismotectonics with Territorial Applications, 66100 Chieti, Italy
4
Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences Department (DiBEST), University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende (CS), Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Remote Sens. 2025, 17(19), 3366; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17193366 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 15 July 2025 / Revised: 24 September 2025 / Accepted: 1 October 2025 / Published: 5 October 2025

Abstract

The study of faults in seismic gap areas is essential for assessing the potential for future seismic activity and developing strategies to mitigate its impact. In this research, we employed a combination of geomorphological analysis, aerophotogrammetry, high-resolution topography, and soil analysis to estimate the age of tectonically exposed fault surfaces in a seismic gap area. Our focus was on the Piano delle Rose Fault in the northern Calabria region, (southern Italy), which is a significant regional tectonic structure associated with seismic hazards. We conducted a field survey to carry out structural and pedological observations and collect soil samples from the fault surface. These samples were analyzed to estimate the fault’s age based on their features and degree of pedogenic development. Additionally, we used high-resolution topography and aerophotogrammetry to create a detailed 3D model of the fault surface, allowing us to identify features such as fault scarps and offsets. Our results indicate recent activity on the fault surface, suggesting that the Piano delle Rose Fault may pose a significant seismic hazard. Soil analysis suggests that the onset of the fault surface is relatively young, estimated in an interval time from 450,000 to ~ 300,000 years old. Considering these age constraints, the long-term slip rates are estimated to range between ~0.12 mm/yr and ~0.33 mm/yr, which are values comparable with those of many other well-known active faults of the Apennines extensional belt. Analyses of key fault exposures document cumulative displacements up to 21 m. These values yield long-term slip rates ranging from ~0.2 mm/yr (100,000 years) to ~1.0 mm/yr (~20,000 years LGM), indicating persistent Late Quaternary activity. A second exposure records ~0.6 m of displacement in very young soils, confirming surface faulting during recent times and suggesting that the fault is potentially capable of generating ground-rupturing earthquakes. High-resolution topography and aerophotogrammetry analyses show evidence of ongoing tectonic deformation, indicating that the area is susceptible to future seismic activity and corresponding risk. Our study highlights the importance of integrating multiple techniques for examining fault surfaces in seismic gap areas. By combining geomorphological analysis, aerophotogrammetry, high-resolution topography, and soil analysis, we gain a comprehensive understanding of the structure and behavior of faults. This approach can help assess the potential for future seismic activity and develop strategies for mitigating its impact.
Keywords: post-processed kinematic aerophotogrammetry; high-resolution topography; geomorphological analysis; soil/paleosol analysis; quaternary active fault post-processed kinematic aerophotogrammetry; high-resolution topography; geomorphological analysis; soil/paleosol analysis; quaternary active fault

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Cirillo, D.; Tangari, A.C.; Scarciglia, F.; Lavecchia, G.; Brozzetti, F. UAV-PPK Photogrammetry, GIS, and Soil Analysis to Estimate Long-Term Slip Rates on Active Faults in a Seismic Gap of Northern Calabria (Southern Italy). Remote Sens. 2025, 17, 3366. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17193366

AMA Style

Cirillo D, Tangari AC, Scarciglia F, Lavecchia G, Brozzetti F. UAV-PPK Photogrammetry, GIS, and Soil Analysis to Estimate Long-Term Slip Rates on Active Faults in a Seismic Gap of Northern Calabria (Southern Italy). Remote Sensing. 2025; 17(19):3366. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17193366

Chicago/Turabian Style

Cirillo, Daniele, Anna Chiara Tangari, Fabio Scarciglia, Giusy Lavecchia, and Francesco Brozzetti. 2025. "UAV-PPK Photogrammetry, GIS, and Soil Analysis to Estimate Long-Term Slip Rates on Active Faults in a Seismic Gap of Northern Calabria (Southern Italy)" Remote Sensing 17, no. 19: 3366. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17193366

APA Style

Cirillo, D., Tangari, A. C., Scarciglia, F., Lavecchia, G., & Brozzetti, F. (2025). UAV-PPK Photogrammetry, GIS, and Soil Analysis to Estimate Long-Term Slip Rates on Active Faults in a Seismic Gap of Northern Calabria (Southern Italy). Remote Sensing, 17(19), 3366. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17193366

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